Cole

''Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!'' shouted Gracie, as she jumped on my back. I had done everything in my power to try to get at least five more minutes of sleep.

''What?'' I groaned and pushed her off me gently, making her roll on to my bed.

''Where's Jasmine?'' She asked, sitting up and playing with my hair as I closed my eyes again.

It's been a week since I fired Jasmine and every day, all day, Gracie has been asking me where she was. I guess the bullshit I gave her the first time didn't work. I had tried going with the 'She's off' excuse, and she believed it for a day.

''I told you, she's on vacation.''

''You said that last time. Does Jasmine not want to be my nanny anymore?''

I wish that was the case. Would have made this a lot easier.

Opening my eyes and rubbing the sleep from them, I sat up and faced Gracie. I knew if I kept the excuses going, it would just make things worse. Plus, she was way too smart. Sometimes annoyingly too smart.

I sighed. ''She's gone.'' I said bluntly and her eyes went wide.

''Jasmine's dead?'' she asked, scared and looked at me, about to cry.

My eyebrows rose in shock at her assumption and I quickly answered, ''No! Of course not.''

''Then what happened?''

''I fired her. '' I murmured and didn't look her in the eye. It was surprising how scared I was of my six-year-old daughter.

''You what?'' She shouted and jumped off the bed. She continued to run down the hall as I got up and followed her.

''Gracie, look it's not that bad! Come on, sweetheart!'' I shouted, chasing after her.

''I hate you, daddy! I hate you, I hate you! You're the worst daddy ever!'' she shouted, and I heard her slam her door.

Ah, great, Cole. Look at what you did. Now you got the two most important girls in your life mad at you. Just fucking awesome.

Jasmine

''One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi. Four M-"

''Five, Six, Seven, can we go now?" I asked, irritated, pushing the shopping cart.

''You know just because your heartbroken doesn't mean you have to be a bitch, Jazz.'' Tatum snapped back and walked ahead of me.

After staying in my house for 6 days straight, watching the same shows and listening to the same sad songs, she had dragged me out of the house to go shopping for her boyfriend's birthday tomorrow. I made the mistake of going with her because she was so damn happy. Singing in the car, skipping while we shopped, and since I was the one who had just been fired and debating whether I was in love with my former boss, I was very jealous.

''Whatever. Let's just go, alright?''

''Fine. I think I've shopped enough anyway,'' she replied as we got in line.

I waited behind her as the cashier scanned her items and she paid for them. When they finally finished, I helped her with the bags, and soon we were on our way to my apartment.

''We need to talk,'' she said suddenly as she drove.

''I've heard that statement too many times.''

''I'm serious. It's a thing I have been avoiding asking you about out of generosity and sympathy for what you've been going through. ''

''Oh, geez. What is it now?'' I asked, paranoid. Tatum could read everyone. She could see right through you. Whatever emotion you were trying to hide, she would call you out very quickly. Sometimes it was a good thing to have, other times it was a nightmare.

''Okay, you need to answer this honestly. Don't think. Just speak. Alright?'' she asked, glancing at me.

''I'll try. It better not be something s-''

''Do you love Cole?''

''What? You c-''

''Answer, don't think!'' she shouted, cutting me off again.

''Yes!'' I answered quickly. We both gasped in astonishment as the word left my lips. I had shocked myself.

Did I really just say that?

''Oh my god, Jasmine. This is some serious shit.''

''I'm in love with Cole. I am in love with Cole.'' I repeated to myself, the shock still present on my face.

''For how long?'' she asks, smiling and still keeping her eyes on the road.

''I don't know. I just found out.''

''Then we have to go ASAP'' she said, stepping on the gas.

I looked over confused, ''What? Why?''

''So you can change. You can't show up looking like that.''

''I look amazing.'' I replied offended. ''What are you talking about, anyway?''

''You need to go get your man, duh,'' she said calmly and sped up.

''What? What man? Tat, do you mind telling me what's going on in that head of yours. In case you haven't noticed, I am kind of confused. ''

''Think about it. You love him, right? He obviously is feeling some type of way about you. I've seen the way he looks at you, Jazz. Maybe he was just going through something when he fired you. I think you should go after him. You guys belong together. ''She said, turning in a different direction from my house.

I tried to think about what she said.

What if I did take a chance? Would he turn me down? Would he kick me out again?

''Maybe you're right.'' I said after a while.

''Of course I am.''

It was a stupid idea and there were way too many risks, but I wanted Cole. No, I needed Cole.

''Let's do it.'' I say and she squeals.

''I'm already here.'' she says proudly, and I look out the window to see we are in fact right outside Cole's mansion. ''I guess you don't have to change.''

I inhaled deeply, staring at the bright white door.

''I can't do this.'' I mumbled while looking at the window.

''No. You will do this. We are already here, and you know you want to. Just walk in there and tell him how you feel.''

It was all happening too fast. One minute I was on my way home to continue my sad sessions, the next I was sitting outside of Cole's house, preparing to do the biggest thing of my life. But I knew she was right, as usual. I needed to grow some balls and do this.

''Okay. I'm going.'' I say quickly and rush out of the car before I could overthink it even more. I slowly walk to the door and when I finally make it, I inhale before knocking.

When no one answers, I figure they just didn't hear me, so I knock again.

No answer.

Trying one more time, I knock a little harder.

Still, no one comes to the door.

I try to peep in the windows but still see no one in the entrance and start to become a little paranoid. Deciding this was my only option, I looked down at the door knob, twisted and pushed a little. The door opens immediately.

Something's fishy.

Walking in cautiously, I call out in the entrance, ''Gracie? Cole? Anybody home?'' When no one replies, I start to walk to the nearest room, the living room. But just as I get there, I stop dead in my tracks and gasp loudly at what is in front of me.

Cole and the same lady from the photo are kissing.

They both face me when I gasp and Cole stares at me, shocked. Filled with all kinds of emotions, I run out.

''Jasmine, wait!''