Chapter 19
I woke up to my phone ringing, again. It's been a week since I last saw Joe and he hasn't stopped ringing me ever since. For the past few days, I've been thinking a lot. I feel like I shouldn't interfere with Joe's new relationship, he deserves to be happy with someone and I keep ruining it because of my stupid feelings. I know I've attempted this before, but this time I'm being for real. I'm just gonna focus on my job, and avoid his calls even though the thought of hearing his voice is tempting. Really tempting.
"Are you ever gonna answer that damn phone? He clearly wants to talk to you." Candy said as I walked into the main room, I rolled my eyes and sat on a chair.
"No, I'm not gonna be his side bitch, again. I'm gonna be 22 in a few months, I need to grow up and let this go" I said proudly, but it's the truth anyway.
"You're still a baby girl in my eyes, don't rush to grow up, you will regret it. To be honest, I think you should stay clear from Joe until he makes up his damn mind. No friend of mine will ever be a side bitch." Candy said switching the TV over, I switched off my phone and avoidedtemptation.
"Y'all remind me of the President and Olivia Pope, from Scandal..you both want each other, but there are too many obstacles." Candy said, snapping me out of my trance. I looked up from the blank screen, and gave her an empty look. As much as I dislike Layla right now, she was once my friend and I don't wish anything bad upon her, and that includes getting hurt because of me.
"I don't want him anymore." I said, and hopefully I actually mean it this time.
##
"You're doing great, Catalina." Brandon said as I served a concoction to a customer, I smiled at him and started making another one.
"Woman of a few words, eh?" He said, raising his eyebrows and I put the drink down, leaning forward on my elbows.
"I don't have much to say." I said and his eyes wandered to my cleavage, I mentally rolled my eyes and acted like I didn't notice him gawking.
"I like that." He said, and I distracted myself with work. I just didn't want to talk to anyone, and he reminded me of Josh too much.
##
A few hours later, my phone started ringing and Jon's name flashed across the screen, I went into one of the back rooms to answer it.
"Hello?" I said, usually Jon is the first to talk when he calls me. I sighed and looked at the screen, 1 minute has passed and no one has said anything, he must've pocket dialled me.
"Hi, Catalina, are you there?" Joe's voice sounded and my heart started pounding, i wanted to be strong and hang up but I wanted to hear his voice.
"Yes." I said, and i was wondering why the hell he was calling from Jon's phone.
"I'm calling from Jon's phone because you don't answer my calls. I miss you." He said, and in the background I heard Jon and Colby.
"Joe, we need to stop doing this. First with Maria, and now with Layla. I feel bad,I feel like a mistress. I don't like it-" I said, and I heard him take a deep breath at the end of the line.
"Catalina. I want to be with you. I know all of this is messed up, and I feel bad too. But, I want you and you know that." He said quickly, and I could tell that he was anxiously waiting for my reply.
"If we were together, I would be paranoid because whenever you're with someone, you say these things to me. I don't know what to feel." I said, and I heard him close the door, and the line went quiet.
"I love you, Catalina. I was so drawn to you the first time I saw you at the bar, and I knew what your situation was as soon as I saw you. I wanted to kill that... guy who caused you so much pain. He made you feel worthless, and you're amazing. I love how stubborn you get, I love your random mood swings, I love your hugs and kisses. I sound like a lovesick teenager right now, but I mean it. You try to push me away, but I won't let you because I want to care for you and make you feel beautiful. I'll always be here for you, call me at any hour and I'll talk to you. I miss you, everyday. Seeing you with Randy hurt me, and I needed a rebound to make you feel what I felt.. I want to wake up next to you every morning, I just want you. I love you." He said as tears rolled down my cheeks, no one has said anything like that to me before. My heart was racing and my palms were getting moist, I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. It was real.
"Leati Joseph Anoa'i...that's the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.. I love you too." I said, and I couldn't keep the smile from forming on my face.
"Hey, how the heck do you know my full name?" He said, laughing. I stood up because I heard noises.
"Wikipedia, my friend." I said as I saw Sunny enter the room with a client who had a joyous expression on his face. I went out of the fire exit and sat on the wall outside.
"Oh hell no, you aren't friend zoning me this time!" He said, and I started grinning, I haven't felt this happy in a long time.
