Three years ago.

Jace's POV.

"I look like one of those guys that try too much to impress a girl," I glance down at my outfit before turning my head to look at Diego, who's spinning around in my chair and restraining from laughing at my appearance.

"You look just fine," he waves a dismissive hand.

"Why do I have to wear a suit? We're not even going out, it's an indoor date." I point out.

"Yeah but it's still a date and you kinda have to be a real gentleman tonight, you owe her that." He says.

I look at myself in the mirror again and I re-adjust my necktie.

"I know." I whisper underneath my tone.

"You know, you and I never really talked about this whole Cassandra versus Olivia thing." He says behind me.

I pause, my heart somehow aches in my chest and I look down at my shoes for some reason.

"And it shall stay that way." I speak.

"Nah," I hear his footsteps approaching,"I think we need to discuss it, Jace, we've been friends since we were in diapers and I've never seen you look so confused over anything." He puts emphasis on the word.

"Well, I probably never told you this but that TV show Dark confused the shit out of me and math confuses me all the time so..."

"I'm serious, bro." He sounds serious.

I sigh, turning around to face him.

"It wasn't my proudest moment, okay?" I speak slowly, he shakes his head at me then he places his hand on my shoulder.

"I know I was on Olivia's side the whole time but, I now realize that I never got to hear your side of the story." He says.

"My side of the story sucks, man, I don't even have a valid explanation." I force a chuckle.

"Okay then give me the sloppy one because if you don't then I'm gonna keep thinking you only liked Cass cause sandy said you couldn't have her." He bites, I give him a narrowed side look.

"Of course you think that."

"Then what am I supposed to think, Jace, she looks like that and everyone wants her and you love having what other people want." He laughs.

"It's not just about the way she looks, Diego, she's so much more than that." The words escape my mouth before I can stop them.

"Do explain it for us dummies." He smirks at my confession.

I shut my eyes, taking a deep sigh.

I smooth my gelled hair, stepping away from my best friend and feeling overwhelmed about this topic.

I stand a few feet from him, placing my hands on my hips and internally telling myself that it's okay to talk about it.

"Cass ripped herself open and she let me see all her ugly insides, I was supposed to judge her, she expected me to judge her but I looked into her eyes and I saw myself." I say honestly, "I know you and Olivia thought it had something to do with sexual chemistry or whatever but no, I didn't even think about sex, I bet that's why I didn't realize I had fallen for her." I swallow, looking elsewhere.

"Dude-"

"I know what you're gonna say, I bonded with someone over something as ridiculous as human emotion and I fucked up my relationship real bad but I'm sorry, I know Cass will never forgive me but I really am trying to make it up to Olivia." I palm my jaw frustratedly.

"You know I want what's best for you, right?" He huffs.

"Right." I nod.

"So be honest with me.." he takes two steps towards me, "Is there any part of you that regrets picking Olivia over Cass?" He asks.

"No." I immediately shake my head, he nods in understanding.

"Do you miss her?" He wiggles his eyebrows in a teasing way.

"No." I lie.

"You're lying, bro, what part of we've been best friends since forever do you not understand?" He flies his hands in the air.

"Okay, fine, maybe I miss her annoying lectures but that's it, she was a good friend to me and I messed it up." I purse my lips.

"Befriending a super hot teen model you weren't planning on dating was probably the dumbest idea you've ever had." He jokes.

"Yeah, I get that now," I respond in a lighter tone, "I want Olivia to feel special though," I smile at the idea, "Tonight and the days to come." I add.

"Let's get you laid, brother." He pats my shoulder excitedly.

"That is not what I meant." I snort.

"Oh, I know." He responds with a cocky grin, I roll my eyes.

The sound of my doorbell causes both of our heads to snap towards my bedroom door.

"Fucking finally." Diego walks towards it.

I glance down at my hands and they're literally shaking.

Well, my bedroom has been turned into a honeymoon themed suite and my dining table is full of different kind of food that could feed my family and my neighbor's family too.

I feel like I'm getting married at eighteen years old and I'm scared that my bride is gonna leave me on that alter then I'll be miserable for the rest of my life.

God, I think too much.

Diego opens the door and reveals a smiling Olivia.

