HER POV

       "Although, I am saddened by your departure, it will be nice to have some privacy again," Derek teases as he helps me fold my clothes.

"Ouch," I feign a hurt expression as I clutch my heart for emphasis.

Derek's laughter fills the room, but it soon dies down as he realizes something. His face morphs into one of hesitation. I raise an eyebrow as we lock eyes, motioning him to ask what it is he wants to ask.

Derek kneels down beside me. He settles my folded shirts into my suitcase and gently takes of the lint from one of them.

"Have you told Brian about you-know-who?" He finally questions with a nervous look in his eyes.

"No," I let out a heavy sigh as I return my gaze to the half-way folded jeans. As I am looking down at the faded marks on the jeans, I feel Derek give my shoulder a comforting squeeze.

       "Even though you haven't seen any cars following you lately, you still have to tell him," he states. "If you are to take this relationship serious, which by the looks of it you are, you must be honest."

       I turn to Derek with teary-eyed look.

       "What if he leaves me?" I whimper.

       "He stuck with you after catching you red-handed," Derek reminds. "If he stuck with you even after that, he will stay with you after finding out the truth."

Before I can respond, a light knock at the door diverts our attention. We both look at one another and Derek gives me a 'you have to tell him' look.

"I'll go open the door," Derek says and I nod.

I quickly pack the few clothes that are left and zip up the suit case. The duffel bag that I brought with me taunted me as I stood up. I quickly wrap it and throw it over my shoulder.

"Hey man, how have you been?" Derek asks as he opens the door to reveal Brian.

"Good and you?" Brian responds as he gives Derek a friendly handshake. Brian's eyes turn to me and he smiles. "You ready to go love?"

"Mhmm," I hum with a nod.

Brian takes the suitcase and I turn to Derek, opening my arms to bid him farewell with a hug.

"Take care," he whispers before we pull away.

"Thank you for everything," I reply with a grateful smile.

We finally part ways and I follow Brian toward the elevator. For the first time in a long time, I am not worried about the decision I have made. Brian's smile only makes me even more confident in the choice.

***

"Welcome home," Brian opens the door to the familiar apartment.

"We are really doing this," I state with an excited smile as I step into the apartment. Although, I have been here many times, in this moment it feels different. This is my home now.

"I have made some space for you in our closet," Brian's excitement can be heard as he speaks.

He grabs my hand and leads us to our room. The previous sheets are replaced with ones that are lilac. I immediately recognise them. I showed them to Brian one day while scrolling through Pinterest.

The whole room has been decorated and moved around to fit two people. There is even a vanity at the far corner near the window.

"You did all of this for me?" I ask, touched by his sweet gestures.

Brian wraps his arms around my waist and places a peck on my neck.

"You have me head over heels for you Sam," he says in his husky voice which sends lustful shivers down my spine. He pulls away leaving me with a pout on my lips. "These are for you."

       I find a golden pair of keys in his hand. I take them from his hand and the moment finally becomes real.

       "This is officially your home," Brian says.

       I look up at him, holding back my tears. My home. After three years, I finally have a home and someone to get back to.

       I lean up and connect our lips. In that one kiss, I want to show him how much he means to me. In that one kiss, I want him to know that he has changed my life for the better.

       The ringing of his phone interrupts the moment and we pull away slowly. Brian looks down annoyed to see who is calling.

       "It's the food I ordered," he says. "I am going to go pick it up and then we can get back to where we left off."

       I chuckle at his comment and follow him out the door. He leaves the apartment to pick up the order waiting downstairs and I walk over to the cabinets in the kitchen. I set the keys on the counter near me and I search through the cabinets hoping to find some plates and cups.

       "Bingo!" I grin as I finally find them.

       As I am setting the plates on the countertop, I feel Derek's earlier words ringing through my ears. I look over at the set of keys and bit my bottom lip. I have to tell him.

       I hear the door open and I feel my heart freeze. I stare at the cupboard before finally speaking up.

"Brian I have to tell you some—" I turn around and instead of Brian standing there it is Eloise. "—thing."

Eloise does not seem pleased by my presence, she never is. She sets the paper bag filled with groceries on the dinning table and turns to me with one eyebrow lifted and her hand on her hip.

"I see that Brian has decided to stick to his word," she says in a distasteful tone.

I suck in a deep breathe trying to contain my anger. Her judgemental gaze looks at me from head to toe.

"Look, Eloise," I say through gritted teeth. "Things between Brian and I are going seriously. Whether you approve of it or not, I am his girlfriend. Now you can suck up your jealousy because this is how things are. I am going to live under this roof because Brian asked me to and I love him."

"You don't love him," Eloise scoffs. "I do not trust you Samantha, and I will do my best to prevent another heartbreak for Brian."

       I open my mouth but before the words can leave the tip of my tongue, Brian walks into the apartment with our Chinese food in hand.

       "Hey El," Brian greets as he sets the food on the countertop. "Wanna join us for dinner?"

       "I am good," Eloise gives him a strained smile, though her cold glare is on me. "I have a report I have to finish, but you two have fun." 

       Eloise turns on her heel and steps into her bedroom. Brian furrows his eyebrows and turns to me with a concerned expression.

"What happened?" He asks and I muster all I can to offer him a smile.

"Nothing," I assure.

Nothing at all.

Author's Note
Hola my lovelies! I am happy to say that I am finally on summer vacay! Which means I will have more time to write and upload chapters. Those of you who follow me on my other account, I am happy to say I will finally be continue Boyfriend for Rent and The Princess and The Fraud. I am hoping to have this book done by the end of this month and begin Forbidden Attractions by June. Wish me luck!

Today we got yet another jealous episode from none other than Eloise. When do you think she'll finally give up on Brian? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Thank you all so much for reading. Leave a vote and share if you enjoyed. I will be seeing you Friday with a new chapter.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay awesome.
Xoxo, Liz 💋💋💋