You'll Say Yes Read online

He sighed. "Is there any particular reason for you to do that?"

  "You just throw me to the piranhas," I nearly shouted at him.

  He grinned. "Piranhas don't live in Long Beach."

  "Ugh!" I grumbled.

  Silence.

  "We are going to my house first," Joshua informed.

  "Huh?" I looked back at him in shocked.

  "My parents are waiting for us."

  I furrowed my eyebrows. "Seriously?"

  Joshua nodded and grinned. I rolled my eyes and suddenly felt nervous again. I never been to Joshua's house, but I heard from the gossipers in Long Beach High student body that his house was more like a mansion. It was strange, though, because it was only the three of them. I wondered if Joshua ever took one of his girls to his house. I shook my head.

  No, Abby!

  We passed the border of Long Beach. Joshua drove to the small road that lead to his house.

  I furrowed my eyebrows. I saw nothing, but the trees. How could a family live around here?

  "Your family are not serial killers, are they?"

  Joshua looked at me in amusement. "What makes you think that?"

  "The forest," I answered, shortly.

  Joshua smiled. "My family loves the outdoors and nature, Abby. Living in a big city is not our style."

  "Uh-huh. That is why you chose Canada, then."

  He shrugged.

  The trees soon thinned and I could see a big white house or mansion that was!

  Joshua stopped the car and turned to me. "Well, this is my house."

  I nodded slowly. "It's...nice."

  He chuckled and got out of the car. He opened the passenger door for me and held my hand. After Joshua took his bag from the trunk, we walked to the porch.

  Joshua opened the front door and I almost gasped when I saw the interior. They really had excellent taste.

  I couldn't believe Joshua lived with all this luxury and became a player in school.

  "Mom, Dad, we're here!" Joshua shouted.

  Farah and William appeared in front of us a few moments later. Farah gave me a hug, almost instantly. "Abby, dear, it's nice to see you again. Welcome to our home. Do you want anything? Tea? Coffee?"

  I smiled and leaned away from her embrace. "Hi, Farah. No, thank you. I'm just passing by before I go to see my dad."

  "Please, take a rest for a while. You had a long journey," William said to me.

  I nodded and Joshua took my hand. "Come on. Let me show you my room."

  I nodded as I followed him.

  I walked with Joshua to the second floor. We stopped at a door and Joshua opened it. His room was no different from his apartment. Clean and tidy, for a man. A huge bed in the middle of the room, a big couch, bookshelves, CDs, a fancy stereo system, and a desk.

  "This is my room," He said, sheepishly.

  I walked in slowly and looked around while Joshua stood in the door.

  I turned to him and chuckled. "Why are you standing there? This is your room."

  Joshua bowed his head and a faint blush colored his cheek. "Um...I've been dreaming of you standing here, in my room. And my dream is coming true now."

  Now, it was my turn to blush. I bit my bottom lip and laughed nervously. "Well, your room is great. Really!"

  I looked around again and stopped at a picture of mine.

  Yup! My picture! On his desk! It was candid, so I didn't look at the camera. I was wearing my graduation gown. I swallowed hard.

  "Stella took the picture for me because I couldn't get close to you, not with what I did. You are so beautiful."

  I sighed and sat on his bed.

  Joshua put his bag on the floor and slowly sat next to me. I closed my eyes then opened them to look at him. "Why are you doing this to me, Joshua?"

  Joshua furrowed his eyebrows. "Doing what?"

  I ran my hand through my hair. "You seem to have many layers that I don't know. It's confusing."

  Joshua stayed silent and tucked a hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry for everything I did to you."

  I looked into his eyes again. "Did you ever bring one of your girls here?"

  Joshua tensed and grinned. "No, never!"

  I rolled my eyes. "Then how could they give perfect details about your house?"

  He chuckled. "Abby, this is Long Beach. Even small news can wipe you out like a storm. My father's colleagues happened to talk among themselves about this house after they visited here. I guess that is where the news came from."

  So...he never brought the girls here. But, for seven years...did he ever... I gulped. "Did you..ever...?" I ducked my head, hiding my crimson cheeks.

  Joshua tilted my chin to make me look at him. His eyes were searching mine. "What is it, Abby?"

  "Did you ever...you know...had..."

  Joshua burst out laughing. "Seriously, Abby. Are you asking me that question?"

  I frowned. "You're not answering my question."

  Joshua stopped laughing and looked at me deeply. "No, Abby. I still keep my virtue." And then he stroked my cheek. "For you."

  I blushed again as Joshua chuckled.

  Farah called both of us for lunch and Joshua took me to the dining room. The lunch was good. Farah was a wonderful cook, too.

