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We all sat on the grass and lay down at the end of the event, panting. Every single one of us, the only person who was able to stand was their coach. I threw an arm over my eyes and rested one hand on my chest, catching my breath.

"Vince!"

I groaned as two kids came and sat beside me.

One of them was the little girl who very rudely asked me to tie her laces and then gave me the prettiest smile with a 'please' when I told her to say please, and the other was a little boy who seemed to be this girl's best friend.

"Yes, Lilly?" I asked.

"Are you tired?" Zach lifted his brows at me. These elementary kids have a little too much attitude for their own good. But I was just like this growing up.

"Aren't you?" I frowned in confusion.

They both shook their heads despite panting loudly. I laughed softly as they both stood back up and began chasing each other around. There wasn't a single person here, we didn't even spare the coach, who wasn't covered in paint. Most of us washed it off our faces for the most part, but we were doused in paint.

"Mr. Hunter."

I looked up as Demi towered over me, holding a chilled bottle of water out for me to take. She wiped off the paint from her face but she still had some streaks on her cheek and in her hair. I sat up, grabbing her wrist and pulling her down.

She chuckled softly as I pulled her into my lap, resting my chin on her shoulder while she sat with her back facing me and drank her own water. She turned, sitting sideways, and picked at my hair. "You have paint everywhere," she mumbled focusing on dragging the dried paint out with her nails, flicking it off.

"So do you," I mumbled, rubbing the blue streak on her cheek but it didn't budge. We need to take a shower when we get home.

"You should get a picture taken with the kids and then we should head out, rest up a bit. Tonight will be a long night, we both know how long your mom's parties last," she reminded me, eliciting a groan from me. She stared at me, a small smile on her face.

"What?" I asked.

"You look kind of cute. With paint everywhere. You're more out of breath than you are after a game. And you had fun with the kids today. Admit it. You don't hate kids as much as you think you do."

I grumbled, looking around the field.

"Admit it," she whined, digging her elbow in my abs.

My eyes traveled across her face, going back to her cheek and the blue paint on it. I grabbed her by the jaw, bringing her cheek to my lips, avoiding the paint despite it being dry, and kissed her hard on the cheek.

She squealed, trying to pull away but failing.

I smiled against her skin, laughing as I pulled away.

She hit my chest and rubbed her cheek. "What if I did that to you?" I offered my cheek and she pushed it away, clicking her tongue before chuckling. "Get out of here," she grinned and then moved to stand up but I grabbed her waist, pulling her back down. She huffed, sending me a look. "Let's get pictures and then let's go. We have paint everywhere, we desperately need to shower, and I'm exhausted."

I let her go, putting my hands up in surrender. She shot up and then offered a hand. I followed, holding her hand and standing up. We made our way over to the others, had a picture taken by one of the parents who was here to pick up their child and then said goodbye to the kids, heading out to the car.

I drove us back to the apartment and we got out of the elevator. I followed her into the kitchen where we both had some orange juice. She let out an exhausted sigh, leaving her glass in the sink and then pulling herself up to the counter, sitting on it. I finished the juice in my glass and then walked over, leaving the glass in the sink and standing in front of her.

She lifted both brows at me while I rested my arms around her waist. She put her arms around my neck, staring at me. "Can we talk?" she asked softly.

"Do we have to do that now?" I questioned. "Can't it wait?"

"It can, but..." she trailed off hesitantly.

I'm avoiding the conversation, no doubt. Because I don't want us to have this conversation, realize things we're not ready to admit, and ruin what we have going. It's beyond putting on a fake act for the public, it's real. Every bit of it is real. I have feelings for her, she has feelings for me. But what if when we finally admit that to each other, one of us backs down? What if we're not ready to admit it? Because the truth is still that this wasn't supposed to happen. This is still a fake relationship, technically. I'm genuinely scared that if we admit that it isn't just fake, it'll be ruined.

"So then we'll both just keep running from... whatever this is?" she asked. She seemed a little disappointed, maybe frustrated, maybe even a little angry that she was biting back.

"Maybe for a while, Demi, I don't know."

She nodded slowly and took a breath. "That's okay. I'll wait."

"You will?"

"I'll try. Let me go shower."

I didn't move.

"Let me go shower, Vince," she chuckled softly. I tilted her chin up, kissing her softly. She paused and hesitated before kissing me back. "Let me go shower," she smiled against my lips before I broke away. I stepped aside and she walked upstairs.

