"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. "

― Maya Angelou 

Asher POV

"This place is too big for one person." Hailey mutters quietly as we both wall down the halls of my new place, heading straight towards the kitchen.

I look at her amused as I lace my hand in hers. "You could always live here with me."

She whips her head to stare at me with wide eyes. 

Snorting, she pokes me in the side with her finger. "Don't joke, we just started dating Ash."

Ash...

I love it so fucking much when she calls me that.

I won't lie, I've loved spending time with Hailey, I'm at the point in my life to admit that I like her a lot, I could see myself settling down with Hailey, but I wonder if she feels the same?

I've left hints for the past week at every opportunity whenever we've gone out to eat privately or hung out at my place, I've even given her a key to my place, but so far she's waved it off as me joking.

"I'm serious Hailey." I say, smiling at her. "You could live comfortably here I cou-"

She stops walking and looks at me with a frown. "Is this because I told you about my debt?" 

I frown. "No." Maybe a little.

When she doesn't say anything or move, I sigh out. "I just want to spend time with you Hailey, there's plenty of spare rooms if you don't want to sleep with me, you could save money and go back to university."

She moves her hand from mine and tenses up. "We haven't gone public yet... people will talk..."

I snort out loudly. "So what? You're afraid of what strangers will say about you, my girlfriend moving in with me?" I say, my voice getting louder.

She freezes and rubs her arm, avoiding my eyes she stares at the ground awkwardly. "People will assume I'm only with you for your money, you'd be helping me out... I don't.. I can't be... I-"

I stand in front of her and put my hands on either side of her face and raise her head to look at me in the eyes. "So go public with me, I'll always protect you Hailey, all you have to do is true me." 

I can see her hesitate from her eyes but after a few seconds go by she nods her head, closing her eyes, I wrap my arms around her and bring her in for a hug. I love holding her like this, with her arms around me.

"How?" She mumbles out into my chest.

I hum.

How indeed? I had thought about this, there's only one way I can do this where I know the results will be the best, on my Instagram where my millions of followers will see it, including the press.

"How do you feel about me posting that picture I took of us on my Instagram?" I suggest.

She looks up at me, her face is one of anxiety. "Yours? With millions of followers..?"

I grin and nod my head.

She swallows hard and bites on her lip nervously. "..O-Okay."

Thank fuck for that, I had already planned this a week ago, originally I had wanted to do this immediately to avoid gossip or rumors but Hailey kept brushing it off so I held myself back by posting anything.

But from my lack of posting, there was gossip anyways that I had gone quiet, many comments on my last photo are mostly filled with all kind of rumors like I must be dating a supermodel or an actress from my lack of activity. 

Grabbing my phone from my front pocket I begin to go public with the girl I'm falling deeply for, I'd do anything to protect her from my world, but I can't unless she's all in with me, this is the first step for us.

After this, it will be a walk in the park for me to dismiss rumors and speculation regarding our relationship.

"All done." I grin out, passing her my phone.

Hailey holds onto the phone with shaky hands and looks at the post I just uploaded.

"Holy crap....." She mumbles out, staring at my phone. "It's already blown up.." She says quietly, her voice shaking.

I laugh I shrug and lace my hand back in hers as she hands the phone back, still lost in thought, leaning down I kiss her on the lips. "This is good for us baby, we have nothing to hide, it's just you and me from here on out, fuck everyone else." 

She nods her pretty little head as I drag her along with me, making her sit on the sofa near the kitchen I lean down and kiss her on the forehead with a smile on my face so wide it's hurting.

I'm so fucking happy, it's beyond anything I've ever felt before.

Who knew having a girlfriend you actually love and care about can feel like this? I feel ten times more light than I did before.

"So Mr. Reed, what's for lunch?" Hailey beams up at me and my heartbeat quickens at what I just realized.

The words were there in my head as I looked down at this beautiful girl in front of me and I couldn't take them back, the more I looked at her the more I wanted to say the words that were on the tip of my tongue.

I love her, I'm in love with Hailey Quinn.

I love you.

My chest tightens at the realization and I swallow hard and try to process what she just said, but all I can think about is how much I love her.

"Sorry, what did you say love?" I ask, swallowing the lump in the throat back then clearing my throat.

Her giggling makes my skin shiver. "I asked what's for lunch?" She says smiling at me.

Stepping back I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart. "Whatever you want."

"Sushi!" She says excitedly as she sits up straight on the sofa with a shy grin on her lips.

I laugh huskily, loving seeing her so excited this much about food. "Coming right up Misses Quinn."

Walking into the kitchen with my phone in hand as I hear Hailey turn on the TV, I dial the number for the best Sushi takeaway but the only thought in my mind is how fucking amazing her name sounds with my last name.

Mrs. Hailey Reed.

With the beating of my heart and the realization of how I feel about her, I can just bet that she is the only girl for me, and with the world now knowing she's with me, I'll do anything to protect her and keep her safe, so she stays with me, so I can make her happy and give her the world.