  We talked about Long Beach, mostly, and William asked Joshua about his job at the hospital. They asked me about my job as well and I happily answered. After lunch, I said goodbye to William and Farah and promised them I’d be back for lunch tomorrow.

  Joshua drove me to my dad's. It was a small house, but it held a lot of memories.

  My dad's white car was in the driveway.

  Joshua stopped at the front of the house and turned off the engine. He got out of the car and opened my door.

  "Well, this is my house," I grinned as he chuckled.

  He opened the trunk and took my bags. We walked into the front door and knocked several times. A few rustles later, the door opened, and my jaw dropped.

  "Mom?"

  My mom squealed and hugged me. "Oh, honey. I miss you. Come on in! You too, Joshua."

  Joshua smiled as we walked into my house.

  My dad appeared on the stairs.

  "Hello, sweetheart!" He hugged me and shook Joshua's hand. "So, do you want some lunch or what?"

  "No, Dad. I already ate at Joshua's house."

  My parents' eyebrows raised and a knowing smirked appeared on their faces.

  "Really?" My mom asked.

  I nodded and looked at my mom. "Mom, what are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming."

  My mom grimaced. "Well, I wanted to surprise you."

  A surprise? My eyes narrowed again and turned to Joshua. "Did you know about this?"

  He shrugged, feigning innocence.

  I rolled my eyes.

  My dad cleared his throat. "So, what would you like to do now?"

  I could see Joshua fidgeting on his feet and looked at my dad. "Can I talk with the both of you, please?"

  My face turned pale.

  I took my bags to my old room, trying to escape their talk. But, I knew it was pointless. After stalling for fifteen minutes, my dad called me to go downstairs. I took a deep breath and dragged my feet to the living room. I saw my parents and Joshua sitting on the couch. I took my place next to Joshua.

  "Well, Joshua, what is it that you want to talk about?" My dad asked.

  Joshua smiled. "It's nice to see you both again, Jason and Bianca. I'm sure you know about my intentions towards Abby since I was six. I want to ask you if the permission to escort her is still available."

  I gaped at him. Joshua didn't look nervous at all. It was like he already practiced with this speech thousands of times.

  My dad cleared his throat. "I know exactly what your intentions with Abby have been and I already gave you my permission. Apparently, there are a lot of things you guys need to work out."

  "I know that, Jason," Joshua said, sincerely. "The way I treated her in high school was beyond disrespectful, but I will prove
to her and to you all that I have changed. I’m not the same kid I was in high school. If you would just give me the chance to prove it, you won’t regret it.”

  Bianca, my mom, nodded. "But, it seemed strange that you could love Abby at a very young age. How could that be?"

  Joshua blushed. "Um...because she is kind and beautiful and smart and I really love her."

  My mom giggled and dad chuckled while my jaw dropped.

  Seriously, Joshua?

  My dad turned to me. "What do you think about that, Abby?"

  I blinked several times. "Well, I already told Joshua it was not easy to forget what he did to me in high school and also this engagement thing is very...sudden." I grimaced.

  Silence.

  "Do you need time?" Joshua asked, suddenly.

  "Huh?"

  "Do you need time to accept our engagement? I can give you time," He said, again.

  My head felt dizzy and I sighed. "This is more like a force engagement or more like an arrangement marriage."

  Joshua smiled grimly. "No, it's not. I asked you to be my wife when we were six. No pressure and no influence. I really want to marry you."

  I blushed and my parents grinned like Cheshire cats.

  Ugh! I couldn't believe this!

  I swallowed hard. "I can't do this. I'm not ready for marriage. Can we call it off?"

  Joshua tensed and my parents looked at me in amusement.

  I shook my head. "Please, I just found out that I've been engaged for nineteen years and my supposed to be fiancée treated me like shit when we were in high school. It's too much for me."

  Joshua looked at me with pained eyes. "Abby, please...what can I do to make it up to you?"

  I sighed. "I don't know."

  "Um...what about you guys try to live together?"

  I nearly fell out of my chair.

  Joshua's eyes widened.

  My dad's jaw dropped.

  We all turned in my mom's direction.

  She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please...you could rent a two room apartment, besides you both are adults. I'm sure you know how to be safe."

  I blushed hard while Joshua choked on the air. My dad rolled his eyes.

  "Are we really discussing this matter, Bianca?" My dad asked.

  Ah, finally! One person on my side.

  "Come to think of it, you both were apart for seven years. A lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication. How will you solve it with living in separate places?" My mom asked, again.

  I rolled my eyes. "Our offices are located on different sides of Seattle, mom."

  "Well, then, try to find an apartment in the middle of both work places," she insisted.

  I rubbed my temples. "It's not that easy, Mom."

