Chapter Two.

"So where are you staying?" Rose licked the syrup off her fingers.

Rick quirked an eyebrow. "You still have not stopped this embarrassing habit of yours."

She poked him. "I am not embarrassed."

"Doesn't change the fact that everyone is staring at you."

"You are the only one staring at me."

He pulled out an handkerchief from his pocket. "Save me from my misery."

She rolled her eyes and collected the handkerchief. "Not like you soldier pups are any neater."

"At least we don't walk the streets licking syrup off our fingers."

"Whatever. Where are you staying?"

"I don't know. I had been hoping you would say yes when I proposed and then we would get married immediately and then I would move into your place."

Her eyes widened and she let out a laugh. "Tell me you're joking."

He laughed. "Yes, I am. I'm staying with Phillip."

"Oh, cool. It's been a while since I saw him though."

"It's understandable. Quick question, why wasn't your shop filled with customers, Rose?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "The time of the day?"

His brows drew together. "Is that a reason?"

"Rick, I'm still new to the area."

"After two years?"

She shrugged. "Guess everyone still prefer Jane's bakery down the corner."

"We've got to fix it." Rick said after a while.

"How?"

"Flash sales." He flashed a wide grin.

"It doesn't guarantee increase in sales."

His eyes widened, his mouth rounded, his hand on his chest. "Are you for real? Don't you watch movies anymore, Rose? And, Rose, you are a bad ass chef. One taste will keep them coming."

Rick watched in half surprise and half confusion as his best friend bowed her head and kicked a stone.

"I don't know anymore, Rick."

"What happened to your confidence, Rose?"

"I don't know...battered and tattered from having just the maximum of ten customers everyday for over three weeks, from listening to an annoying, grumpy old man talk long about how Jane's cupcakes are better than mine, from walking past Jane's bakery, seeing it full with customers laughing and wondering if I will ever have that." He heard the catch in her voice.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer. "You will have that, Rose. And we will start with the flash sales."

She looked up and smiled at him and he could see the spark returning to her eyes once more.

******

"Is he crazy?" Bonnie, her girlfriend since highschool, turned away wide eyed from the wedding gown she was adjusting on the mannequin.

"I asked him the same question." Rose picked up an artificial rose.

"Who ask a friend you haven't seen in seven years to marry you the instant you meet? On the basis of a contract written by ten year olds? Is he that desperate to get married?"

"I know Rick to be many things. Desperate is not one of it."

Bonnie sat on the edge of the table close to her. "So..."

She shook her head. "I'm not so sure."

"But you're suspecting something."

She sighed. "He lost his parents when we were fifteen. He just lost his buddies...I think he is scared of losing me."

"So he is tying you to his waist."

"Do you have to state things so..."

"Blunt? Because that is what I call it. Rose, he can not protect you by simply marrying you. And he can not keep you from dying. What if you just have an heart attack and just drop dead right here?"

"In his head, he can."

"Then someone needs to snap him out of his illusion."

"Bonnie!"

"What, honey? What do you want me to say? That you should pacify his fears and marry him? Both of you are not even in love!!"

"We can be. He is courting me." She did not see the box until it hit her head. "Ouch."

"Have you finally come back to your senses?"

"What? Has it not always been every girl's dream to marry her best friend?" She wiggled her brows.

Bonnie chuckled and shook her head.

She sighed. "What should I do, Bonnie?"

"Tell him that life is uncertain; people die everyday and we can't stop that. Tell him that life is a risk and it is worth it. Then tell him no, that you are not going to marry him."

******

"So is your babe joining us for dinner?" Phillip asked.

Phillip could only be described in one word - a sloucher. He always walked with his stomach protruded, his shoulders bent forward and his legs bent.

"Rose?"

"Uh huh."

"You know she is not my babe, Phillip." At least not yet. "And yes, she is joining us for dinner. Hey, Phillip, you know the fire captain right?"

"Yeah, he is my brother in-law."

"Great. Can you get him to get his guys at Rose's shop on," he checked the plan he was drafting, "Wednesday, next week Wednesday?"

"Okay, I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks."

"What do you wanna do?"

"Rose and I are planning flash sales for her shop starting from next week Friday."

"Cool, man."

The door bell rang. Phillip turned to get it.

He heard Rose's voice before she dropped on the couch beside him.

"Hey." She bumped his shoulder.

