"Vina seriously?" Griffin asked as we sit at an upscale pizzeria with the busy streets of the upper east side lying outside, "You could've waited for her response y'know,"

I roll my eyes, "No because I'm over it, I'm so fucking over it Griffin. She just keeps coming and going when she wants and it's messed up,"

He purses his lips as he finishes chewing his slice of cheese pizza, "I'm not saying it isn't—I'm just saying you could've waited instead of rushing us both out of the club,"

I sigh dramatically now regretting my decision for not waiting for her reply, instead, I stormed out of the bathroom before quickly leaving the club. What if she was finally going to agree to being casual? I mean I could be back at her place right now with everything finally right in the world.

"Ugh I just want her," I whine like a dramatic child as I rest my elbows on the small two-person granite table.

Griffin chuckles, "Then go back and tell her," he suggested before taking another bite of his pizza.

"No-no she'll reject me again Griff," I frown with an irritated look coating my face. Why does this have to be so complicated? All I want is her—why can't I just have that?

Griffin swallows his food, "Look, just give it one more try—just one more," he suggested with a raised brow, "If she rejects you again then you officially give up,"

I contemplate the idea, but it just seems so unrealistic, "I can't Griff," I whine again.

"Yes, you can and I know you want to—I know you haven't given up hope even if that's what you told her," he points out before taking a sip of the water provided in the thick tall glass.

I sigh before taking a long gulp of my own cold water, feeling thirsty now that I've seen Griffin drinking his drink. The idea swirls throughout my heavy head as I rest my head in my open palm, should I give it one last try?

"I guess you're right," I reluctantly admit which causes a smile to spread onto his lips.

Griffin shrugs, "When am I not?" he asked, "We can go back to the club to try and find her," he suggests which causes me to shake my head.

"I doubt she's still there—I mean it's been an hour already, and it's one in the morning," I sighed.

Griffin pointed his finger at me, "You're making excuses,"

"I am, aren't I?" I asked with furrowed brows.

"You are," he concluded before wiping his hands off on the paper napkin, "Catch an Uber to her place since you think she isn't at the club," he added as he unlocked his phone.

I tilt my head in thought before hesitantly nodding, "Okay,"

"Good because I just ordered you an Uber," he said with a devious smile.

I chuckle, "Why am I not surprised?" I asked, "What about you? What are your plans after this?"

Griffin's devious smile grows, "Probably to my recent flings house in Brooklyn,"

An airy laugh leaves my lips, "Good for you Griff," I lightly shove his shoulder which earns a smile from him.

"You better text me details in the morning—or better yet, let's meet for coffee whenever you wake up,"

"You're assuming this is all going to work out?"

Griffin jokingly scoffs, "Hell yeah I am—Cayden will be home, and she will definitely want you. Claim it,"

I shake my head with a loose smile, "I claim it,"

"Good, let's get going. Our Uber's are less than three minutes away," he declared. We rose from our chairs and exited the upscale pizzeria out onto the cold streets of the busy city.

We said our brief goodbyes before parting ways in separate Ubers, while Griffin was probably excited to go to his flings house, I was nervous and anxious. I'm glad I didn't eat any pizza because there's no doubt in my mind that it wouldn't have ended up all over the interior of this Uber driver's car. The ride to Cayden's condo was short, too short honestly, especially since I needed more time to contemplate what I was going to say. Didn't I say I was done with her? I don't even remember what all I said honestly, I mean I was so angry... and tipsy—well, beyond tipsy, but not quite drunk.

Walking back into the building of her condo brought back feelings of rejection, of Cayden icing me out. But it also reminded me of how gentle and caring Cayden was. Our connection was undeniable, and the way she treated me when she was able to forget about the whole Sebastian situation, meant something.

I stood in front of the familiar white french embroidered door, knowing that I'd have to decide if I really wanted to do this. If I really wanted to take the leap into the deep in or not. Would I put myself out there one last time for a person who'd rejected me numerous times? Would I be able to get through to her that whatever we had was good enough to risk it all? Risk upsetting a few people who would eventually come around with due time?

After a few minutes passed, I realized I couldn't put it off anymore. I knocked on the wide white door and waited, hoping she'd answer.

I waited, listening to the sound of something moving from inside the condo. For a second, I realized that maybe I'd been too bold. Maybe Cayden had someone over and I was going to look like some desperate girl who won't leave her alone. Or perhaps she's sleeping... or not even here in the first place. I felt so stupid for even trying, for bothering to give Cayden another shot—and I know Griffin encouraged me, but it's like now that I'm here everything and every feeling is so different.

