That wouldn't be a bad idea

"mmm mmm" Richie cleared his throat suspiciously. He wanted to remind Carl and Anne that he was still with them in the ward because of how they kept staring at each other.

"Anastasia," Carl smiled sweetly at Anne, walking closer to her.

"Carl, I… I wasn't expecting to see you here" Anne said to Carl. She was surprised to see him and the shocking part of it all is that Richie and she were just talking about him.

"what's good?" Carl said and then he hugged her.

"As you can see, I'm okay. How are you?" she said in his embrace, breathing in his sweet scent.

"perfect," Carl said.

He was happy to be in her arms again. He missed her even though the last time they saw each other was two days ago when they left Alabama.

"Hey! guys, are you all forgetting about me?" Richie said with crossed arms and then, Carl and Anne disengaged from the hug.

"of course not," Anne said to Richie.

"I was just surprised to see you, I didn't know you were going to show up," she said to Carl.

"umm, I… I had to see Richie," Carl said and Richie rolled his eyes because that was a lie.

Telling Anne that he came to the hospital to see her and not Richie would be a little weird so Carl had to think fast.

"you look very beautiful," Carl complimented Anne, admiring how beautiful she looked.

"Thank you" Anne replied and she started sliding the few strands of hair covering her forehead to the back of her ear.

She looked so cute doing that, probably because she became shy all of a sudden at the way Carl was staring at her.

Just then, the door opened and the dentist walked inside the ward.

"Richie, Miss Stewart, you're still here" The dentist was surprised. He thought they had left already.

His eyes suddenly locked with Carl and that's when he realized that Carl was also in the ward with them.

"Mr. McAlester, what a surprise to see you here, Richie told me you couldn't come with him to the hospital because of your busy schedule," The dentist said to Carl.

"I had a change of plans," Carl said and slipped his hand around Anne's waist, holding her firmly like she was his property.

Anne's heart throbbed immediately as she felt Carl's hand on her waist. She was shocked at why Carl was holding her waist all of a sudden. Although she didn't show nervousness on her face, in fact, she acted cool.

Seeing Carl's hand on Anne's waist made the dentist confirm that they were both in a relationship and that was what Carl wanted. He wanted to make the dentist feel like Anne was taken so he wouldn't bother hitting on Anne.

"…your girlfriend is pretty," He said to Carl, staring at Anne with disappointment on his face. He really wished that Anne was single.

'girlfriend?' Anne asked herself in her head with a confused look on her face.

The whole time, Richie was trying his best not to laugh.

"She's not just pretty she's beautiful," Carl said with a smile but on the inside, he was worried and anxious that Anne would embarrass him and confess the truth that they were not in a relationship. However, to Carl's surprise, Anne was still.

Meanwhile, the dentist delivered a fake smile and left them in the ward.

"girlfriend??" Anne glared at Carl, removing his hand from her waist.

Thank God she waited for the dentist to leave the ward first before she attacked Carl. Anne didn't want Carl to think that she was interested in him that was why she suddenly became strict with him.

"umm… Richie's dentist must've thought so. After all, we look like a couple" Carl said.

 Anne rolled her eyes.

"That's because you were holding my waist like I was your girlfriend," she said.

"That wouldn't be a bad idea, you know" Carl winked at her.

Anne bit down her bottom lip and looked down. Unknowing to her, her cheeks and nose were already turning red after Carl said 'that wouldn't be a bad idea'. He was indirectly asking her out and Carl's flirtatious wink alone made her gulp. Carl looks so hot when he does that and he knows it. He's not just hot and handsome, he's also very sexy and naughty.

"Sorry to interrupt you guys..." Richie said to Anne and Carl.

"Anne I wanted to ask if you could come home with us. It's been a while since you visited" Richie said to Anne.

"pleaseee" Richie pouted with pleading arms.

"I'd love to, but umm…"

"…I know you don't like my mom but she is not yet back from Canada" Richie interrupted Anne.

"Alright, I will...That's if it's okay with your elder brother" Anne said, looking at Carl who wanted her to say yes.

Carl couldn't thank Richie enough in his head. Because of Richie, Anne wants to visit. He was also happy about the fact that Richie and Anne are best friends. That way, he can use that as a justification to get closer to Anne.

"Anne you know you're always welcome to visit my house. And, I wanna introduce you to my grandmother. She's a very lovable person and I assure you, you're going to love her." Carl said.

Carl has said so many nice things about his grandmother and Anne believed that she'll be better than his mother.

The three of them left the hospital and drove straight to Carl's mansion.

…

"Grandma we're home" Richie yelled as he rushed to meet his grandmother. She was sitting down on the couch, browsing her phone when they got in.

Carl's grandmother stood up and hugged Richie after she saw him.

"Sweetheart, how's your gum?" Carl's grandmother asked Richie, checking his teeth.

"better" Richie replied.

Carl's grandmother couldn't help but notice Anne who was standing right next to Carl waiting for an introduction. She had a close look at Anne admiring how beautiful she was.

Carl's grandmother continued gazing at Anne and Anne felt a little awkward about it, worrying that she was judging her negatively whereas, Carl's grandmother was only admiring her outstanding beauty. She has not seen a woman this gorgeous before.

"Carl, who is this beautiful young lady you're here with?" Carl's grandmother said, smiling at Anne.