"I'm not. I've got to go, because it gets busy at this time, but I'll talk to you later... I love you." I said hugging the phone to my ear, this feeling was unexplainable. I liked it.
"You better call me back, I love you." He said and it took me 5 minutes to hang up.
"Girl, you're grinning like a Cheshire Cat. What's happening?" Candy said as I got behind the bar, I grinned at her and took her hand.
"Joe, told me he loves me!" I said jumping up and down, and I didn't even notice that I was crying until I felt warm tears on my cheeks. But, these were happy tears.
"Im so happy for you girl, did he dump Layla?" She said and my smile evaporated.
"I don't know, but I hope so." I said, as I stacked some glasses. I was in a good mood, and I didn't want anything to change that.
Later on, I rang Joe to ask him if he was still seeing Layla, I really hope he meant what he said to me earlier because it meant a lot to me. My heart sped up as he answered the call.
"Hello, Catalina?" He said, and I heard a voice in the background, a female voice.
"Tell me that you've broken up with Layla." I said, and I heard him sigh at the end of the line, I felt my heart sink.
"I was going to do it tomorrow.. Don't be mad, Cat." He said, and tears of frustration blinded my eyes.
"If you really loved me, you would've ended it before you told me. I'm tired of people playing with my feelings, go tell Layla you love her." I heard her annoying voice in the background, and I was about to end the call.
"Catalina. Stop-"
"No, you obviously didn't mean what you said, and guess what? I take back what I said."
"You don't mean that.." He said, and I threw my phone at the wall. I hate how he makes me feel, and I hate how he makes my mood swings worse than they actually are.
###
"Good morning, Cat!" Candy said, and she was beaming. I was jealous of her, I wish I was happy all the time like she was. But, she looked suspicious, I looked behind her but she blocked my view.
"I'm gonna make breakfast! It will be ready after you get dressed!" She said clapping her hands together and running to the kitchen. It was too early for bs so I rolled my eyes and went to freshen up. I got dressed in shorts, a sports bra and trainers because me and Candy always workout before our shift, I tied up my hair and went into the main room.
"I'm so hungry." I said as Candy put down a plate in front of me as I sat on the chair, as I demolished my food, I felt someone looking at me and a Candy was distracting herself by cleaning non existent dishes. I looked around and saw Joe sitting on the couch. I nearly choked on my food, and I had to take a sip of water, why did he keep showing up here?
"Catalina, we need to talk." He said, walking over to me as I put my dish in the sink. I walked past him and sat on the couch. I saw him hesitate before he sat opposite me.
"After you called, I ended it with Layla. I can't lose you, even though you confuse me..I've never felt this way about anyone." He said, and I looked into his eyes and they really did melt the ice around my heart.
"Joe, you know I have trust issues. I have a dark past and you know that. I know you're not like him, but.. I have feelings for you, my feelings change all the damn time but I've felt this way for a long time." I said and he reached out to hold my hand.
"I love you, you just have to let me in. Open your heart to me, and I won't hurt you, ever." He said, and I sat on his lap and hugged him. Just being in his arms felt so right, he kissed me and started grinning. I looked behind us and saw Candy beaming, she joined us in a group hug and we couldn't stop laughing.
"I love y'all." Candy said embracing us even tighter.
"Hey, Cat! How's it going?" Colby said as I snuggled close to Joe even though he was asleep.
"I'm great, I feel really happy. Me and Joe are like..." I said giggling, and I heard Paige in the background.
"I'm happy for you, Cat. I heard that Joe took a couple days off to fly out to Florida, that's so sweet. I miss you though. It's not the same. I haven't seen Jon except for when we're filming, he's been really distant for the past week." Colby said, that worried me because I cared about Jon a lot.
"I'll call Jon tomorrow, I'm worried now," I said, and Colby changed the subject into something lighter and we talked for two hours about random stuff. That's friendship right there.
It took me a while to get to sleep, even with Joe next to me because I was worried about Jon. I know what he's capable of and that worried me even more.
Is it too early for the 'l love you' or not? I know most of you have been waiting for Catalina and Joe to have a moment like this, so I hope you liked this chapter! I also included Colby too because he is apart of the story too ;) how do you think Jon will react to Catalina's relationship?