RUBBY

"Oh Josh," I whispered, "please don't do this." I felt he could probably hear my heart hammering against my chest.

"I don't want to be late," he answered, staring at me so hard that I felt he could see my soul.

"I would ask again next month, I just want to make sure nobody steals you from me before then. Please be my Val."

I suddenly felt a huge lump in my throat that refused to go down; I swallowed hard countless times, yet nothing.

Josh still stared at me, waiting for a ...