And then I realized that maybe it wasn't stupid. I assumed that all the effort I was putting in meant that I was going after what I wanted. I communicated to Cayden exactly what I wanted from her and how I felt, I refused to believe she didn't actually want me based on how she acted around me. Her words were saying one thing while her body said another—and they always say actions speak louder than words.

Finally, the door opened and Cayden was standing in front of me. Her dark raven hair was pulled into a high bun and she smelled amazing, like a mix of her spiced cologne and fresh hair product. She was wearing loose athletic shorts which illuminated her tattooed tone legs, and a long sleeve shirt which undoubtedly covered the tattoos lining her arms. Although the tattoos crawling up her neck to the ones on her face were all still visible along with her exposed fingers covered in the ink. She looked genuinely surprised to see me.

"What happened to the woman?" she asked.

"You know what happened," I said and after some thought, Cayden gestured to let me inside. It was a small victory, but I tried to not think too much of it.

"Why are you here?" Cayden asked, keeping her back to me and her face turned away as we walked through the familiar entry hall to the open living area.

"You've always been such a good person," I said. "I can easily tell. You drove me home after everything with Sebastian without question. You paid for the hotel. You made sure I was doing okay. You're even now avoiding me because you're afraid of hurting Sebastian. Everything you're doing is because you're a good person. But by being a good person... you're hurting me,"

When Cayden stood there silently with her back facing me, I decided to continue, "Every time you show me an act of kindness that reads like friendship and then do something like tell me you heard me getting myself off in the shower or how badly you want to fuck me or watching me cum, it's... confusing, Cayden. You act like it's platonic and then it goes too far which makes you pull back because you're worried about hurting Sebastian. But what about me Cayden? What about my head being messed with? Or being rejected by the one person who I'm most attracted to? Who makes me feel something so incredible that it's hard to describe?"

"That's lust, Vi," Cayden said, her raspy voice soft and gentle. She finally turned to face me, "It's all lust. You want me to disrupt your life and mine over something that might fade?"

"Love can fade," I pointed out. "But that's what makes it so worth it when it's good—this good," I motion between us, "And it could get even better—let's just... let's just live for right now, you and me,"

We stood there in silence. Cayden had clearly expected me to chew her out and I kind of had at the club earlier, but I knew this was what I needed to say. It was easy to fall back on yelling and blaming and questioning, but the reality was that we needed to just talk—in a level-headed sense. Discussing this the morning after we touched ourselves in front of one another or at a club after we hadn't talked in a week—wasn't the best setting or timing. But now is—now can be.

"What if I'm not a good person?" Cayden asked. "All of this—everything you just said to me, it feels like I'm not a good person. Because you're right, I've been messing with your head, I've been making things confusing for both of us. I keep crossing lines I know I shouldn't cross but I feel like those lines disappear when I'm with you. I... that seems like things that a bad person would do,"

"No," I said, my voice barely audible. "That's what someone with normal, human feelings would do," Cayden took a hesitant step toward me, "I don't blame you for any of this. I was mad and I still am a little bit, but I'm mostly hurt. I really do want to give this a chance... I've tried to meet other people, but I miss you Cayden. I miss what I know we could be,"

Cayden breathed a soft laugh out of her nose, "We could be pretty great couldn't we?"

"Yes..." I trailed off, "And that's what matters. Not what you think you have to do to make Sebastian happy. This is about us—only us,"

For a moment, I was worried Cayden was going to tell me that none of it mattered. Her expression was extremely hard to read, a cloudy mix of confusion and hurt seemed to battle their way onto her face. She was physically closer to me compared to when I first arrived, but she seemed like a thousand miles away. It was like she knew what she needed to do but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

After another moment, I inhaled a sharp breath, "I'm sorry for coming here like this, I'll go,"

Cayden didn't argue. She didn't say anything else or respond as I turned around, ready to walk out of her condo. I knew in that moment she wasn't going to come around and that it was over. But I was proud of myself for at least trying and putting myself out there.

"Vi," Cayden said behind me and I turned to look at her. She was beautiful, her skin bare like usual and dark strands of her hair falling from her high bun and framing her sharp face. I wondered if things could have been different if I'd met her before I met Sebastian.

But I didn't have too long to think about it.

In no time at all, she walked up to me, put her hands softly to my face, and kissed me.