Nearly everyone Cayden invited agreed to come over that night, which I was admittedly excited about. I liked the possibility of branching out and reminding myself that my world wasn't confined to just the people I'd been friends with at school. Thinking about everyone—especially Jade and Jaci—made me feel sick. Just because Jaci hadn't told Sebastian anything yet didn't mean she wouldn't eventually. And the fact that Jade was back from her parents and had to have known I'd moved out, yet hadn't said anything to me was beyond hurtful.

But I tried to push it all out of my mind. I had other things to worry about instead—I'd focus on getting out of school, focus on myself. I'd work on my relationship with Cayden and find a way for us to coexist in the same house without crossing any boundaries. It was a hard shift considering we'd just agreed to essentially giving dating a shot and now we were living together, but I trusted us to figure it out. It wouldn't be perfect, but it seemed like both of us were determined to make things work.

I fixed my makeup, trying my best to not look completely puffy and red-eyed. I'd been crying on and off, just completely overwhelmed by how quickly my life had fallen apart. It wasn't even so much that I was disappointed I'd lost my friends, more than anything, I was disappointed that my friends weren't who I thought they were. What kind of person gave an ultimatum like that? Who picked the boyfriend who abused me? And then essentially texted trying to take it all back?

As far as I was concerned, I never wanted to be in the same room as Jaci ever again. And I'd include everyone else in that too—they were most likely complicit. I doubted Jaci was the only person who felt the way that she did.

I tried to think if I'd seen any signs, but it was hard. I'd really believed that Jaci and I loved each other deeply and cared about each other. It was hard to hear that when given the choice, she'd abandon me for someone else—and someone who'd been horribly mean to me. A friend to all was a friend to none.

"Almost ready?" Cayden said poking her head into her—our?—bedroom. I turned and she whistled at me. "Wow, Vi. You look amazing," she said as her dark eyes trailed from my white long-sleeve laced shirt that plunged at my chest—to the black and white Alexander Wang leggings that clung to my long legs.

A hot blush washed over my cheeks. "You're just saying that," I said, taking in her baggy t-shirt that easily exposed the tattoos lining her muscular arms, the ripped jeans that hung loosely around her toned legs, and the black beanie pulled over her dark hair that was cascading down her shoulders. Her face was bare, her skin glowing which illuminated the intricate tattoos inked into areas of her face.

"No, I'm being completely serious," she said and walked toward me. "You are so beautiful. I can't believe you're mine."

Mine. I've always liked when she referred to me as hers. I could hear it a thousand times and I'd still manage to never get tired of it.

"Whose am I?" I said teasingly, putting my arms around her neck.

"Mine," Cayden said, brushing the hair out of my eyes.

I leaned in and kissed her, knowing that we had guests coming over but not really caring. I wanted time with Cayden. I wanted to be happy about this rather than completely devasted. I'd been wanting more time with her, and I'd gotten my wish, even if the circumstances weren't ideal.

Cayden kissed me back, pulling me closer to her. Our bodies were pressed together, a familiar feeling but one that would never get old.

Even though the kiss had started off mostly innocently, it quickly developed into something much more. Suddenly, the only thing on my mind was Cayden fucking me, and I really didn't mind. The lead-up to this moment wasn't perfect, but Cayden was perfect for me. She was so kind—and always had been even from the very first moment we met—and she meant so much to me.

"What we have is really special to me," I said, feeling way too vulnerable but also like I was ready for the free-fall. I was ready to go for it with Cayden. Our lips were only a breath apart, and all I could think about was kissing her again.

"Same for me, Vina," Cayden said, her voice so genuine.

"You do so much for me," I said. "You genuinely take such good care of me. I have no idea how I would've made it through any of this without you."

Cayden pulled away a little, her eyes avoiding me. "I mean... Vina, none of this would've happened if it wasn't for me."

"Sebastian was the one who got physical with me," I said. "Everything after that was fate bringing us together."

Cayden smiled a little at me. "You really don't blame me for any of this? I wouldn't blame you if you did."

"No, I don't blame you," I said. "I think this was how it was always meant to turn out. You've been so much kinder to me than anyone who'd been in my life before you. That really means something to me. Just letting me live here is... I mean, it's really so much. You take such good care of me."

"Vina, of course," Cayden said. "I'd do anything for you. I love you."

The words sent a shock through my system that was completely different from how I'd felt when Sebastian said those same words to me. When Sebastian said it, I felt a sense of dread, knowing we were going off into the deep end—deeper than I wanted to be. I also knew Sebastian was saying it to keep me under his thumb, to keep me tied to him in some way.

But with Cayden, it didn't feel like I was drowning in the deep end, instead, I felt balanced and afloat. I knew she was saying it because she felt it, rather than using it as some way to keep me around. And I knew she meant it because her actions matched her words, which was something I never got from Sebastian.

"I love you too," I said, unable to stop smiling as I said the words. It was simultaneously terrifying and exciting to be in this spot with Cayden and know that we were progressing in our relationship. But the only reason it felt scary was because I knew that I had something to lose now. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

I leaned against her dresser as Cayden pressed her body weight against mine. It was just the right amount of sexy and romantic and it felt genuinely right. It was nothing like when Sebastian and I would have sex. Sex with Cayden felt like it was about both of us, never just her.

Cayden kissed down my neck, both of us forgetting that people were coming over shortly. But this was a moment for us. There was no point in worrying about guests or schedules or time. I just wanted Cayden, I wanted her full, undivided attention.

Cayden ran her hands down my body and then up under my shirt, her skin touching mine and sending goosebumps over every inch of me. When her thumbs brushed against my nipples, I shivered from the contact. The heat rushed to my most sensitive regions, nearly making my knees buckle.

Sensing what I wanted, Cayden slowly inched her hand between the band of my leggings and my skin. When she managed to make contact, I gasped and gripped her arms with pleasure.

"What are you?" Cayden whispered in my ear as she gently massaged her thumb over my clit.

"Yours," I said, holding onto her like she was the only thing keeping me standing.

Cayden playfully bit my ear, holding me close as she increased the speed of her fingers. I let out a small moan in response, pressing my lips to Cayden's shoulder to help me from making too much noise. I know I could be as loud as I wanted, but something about the moment felt so quiet and so intimate.

I edged slowly to orgasm, really letting the feeling build and making it even better than ever before. When it finally washed over me, I gripped onto Cayden and moaned, feeling a kind of safety and security I'd never felt during sex before Cayden.

I leveled my breathing in Cayden's arms and kissed her cheek. I was about to kiss her again when there was a knock on the door and then the doorbell rang.

"I guess they're here," I said, disappointed. "I wanted to get to you..."

"You'll just have to find me later," Cayden said, smirking at me. "Let's go see who's here."

I readjusted my leggings and we headed toward the door. Cayden continued talking while I went to the kitchen to find a water bottle. "The knock and the doorbell tells me it's probably Jax, who I think you're going to really like. He plays..."

Cayden suddenly stopped speaking, making me turn to see who she'd opened the door to. My jaw nearly dropped when I saw.

"Sebastian," I said, dropping the water bottle in my hand.