  "Why?"

  My dad shook his head and looked at Joshua. "What do you think, Joshua?"

  He stayed silent and then grinned. "I don't mind."

  My eyes widened. "What?"

  Chapter 8

  The Hometown and The Old Friends (part II)

  I gaped at my parents. "Seriously, mom, dad? How could you both agree so easily? Do you guys know how he was when we were in high school?"

  Joshua stared at me with a guilty expression on his beautiful face. "Abby, please-"

  "NO!" I shouted at them and stood from the couch.

  I tried to control my breathing and stormed into my old bedroom. I slammed the door closed and sunk to the floor. My back was pressed to the door. I could feel the tears in my eyes as I begun to sob. I hated this situation. I hated that they thought Joshua was good. They didn't know how miserable I felt in high school; how he treated me.

  I hated it! I really hated it!

  A soft knock at my door brought me back to the presents. "Abby," Joshua whispered, sounding sad. "Please, can I come in?"

  "Just go!" I shouted between my tears.

  "No, I won't, Abby. I can stay out here all day. Remember, I can be stubborn just as well as you are."

  I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand hastily. I opened the door then turned and walked to my bed. Joshua walked into my room and sat next to me on the bed.

  He stroked my hair lovingly while I remained still. "You said earlier that you wanted to know the real me. Well, I can give you that." He sighed and played with the hem of his shirt. "My name is Joshua Anthony Walsh. I'm the only child my parents had. I like to read, watch movies, listen to classic music, and I can play the piano."

  I stayed silent.

  He took a deep breath. "I moved to Canada with my parents not long after you moved with your mother, but I couldn't forget all of our memories in Long Beach. I asked my father to move back here, hoping I could see you. When your dad told me that you were going to move back here, I was so happy. After high school I went to Harvard and graduated, majoring in Medical. I stayed at the single dorm, I never dated nor seen any girls. My friends called me a freak when I told them I already had the girl of my dreams. I had to punch one of them when I found out he tried to look for you after he saw your picture in my room." He chuckled and sighed. "After I graduated, I tried to look for you again. I know you went to Dartmouth. It didn't surprise me. You are amazing and smart. Jason said you already graduated and decided to work in Seattle. I went to Seattle a couple of weeks after I graduated to look for you. And amazingly, I met you at a small coffee shop."

  I turned to look at him. "Coffee shop?" There was only one coffee shop I used to visit and it was near my office. He really did that?

  He nodded. "Yes, Abby. I saw you for the first time in seven years. You’re still beautiful as I remembered. At that time, I decided to live close enough to you to get to know you again and to have your love."

  "But, I don't understand. You work in Seattle to get close to me? Why now? After seven years?" I asked him in a low voice.

  He smiled grimly. "I want to prove to you that I'm not the same guy you knew in high school. I want to prove, I'm worthy of your love."

  "Joshua, what you did in high school was a part of who you are. You can't throw that away," I said, again.

  He grimaced. "I know, Abby. But, please, believe me when I tell you," He cupped my face with his hands, "I love you. I’ve always loved you and always will."

  I sighed.

  Slowly, Joshua enveloped me with a tender hug. His amazing scent calmed me once again.

  I gulped. "So, about this living arrangement thing?"

  Joshua leaned away and looked at me. "We could try. I promise I won't do anything inappropriate to you. Besides, if I tried I think your dad would shoot me where I stand." He chuckled.

  I stared at him. "We could start with our date for the reunion."

  He nodded. "Of course, Abby. I won't force you."

  Maybe we could work this out.

  Maybe...

  ~0~

  Joshua went home with a promise to pick me up at seven for the reunion. I left my room and went to the living room. I found my parents on the couch and sat next to them.

  "Abby, honey, how do you feel?" My mom asked.

  "I've been better," I answered slowly.

  She sighed and rubbed my arm. "Please, honey, don't be angry with us. We already saw how much Joshua changed. Why don't you try the same?"

  "By living together, mom?" I asked, sternly.

  "Well, technically you're engaged, honey, but you don't have take the next step if you're not ready."

  I rolled my eyes. "Please, mom..."

  "Just try this first, Abby. You can call off the engagement if you both really can't work this out," my dad said.

  I shook my head. "I can't believe this."

  Stella called me at five pm, telling me she arrived in Long Beach two hours earlier. She was also asking about my dress for tonight and told me shes going to the reunion with Evan, of course.

  I showered and dressed.

  My gown was a simple black dress. I paired it with black flats. I was not very fond of high heels. I decided to go simple with just semi-curls and pull it up into a bar
rette. I applied some light makeup before checking myself in the mirror. I smiled, I looked fine and mature enough.