I don't know what people call this fucking dress she's wearing but I'm gonna call it a one shoulder hot girl dress.

It's red, it's short and it wraps around her little body like a second skin so yeah, the name fits just fine.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I think I just fell for her all over again.

Also, how the hell am I gonna get through dinner without losing my mind over that dress?

"What? You don't like it?" She looks at herself with a frown, Diego pins me with a confused look.

"No, no, Liv, I fucking love it." I assure her and she lights up again.

"Well you should have said that instead of that, asshole." Diego slaps my chest with the back of his hand.

"I'm sorry," I apologize.

"He's a dick, you look hot as fuck, Livvy, if he wasn't your boyfriend-"

"Oh but he is her boyfriend and he does not approve of whatever you're about to say." I squint my eyes at him in a threatening way.

"That's my cue," he smiles at both of us and saunters passed Olivia, "Have fun, kids!" He shouts, Olivia looks at him over her shoulder then snaps her eyes back to mine.

"Hey," I grin.

"Hi." Her chest heaves.

"You look breathtakingly beautiful," I whisper, leaning into her face.

"Yeah?" Her gaze dances around my face.

"Yeah." I give her a prolonged kiss.

I let her inside the house and lead her to the dinning room, she looks at all the dishes and widens her eyes in shock.

"Did you guys order food and then try to make it look like you actually cooked?" She scoffs.

"Now why would we do that?" I ask.

"I don't know, to impress me?"

"The impressing you part is waiting upstairs, Diego and I cooked the food." I say.

"You cook?" She's surprised.

"My mother is my mother so yeah, I cook alright." I respond with a chuckle.

"You just became ten times more hotter in the last five seconds." She says more to herself.

"A win for me." I shrug.

"What's upstairs?" She questions, taking slow steps towards me.

"A surprise."

"What kind of surprise?" She tilts her head to the side.

"Let's eat." I try to change the subject.

"No, I really wanna know what's upstairs." She pushes the issue.

"Olivia." I sigh.

"Please?" She stands in front of me, touching my necktie in a seductive way.

"Okay, geez, you don't have to seduce me, upstairs we go." I give in and I take her upstairs.

I've never done anything romantic for a girl before, which is why I had no idea what to do for Olivia on this indoor date but then Diego stepped in and saved the day but let's just say he went a little too far with my bedroom.

There are lit candles, rose petals on white sheets, melted chocolate, strawberries, wine, oil and lots of condoms.

"Rose petals? Seriously?" She says as soon as we enter my room.

"It was Diego's idea." I scratch the back of my neck in embarrassment.

"Diego would do anything to get you laid." She walks around the room, staring at everything.

"I know." I say.

She doesn't look very impressed to me.

"Was this Diego's idea too?" She dips a strawberry in the melted chocolate on my nightstand and takes a bite.

I fist my hands in my pockets, watching the way her tongue sweeps over her lower lip.

Fucks sake.

"Nah, that was all me." I manage to respond.

"I'm impressed." She finally exclaims, which brings a smile to my face.

The hand in my left pocket brushes over something I tossed in there earlier.

"I have something for you." I tell her, she raises a brow.

"Really? What is it?" Her gaze turns curious.

I pull it out of my pocket, holding the chain between my thumb and index finger.

She stares at it dangling between my fingers.

"A star necklace." She says the obvious, her tone beaming with excitement.

"I saw it and I just had to get it for you." I also stare at the thing.

"it's so pretty." She whispers softly.

"Bet it will look even prettier around your neck." I say, she quickly turns around and drags her hair to one side of her shoulder.

I amble towards her and I hang the necklace around her neck, then I wrap my arms around her from behind, kissing her cheek.

"I'm never taking it off." She studies the tiny star between her fingers.

"I agree." I grip her hips, kissing her nape and inhaling her sweet scent.

"Where's your family anyway?" She brings her hand to grip my hair as she pushes her ass back onto my hard on.

"You're just begging for me to rip this pretty dress off you, huh?" I look down to where our bodies flash together.

"Maybe." She says breathlessly.

I spin her around so she's facing me.

"Dinner, drinks, conversation, then I fuck you wherever you want cause my family will be gone for an entire weekend."

"Deal." She smiles, satisfied.