He leaned close. "You smell nice."

Her cheek went pink. "Thank you."

"Wore it for Phillip?" He wiggled his brows teasingly.

"Eeww, no! Geez, Rick."

He laughed. "Poor Phillip. Good thing he can't hear you."

She rolled her eyes.

"So then you wore it for me?"

The color in her cheek deepened. "No, I wore it for myself." She looked at the paper in the table. "What are you doing?"

"Planning the flash sales."

When she smiled up at him, it felt as if the warmth of Heaven had settled on his chest. He tugged her hair. "Phillip's gonna get some fire guys to come to the shop on Wednesday."

"Wow. When are we starting?"

"Next week Wednesday."

"So quick."

"Mmm hmm. How much percent can you give off without it affecting your profits?"

"Umm...instead of a reduced price, can we do buy three, get one free?"

"Then it will no longer be flash sales but promo sales?"

She nodded.

"Okay." He wrote it down. "How about we do the buy three, get one free on Wednesday, and on Thursday we do buy anything, get a free Sundae, and finally Friday, we do free buffet?"

She tilted her head, her mind working his idea. "Free buffet?"

He nodded. "Everything's gonna be free."

"I don't think I can..."

"I will pay for everything."

"Rick, you can't..."

"Why not? It's good investment."

She smiled, her blue eyes revealing her heart. "How do I say thank you?"

"Marry me." He took her hand and kissed the knuckle.

She chuckled and shook her head.

"Hey, lovebirds." Phillip kicked the couch. "Dinner's ready."

He watched with amusement as Rose jumped off the couch, blushing scarlet.

He got up and followed Phillip and Rose to the dining. "What are we eating?"

"Baked potatoes with lots of green peas and chili sauce."

"Not bad." He stepped forward to pull out a chair for Rose.

"Thanks." She whispered.

"Nice of you to visit my home, Rose." Phillip said.

"Technically, it is Rick I'm visiting, not your home." Rose smirked.

"And when he leaves?"

"Same old, same old."

Phillip chuckled.

"But how are you doing, Phillip?"

"Normal, same as always. Eat, sleep, TV, sleep, wake up."

'And repeat." Rose shook her head. "When are you going to get a job, Phillip?"

Rick chuckled. The one bone of contention between Rose and Phillip had surfaced again.

"What do I need a job for?" Phillip asked, mouthful.

"To get a life?"

He kicked Rose's ankle and shot her a warning look.

She shot back a 'what?' look.

"I don't see how getting a job will give me a life, Rose, my life is really perfect as it is."

"Really? Slouching your way through..."

"Okay, enough!" Rick cut in. "Rose, get off your high horse and let Phillip just be. For this one night."

Rose's brows drew up and right before she turned away, he saw the hurt in her eyes.

Phillip raised his spoon as if to make a toast to him. "Thanks, man."

Dinner, after that, was quiet with only the sound of their cutlery against the plate echoing through the room.

"I'll take my leave now." Rose said when they were done eating. She shifted her chair backwards and stood up. "Goodnight, Phillip. Goodnight Rick."

Rick stood up. "I'll see you out."

"And I'll just clear the table." Phillip muttered.

He smiled at Phillip as he followed Rose out. Rose opened the door before he could get it and open it for her, and furiously marched out.

"Get off my high horse?" She swiveled to him, her eyes flashing. "Really?!"

"You seemed to be looking down your perfect glasses to me." He crossed his arms.

She whacked his shoulders in anger. And whacked it again. And again.

He grabbed her hands. "Fine, I'm sorry..." He looked into her eyes. "But you were beginning to go too far...Admit it."

"I just want him to get a job and stop lazying his life around, just slouching through life."

"You can't force someone do things they don't want to do."

"It is you can't force someone do things he doesn't want to do, and if I can, I will so make Phillip get a job."

He chuckled and tweaked her nose. "Evil taskmaster."

"With no apologies."

"Bossing everyone around."

"For their own good."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "So you're leaving now."

"Want me to hang around some more?"

"You're not a bad company."

"Better than Phillip's?" She flashed her sassy smile.

"You seriously want me to choose? Knowing Phillip has the higher chance?"

She hit his head. "Tomorrow is another big day for me. I need to get going."

"I'll drop by tomorrow."

"Kay."

He kissed her hair and opened her car door. "Goodnight, smarty pants."

"Goodnight, sweet."