"That's excellent." He smiled at her and she smiled back. She bit her lip. "I didn't want to come initially and was kidnapped by my manager who thought it was imperative for me to sort this out. I have been moping, you see." She let out a small giggle at that.

  "So, you didn't want to come," she said softly, going silent.

  "At first, no. And then a talk with the manager and my mother later, I realized how I yearned to be with you. I was miserable when we didn't talk and I was furious at myself for allowing myself to say those hurtful things to you when I meant none of it. I get that now, but back then I was too taken with my emotions and how you were attacking me to think straight."

  "I can't apologize. I should have been calmer when I spoke to you. I should have realized that your life was more complicated. You have always told me that." She sighed and placed her head in her palm.

  "No, love. It's not your fault. I love that you could feel so much for me. I know anger is not what I was going for, but we are young and we can channel this passion elsewhere. Couples have misunderstandings and they fight."

  "You are a year older than me, but you sound like a grandfather," she sniffed.

  "Are you crying again?" he croaked, scooting closer to her and taking her back into his arms. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and smiled. This would be the first kiss of many kisses to come; he would make sure that was what happened.

  "Wait. Did you say 'couple'?" She sounded astonished as she raised her head.

  "What else do you think we are? After everything we have done." A wicked grin took over his face. And a blush was plastered on hers. "When have we not been a couple?"

  The words buzzed in her head.

  'I thought we were talking casually over the internet and here you are saying that it was all serious. This is craziness.'

  "There is so much I want to ask, and Angelina did most of the job for me." He chuckled.

  "You heard all of that?" she said through her embarrassment.

  "Yeah. She was really nice about it all and much more amiable than I thought she would be." He shrugged.

  "She can be a little scary at times, but she is also one of my best friends."

  "You never spoke of her that way." He tilted his head to the side and looked at her with warm eyes.

  "I sometimes forget that she is my friend. Our dynamic is weird. You must have realized that by now." She gave a watery smile.

  "She told me a lot about how her situation went and well… we are in a better position, I have to say," he chuckled. She scrunched up her face cutely. Cage was enticed to kiss her at the moment, but he had to curb his urges.

  "She did?" she sounded surprised.

  He chuckled. "Yeah. How was the date, love?" His expression became grim again and her eyes widened. Of course, she hadn't expected him to come out like that.

  "I'm just stumped that I went out on a date with the wrong guy and came back home to find the two men I dreamt about being combined into one," she confessed. She grabbed the stray whisk of hair falling on her face and swept it back in an awkward motion.

  "I'm glad you think I am the dream guy but are you sure you don't want… Barry?" His tongue stung to take the name. If he could, he would banish the guy to the pits of hell for placing his eyes on his girl.

  Seeing the apprehension in her eyes, he further commented, "I heard what you said to Angelina, but I was just making sure that you weren't pressured into thinking that way. It's fine if you like him."

  'No, damnit. It's not fine if she likes him. I don't want her to not like me. I don't want her to like a pervert like Barry.' One part of him screamed.

  The seconds it took her to contemplate her answer felt like hours to him. "He is a nice man but he is not…" her eyes darted around the room as if she were searching for the exact word. "You," she breathed suddenly, making his heart skip a beat.

  'Praise the Lord.' He had needed her to say it out loud even though he had heard her iterate these same words to Angelina.

  Suddenly she moved away from him, quick enough for him to be shocked at the move. "I… am not convinced that you are not with that girl." She looked confused and he couldn't blame her for it.

  "I'm sorry for lying and saying that she was my girlfriend. I was so angry that I… lied." And once a lie was told, there was no way other than to tell the truth over and over again to redeem oneself. Cage knew that the moment would haunt him and make her insecure. He knew her, and he knew how much he would hate to be the side chick.

  It was nauseating to imagine her thinking of herself in that capacity. She was not the side chick; she would never be. It was impossible.

  "There were news reports of the two of you recently, too." Damn the media. They were always behind him and lurking in his business, ensuring he never got to be happy.

  "You have to trust me. I am not with her." She looked hopeful, she really did. "We both said things to intentionally hurt each other and we have apologized for that. If it is not enough, I will keep apologizing until you are perfectly content with my reasons."

  'I won't let you go.'

  "If you don't mind me asking. Now that you know who I am, in what capacity do you want to know me? Just as a friend—" He hoped not. "Or just as a star."