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I woke up to my alarm ringing at five the next morning. I quickly turned it off, sighing as I rubbed my eyes. I have to go to the gym, goddamn it.

I looked down at where her head lay on my chest with one arm thrown over my torso and one leg tangled with mine under the covers. I didn't move and watched her for a moment.

It surprised me when she told me she loved me and it surprised me, even more, when I found myself saying it back. But it's true. I fell in love with her amidst all this chaos and I didn't even realize it until she said it. I thought I just liked her, but it was when she suggested ending this that I realized it was beyond that. I was in love with her. More than I realized, so much that it scared me a little.

I pressed a faint kiss to her lips before sliding out of bed and changing into a pair of fresh sweatpants and a v-neck. I grabbed a water bottle, put on some shoes, and then tiptoed out, going to the gym. It's still really early and I didn't want to wake her up.

I worked out for an hour and a half with my trainer, since that's all we planned, and then I went back upstairs. I had an apple, took a quick shower, changed, and went right back to bed beside her.

She stirred when I sat back down, holding the covers up and squinted one eye open. "Did you go to the gym?" she mumbled.

"Mm-hmm," I nodded, lying down and pulling her into me.

She hummed in response, closing her eyes again and shuffling closer to me, her face in the crook of my neck. I could feel her chest rise and fall with each breath as she dozed back off. I closed my eyes, putting an arm around her, and went back to sleep.

"Vince," I heard her whisper.

I hummed in response, still half asleep. I don't know how many hours it's been since I went back to bed, but I'm not done sleeping just yet.

"You have practice, come on," she mumbled a little louder this time. I groaned, opening one eye, and looked at her. She was lying on top of me, her chin resting on my chest. She grinned. "Hi."

I chuckled softly, "Hi." I moved my hands down, resting them on her hips and then moving them lower to her butt.

"Come on, get up. We have to go for practice. Coach canceled evening practice today, he has something going on at home, so you're free later today."

I blinked, staring at her. "And what will we do then?"

She stared at me before slowly smiling. "Whatever we want."

I lifted my head, leaning in and she climbed off of me, making me groan. "Come on, get up, let's move it. We can come back and do these things." She stood up and I glanced at her outfit. She had on a dress today. A pretty dress.

"You look really pretty," I mumbled, my eyes slowly coming back to hers.

She grinned.

"For who?" I lifted a brow, pulling her to sit beside me.

"For..." she trailed off, teasing me. "Myself," she concluded bluntly. "And a little for you," she added sheepishly, brushing my hair out of my eyes. "Get ready. I'll wait downstairs, I already made breakfast."

I nodded slowly, getting out of bed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before I went into the bathroom and freshened up. I changed, grabbed the duffel bag, put my shoes on, and went back downstairs.

She closed the fridge, probably putting the orange juice back inside, and flashed me a smile as I set my bag on the counter and walked up to her. "Hey, stranger," I mumbled, tilting her chin up.

She grinned, "Hey, you."

I leaned down, kissing her softly.

The kiss had already lasted too long when she moaned softly and pulled away. "No. Not right now. Eat," she ordered, pushing me to the other side of the counter. We ate and chatted about everything but last night.

We said we loved each other, we had sex again, but where does that leave us now? It's real, this relationship is real, but what about the contract?

"What about the contract, Vince?"

"I was just thinking about it. Should we terminate it?" I asked. "I'll continue to pay off your debt, don't worry. By the way, you're halfway there."

"What?" Her eyes widened.

"Yeah. I've been paying it off steadily, I told you I would, remember?"

"I remember, but... I didn't know you'd already paid off that much. Don't pay off the rest, especially if we're terminating the contract. It doesn't feel fair, it feels like I'm using my boyfriend for money," she frowned. "I can pay it off."

I shook my head. "Too late. And I'll keep the contract intact then. Once I've paid off the rest, we can terminate the contract and put it behind us." Then it can be like it was never there.

"And the apartment?" she asked hesitantly.

I paused, thinking about it. Do I really want her leaving the penthouse and not living with me anymore? No. But it's too soon to move in together. "We'll wait and see. If you still want to move out by the time those tenants do, you can. I won't hold you back."