Hearing the word 'beautiful young lady' made Anne mentally heave a sigh of relief that Carl's grandma will probably be a nice woman and be better than his mother.

"She's my friend, Anastasia Robyn Stewart. Anne, meet my grandma Ms. Natalie McAlester" Carl introduced them both.

'so this is the beautiful Anastasia Carl has been crazy about,' Carl's grandmother thought with a big smile on her face feeling satisfied at Carl's good catch.

"It's an honor to finally meet you, Ms. Natalie." Anne stretched her hand to shake Carl's grandmother.

"No, it's my pleasure, sweetheart." she returned the handshake. "Carl has told me so much about you. Indeed you're really beautiful and you have the prettiest eyes just like he said..."

"GRANDMA!!" Carl growled, using his eyes to communicate with his grandmother to stop talking already.

"What?" Carl's grandmother laughed as she now understood Carl's signals.

Carl didn't want his grandmother to start telling Anne about his romantic feelings towards Anne not to make things awkward for her.

Moreover, Anne was just blushing at Carl's grandmother's compliments. She wondered how old Carl's grandma would be because she looked so young and beautiful and her skin barely had wrinkles.

"Anne, please feel at home. I'll be right back," Carl said to Anne and left the living room.

"Grandma, I'm starving," Richie said yawning.

"Don't worry sweetheart, I already prepared something special for you." Carl's grandmother said to Richie.

"Anastasia, please let me get you something to eat too," she said to Anne.

"Umm, thanks bu.. but it's okay," Anne replied shyly.

"Sweetheart, don't be shy. You're going to love what I prepared just give me a minute" Carl's grandma insisted with a sweet smile on her face.

"Okay" Anne nodded her head and Carl's grandmother left for the kitchen.

"Your grandmother is super nice" Anne whispered to Richie.

"Uh huh, and her food tastes really really good," Richie said certainly.

"Come with me" Richie took Anne's hand to the dining room which was a few steps from the living room.

In less than five minutes, Carl's grandmother came to the dining table where Anne and Richie were sitting with a tray containing two plates of spaghetti and meatballs and two glasses of orange juice.

"here's your food," Carl's grandma dropped the tray on the table.

"Finally!" Richie said, rubbing his palms together and he quickly devoured the food.

The sweet aroma of the food made Anne salivate. The food hasn't gotten to her mouth yet, she was certain that it would taste nice.

"thank you so much ma'am" Anne showed her gratitude and she began to eat.

"Oh my God! This tastes so good!!" Anne exclaimed, praising the food.

'no wonder Carl is also a good cook' she thought.

"Thanks, I'm glad you like it," Carl's grandmother said to Anne.

"Anastasia, I'd like to know more about you, not just your name. If you don't mind." She asked because she was already fond of Anne.

"Okay, I'm 23 years old, and I am self-employed. I currently deliver my homemade pastries for income." Anne said.

"grandma you should have a taste of Anne's pastries, she's the best baker ever," Richie said with his mouth full.

"Oh, I'd love to, especially pizza." Carl's grandmother chuckled.

"Cool, I promise to bake you a special one," Anne said with a smile also enjoying the food she was eating.

"that'll be so kind of you," Carl's grandma said.

"what about your parents?" she asked Anne.

Anne sighed with a sad look on her face and Carl's grandmother noticed the sudden change in Anne's facial expression.

"Oh my, I'm sorry if had said something wrong, I didn't mean to stir up a..."

"…No no, it's okay" Anne lifted her chin with a tight smile, trying her best to brighten up the mood.

"My parents died three years in a car accident and that was one of the major reasons I dropped out of college. I couldn't fend for myself. I might not be over it but it made me independent..."

"... And hardworking. You're such an incredible person, Anastasia" Carl's grandmother said to Anne with a positive smile.

"they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I am just confirming that from you. I admire you a lot Anastasia" she added.

"Thank you, ma'am. You're making me smile a lot" Anne said and they both laughed.

Anne and Richie were done eating and Anne stood up to take out the dishes.

"Anastasia, what are you doing? You're our guest." Carl's grandma said stopping Anne.

"Oh please, let me, I insist" Anne persuaded, holding both hers and Richie's plates.

"Fine, let me do it… to make grandma happy," Richie said, collecting the plates from Anne's hands and he left for the kitchen.

'what a funny kid,' Carl's grandma said in her head, laughing.

"Umm, where's Carl? I wanted to see him before I leave" Anne said to Carl's grandmother.

"He's upstairs" she replied pointing to the stairs.

..

Anne got upstairs, to the second floor, and wandered around the corridor which connected to different rooms. She forgot she hasn't been in Carl's room before so she didn't know which one was Carl's room.

"Dang it! I would've asked Richie or his grandmother to tell me the exact room Carl is in. I'm already lost in this big house" Anne muttered to herself.

"Carl?!" Anne called in a low tone, hoping for Carl to hear her. She didn't want to disturb the peace of the house by yelling his name.

She randomly knocked on different doors but it was either locked or no one was inside.

"Carl? Carl are you in here?" Anne said softly as she gently knocked on another door.

The door creaked open and Anne perceived a nice, sweet fragrance that smelled exactly like Carl from inside the room. She was certain that it was Carl's bedroom because of the sweet smell and she walked inside.

Immediately Anne walked in, her eyes widened in shock and she had a long gasp staring at Carl who was almost naked.