Chapter 327: My Question and His Answer

My reaction must have been funny to Hayden because he began laughing a little after his tongue left my face. His arms still held me quite tightly against him as if he was scared that I may get up and leave. In the past, that was probably what I would have attempted but not anymore. The thought of escape never entered my mind at all.

"I like it so much better when you laugh and smile. I get scared when you’re angry…" I admitted honestly.

"Then don’t do anything that would anger me," Hayden said as he looked pointedly at me.

Fine, most of the time it might be my fault, but he didn’t have to get that angry all the time.

"What was it that you wanted to tell me so badly?" Hayden asked and I could feel his eyes on me.

I looked away for a moment to gather my thoughts and pick my words. It was hard to say, and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to take back my words after they left my mouth so I had to be extra careful.

"I want to be with you. I’m scared but I still want to be with you. I don’t want us to be separated no matter what…" I said before pausing to think of my next words.

Hayden had the most bewildered expression on his face. He looked at me like I had said something totally ridiculous and twisted.

"Why do you have to look so shocked?" I muttered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You wanted to talk so I’ll listen," Hayden said instead of replying to my question.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that after thinking a lot about it, I’ve figured out that I can’t really imagine a future without you so if it’s possible, I would like us to be together…always…" I said before glancing up at his face to see his reaction.

Harvey did tell me to propose to Hayden but how the hell was I supposed to say something like ’will you marry me?’ to Hayden of all people. That was the best that I could do. It sounded pretty much like a proposal to me although I wasn’t sure if Hayden would get it.

Hayden looked at me with a confused expression and I started to get the feeling that he didn’t really understand the meaning behind my words. Just when I thought that I was being quite blunt and straightforward about it too!

"And?" Hayden said questioningly.

What does he mean by that? What more does he want me to say?

"Umm…what more do you want me to say?" I asked as I started to feel heat rise to my cheeks.

It’s so embarrassing. I’ve just told him so many embarrassing things. I can’t believe I said those sweet and corny things to him. He must think that I’ve completely gone crazy. Suddenly, I felt even more self-conscious than usual and the fact that Hayden was staring at my face did not help my case at all.

"I want you to say what you really want to say," Hayden pressed as his arms tightened around my waist.

I could feel the heat of his body against my back and the warmth of his breath close to my ear. He’s really not going to let me go until he squeezed out everything out of me.

"Hayden…" I said his name softly.

"Hmm?" Hayden made a questioning sound before he waited for me to go on.

I’m probably going to regret saying this but at least, I meant it so…

"I think…that I want to…marry you. Do you…want to marry me too?" I confessed before asking him about what he thought about the matter.

I bit my lower lip hard when I realized that I was more nervous about hearing his response than I was embarrassed about telling him directly that I wanted to marry him.

Hayden’s eyes looked at me and I could tell that for a moment he was completely lost. He blinked at me cluelessly, and I watched his long blond lashes flutter as his eyelids moved.

"How stupid can you be?" Hayden asked me after he spent a few seconds looking at me with a completely dumbstruck expression.

I just confessed that I basically wanted to marry him and be his wife and instead of commenting on that he was commenting on my IQ level instead. What is wrong with him?!

I dipped my face low and glared at him. If he thinks that I’m going to let him off the hook after all the effort that I had already put in just because he made an offhanded remark like that, he was about to learn that he was so wrong.

"Hayden Torex, do you want to marry me or not?! Will you marry me or not?!" I yelled loudly.

Something inside me snapped and suddenly all my emotions and frustration started pouring out. It felt like I was about to explode. I turned around in his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck as I continued staring deeply into his blue eyes. No matter what, I’m going to get some type of answer out of him today. None of the embarrassment that I experienced will be in vain.

"Why do you want to marry me?" Hayden asked, fully composed and calm.

"Does my response influence your answer? Because it shouldn’t," I spat what he had said to me back at him in full force.

Unlike the last time that we had this conversation, I had my answer for him this time around and I felt that it was only fair that he gave me his answer as well. Hayden seemed thoughtful for a moment before he closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh as if in defeat. I perked up at once, sensing that he was finally ready to give me his answer.

I stared at his face without blinking as my ears strained itself in preparation for hearing his answer.

"I don’t think that we should get married," Hayden said firmly as he looked deeply into my eyes.

--To be continued…