She watched me carefully. "And if I don't? Want to leave, that is."

"Then you're more than welcome to stay, Ms. Tiffany." I sighed, standing up and carrying my empty dishes to the sink. "I told you when you came here, this place is your home too." I stood behind her, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She smiled, spinning the stool to face me. "Let's go," I said, pecking her lips.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

After practice, we were on our way back home when my phone rang in the car. "Answer it," I told Demi.

"It's your mom," she hesitated.

"Answer it, Demi."

She let out a low breath before answering it. "Hello? Yeah, it's Demi..." I felt her look at me. "Sure, I'll let him know... Okay, I'll let him know now then." She turned to me. "Your mom wants to meet you for coffee right now. She says she's at a café near your apartment. You should stop by. Uh, why don't you drop me off and go see her on your own? I think she just wants to see you."

I nodded with uncertainty. So, that's what I did. I dropped Demi off at the apartment and then drove to the café, heading inside and spotting my mom immediately.

She had on a white blazer dress and she was the only person here wearing a blazer, so she stuck out like a sore thumb. I walked over and sat across from her. "Vince, I'm glad you could come see me," she exhaled, putting her coffee mug down.

"You wanted to see me, right?" I shrugged.

"I'm a little worried after what happened at the party last night. I mean, are you okay?"

I nodded, "I'm doing just fine."

She paused, taking a look around. "Look, I'll be frank."

When isn't she?

"I'm getting a little concerned with Demi and you and this... relationship you two have," she huffed, "what are you really doing?"

I shrugged again. "I'm not doing anything. I love her and I want to be with her, that's all."

"Love?" she scoffed. "Vince, you've had her for- what- a month? And you think you're in love with her?"

I clenched my jaw before sighing and nodding. "Yeah. I've had her for what- two years? And I am in love with her."

"It's not like you've loved her ever since you've known her, come on, honey. She's not the right fit for you."

"Mom," I said sternly.

"You can't possibly love her so soon."

"Why would you say that?"

"I know it."

"Really? What do you know, then? About love?"

"Vince, I'm trying to help you."

"Help me?" I chuckled dryly, feeling anger bubbling inside of me that I haven't felt in years.

There was a time where I resented not just my dad, but Mom too. For leaving me with him, for knowing what was happening and turning a blind eye to it. She knew, of course, she knew. She saw bruises on me numerous times. She asked me only once what had happened and I told her the truth. And what did she tell me?

"If anybody asks, I want you to say you got in a fight with a boy at school, okay?"

I was fourteen when that happened. It's been eleven years and I still can't forget it.

"Mom, when have you ever really helped me? You've only helped yourself, your own reputation."

She seemed taken aback. "Vince."

"You never helped me," I said, swallowing hard afterward.

She realized I wasn't just talking about the present. She sighed in frustration, "Why can't you just move on from that?"

"Why can't you just let me go?" I retorted. "Just stop, Mom, please. Things have changed. With Demi."

"What's changed, huh? What's so different now?"

"I love her," I repeated. "Stop trying to control what I do just because it could affect your reputation. Mom, people know I'm your son but that doesn't affect me. Just how people knowing that I'm dating Demi Tiffany Vaughn, my ex-assistant and now girlfriend, won't affect you." I stood up, not wanting to waste any more time on this conversation. "I'm going home," I stated.

"I'm not done talking to you," she scolded.

"Mom, I'm not a kid anymore."

"Vince, you know I'm right. Just do as I say, honey," she sighed.

"I'm not fourteen anymore," I emphasized. "I won't say what you want me to when somebody asks. And I won't. You've never helped me, Mom. Don't try doing it now. It'll only ruin everything. I'm happy with her, isn't that enough for you? The public even likes us together, what is your problem?"

"My problem is that she's your ex-assistant who was the reason your entire career almost fell apart about seven months ago," she hissed.

"I did as much as she did, if not more, that night. That's on both of us, so stop holding her accountable for it. I know you don't like her. I just don't care."

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