This has been going on for a while now. The lines between real and fake have been fading to the point where we're practically blind to it. I don't blame her for being frustrated. My behavior is also forcing her to suppress how she's feeling. But I'm just not sure how to go about this. And I think if I don't figure it out soon, she'll be upset with me and I really don't want that.

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I knocked on her door, waiting for her to come out. The door opened and I blinked, looking her up and down.

Her eyes met mine and she smiled, doing a small curtsey. "Decent?" she asked.

"Stunning," I mumbled under my breath.

She cracked a grin and then turned the lights off and stepped out, closing the door behind her. I grabbed her hand and looked at her from head to toe one more time before pecking her cheek softly. She blushed a little and then we headed out, driving to my mother's mansion.

We got there and followed the routine we follow at every party. The dress Demi ordered for my mom came in earlier so we left that with the rest of the gifts. Every time somebody asked me who Demi was, I did what I was supposed to, I introduced her as my girlfriend. But I noticed her get more and more agitated every time I did.

We were more than halfway through the party when Mom introduced us to a couple. The lady was, I'm guessing, Mom's friend. "Who's this?" she smiled, glancing at Demi.

"This is my girlfriend, Demi."

Demi only offered a smile but I heard her sigh as the guests left with my mom. I turned to her. "Are you okay?" I asked softly.

She held my gaze for a minute and then shook her head. "I'm sorry but it's eating at me."

I frowned in confusion, "What is?"

"I'm going to go get some air, I'll be right back."

"Demi—"

She turned, running a hand through her hair and heading to the backyard.

I waited and waited and waited and fifteen whole minutes went by and she still wasn't back. I was walking to the backyard when I heard thunder crackle in the sky followed by soft pitter patters of the rain. "Shit," I mumbled, pushing the doors open. It's going to turn from a soft drizzle to a downpour soon and she's out there. I walked out, scanning the yard, and spotted her sitting under the gazebo.

She was just watching the rain.

I walked over briskly, sighing once I reached her.

She turned to look at me. "What's up?" she sighed.

I stared at her in disbelief. "What do you mean 'what's up?' I was waiting for you, Demi."

"Sorry. I forgot," she shrugged.

My eyes narrowed. "Are you tipsy?"

"No," she scoffed, "I'm just not in the best mood. Is there any chance I can go home?"

"We'll leave together if you want to leave."

She turned her body to face mine and just stared at me for a moment.

"Demi?" I lifted my brows.

She leaned forward, grabbing my tie and pulling me into a kiss and I kissed her back almost immediately, it was instinct. She pulled away abruptly and shot up, tracing her lips. "I shouldn't have done that."

I frowned, standing up with her. "Why not?"

She glanced at me. She took in a breath and then sighed heavily. "What are we doing, Vince? We should just get back to the party, right? Come on."

I held her back and pulled her into me. "Your patience is wearing thin, I know," I nodded softly.

She nodded with me. "Very thin."

"You want to talk about all of this, I know."

She nodded again.

"But please just wait till we get back home."

She held my gaze and calmly said, "That's the problem. I don't know if I can wait."

"Demi—"

"Vince, listen to me. I'm getting very tired. I already spent two years hiding how I felt about you while I worked for you. When I finally let it out, it cost us both nearly everything. And now... I have you but I really don't. And I'm trying, I really am trying to be there for you and do as you ask. Because this isn't real, is it?"

"I want it to be real too, Demi," I said softly.

"But at the end of the day, it isn't, right? We're liars. At the end of the day, I'm your girlfriend on paper. We haven't done anything because we wanted to, not even kissed."

"You think I didn't want to kiss you? You think every time I did it, it was for show?"

"That's what it feels like, Vince. Do you even like me?"

I stared at her.

"If you do, then tell me. I'm tired of guessing and I'm tired of pretending. I like you, do you like me? I want you, do you want me? Is any of this even real? I can't tell anymore. That's why we should stop before things get more complicated."

I blinked in confusion. "You want to escape it? You'll really run from this... whatever this is instead of facing it?"

"You've been running from it this whole time, Vince. I'm not running or escaping it. I'm just fucking tired of waiting and not knowing what's real and what's fake. Because you don't have any answers for me. And I think I deserve better than that. Either we stick to the contract or we cut the bullshit and stop pretending. Tell me, Vince. Tell me right now, what will it be?"

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