Chapter 40

"Speak..." Venelope said.

"Why are you so persistent about taking Jay?"

"Taking her where?" he asked crossly.

"To your home...?"

"Yes," he said, straightening.

"Yes?" she echoed, raising a brow.

"I'm asking why you're asking."

He gave a tired sigh.

"Ah... well, you see, her parents won't allow it unless you give a logical reason. They're not going to just hand her over to someone they barely know."

"She's my to-be wife. Isn't that a good enough reason?" he replied, moving forward and slamming the car door shut behind him.

"She is to-be wife. That is not wife." Venelope shot back. "That's the difference you're forgetting. I'd suggest you learn the meaning of both terms."

"Don't talk to me like this!" he snapped. "Don't you see how they've been treating her? You do know what they're doing, and you're still standing here trying to argue with me? They've been totally neglecting her, leaving her to suffer on her own! Do you know this isn't even the first time she's ended up in the hospital like this?"

Venelope's face twisted in shock.

"Wait... what do you mean, not the first time?"

He gave her a hard look.

"Exactly what I said. And you her so-called friend don't even know that? You say you're her friend, but you didn't know she's been suffering this badly for a while?"

Venelope flushed with guilt.

"That still doesn't give you the right to try and take her away without even asking her."

"I'm asking her parents on her behalf "

"Do you think she'd like that?" Venelope cut in, voice rising. "You think she doesn't know her parents are neglecting her? You think if they agree to send her off to you like some unwanted package, she'll accept it without questions? Without hurt? Without feeling completely betrayed? You're thinking too highly of yourself and way too little of her!"

He stood there, stunned, quiet for a moment. The words stung, but they were true.

She was right Jay was already at odds with her family. And now, if he swooped in and whisked her away under the guise of rescue, even with their permission, she'd feel wounded. Angry. Maybe even more alone.

"So... what do you suggest?" he asked finally, voice softer.

"Talk to her." Venelope replied, arms folded.

"Talk to who?" he asked, alarm creeping into his voice.

"Jay. Who else?!" she snapped.

"No. I can't." He turned away abruptly.

"What?" she cried. She moved in front of him, nearly grabbing his shoulders in frustration, then stopped herself, placing her hands on her hips instead.

She exhaled deeply.

"Do you like her?" she asked at last.

He froze. His hand was on the car door handle, but he didn't move.

Venelope reached out and placed her hand over the door.

"Stop acting like a child. Do you like her?"

He didn't answer. His mouth opened slightly, but the words refused to come.

"Ugh! What's so hard about saying you like her?!" she cried. "Now I get your problem. Listen this isn't how it's going to work. You've planned so much, you've done so much, and you've imagined a future with her. But if you don't tell her if you don't speak to her yourself she'll think you're some creep. A controlling, selfish, disrespectful guy who made choices for her without ever asking what she wanted."

"It's not like that!" he protested.

"Then what is it like?" she challenged.

He was silent again.

"Don't tell me," she said more gently. "But tell her. Tell her everything. Meet her. Confess whatever you've planned."

"How can I? She won't believe me." His voice cracked. "She doesn't even know me."

"Exactly!" Venelope said, nodding. "That's why you don't just say 'I like you.' You tell her that you believe in her. That you believe she is the one person you want beside you on the road of life."

A small smile crept onto his lips. A flicker of hope.

Venelope smiled too.

"Well… that's good. At least you can smile."

"Show her your respect, your love your faith in her," she said softly. "That's the only way she'll trust you. And never be hasty. Give her time. Space. Let her think. And when you tell her 'everything,' I mean everything. How you know her. What you've done. What you've imagined. Lay it all out."

He nodded slowly, taking it in.

"You clearly have some sort of edge over her parents," Venelope added. "And she's stuck between resentment and responsibility. She thinks marrying you is some kind of martyrdom. That she's destroying herself for them."

"No way!" he gasped, hurt twisting his face.

"Yes way, brother," she said, smirking. **"You were about to screw up real bad. If not for me…" She shrugged, smug as a cat.

He blinked.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked, voice low.

"I'm not helping you, I don't even believe you but I from what I have seen about you I think connection deserve a chance" then she scoffed and added. "I'm helping Jay. I don't want her stuck in a sad, suffocating relationship. So. Let's recap. Tell me what I just said."

"Don't force her parents..."

"Don't force her..."

"Don't act hasty..."

"Tell her everything how I know her, what plans I've made..."

He hesitated. Embarrassed because he was acting like a student in front of his teacher.

"And...?" she prompted sternly like a teacher.

"Give her time and space," he said finally.

She grinned. "Atta boy."

"What if she rejects me?" he asked, shutting his eyes.

"She might," Venelope said bluntly. "But she might not. And even if she does, she'll come around. You want to know how I know?"

He nodded.

"Because she's my friend. And nothing gets to her more than loyalty, respect, truth and protection. If you're all that for her, she'll come back to you. So yeah… way to go, kiddo."

"I am not a kid!" he shot back.

"Yeah, yeah. That's why you were about to throw a tantrum to get a toy that wasn't even yours."

He fell silent. But now, the silence was different calmer. Reflective. Her words had landed. Hard.

And oddly enough… they made him feel just a little more sure. Even if he got rejected… maybe it wouldn't be the end of the story… he just need to show her what he is willing to do for her and leave the rest to destiny.