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"You're free today too," I said while we walked from the stadium after his practice to the car.

Our hands were locked and for once, he was the one rocking them back and forth. "Hmm," he nodded as we reached the car and he opened the passenger door for me. He leaned down and pecked my lips before I got in the car. He started the car and was just about to start driving when his phone rang. He sighed, picking it up from the cupholder and reading the name. He stared at the screen, blinking. He dropped the phone in my lap and drove off. I picked up the phone and read 'Dad' on the screen.

"Vince—"

"I don't talk to him, Demi, you know that. Just take the message."

"Vince, as far as they know, I'm just your girlfriend. It'll be weird if I answer the phone, they don't know I'm also your assistant, come on. Just talk to him. Take the message."

He glanced at me and sighed, answering the phone from the car's Bluetooth system. "Hello?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Do you have plans today?" his dad asked immediately.

Vince hesitated. "No... why? What do you want?"

"I need to speak with you. Where are you right now?"

"Speak with me about what?"

"Just answer the question, Vince. Where are you?"

He rolled his eyes, his jaw clenching. "I'm on my way home from practice."

"Then come right now. It's urgent."

"What do you mean it's urgent?"

"It's urgent means it's urgent, what do you think it means, Vince? I'm being serious, get over here."

He huffed and made a u-turn, heading to his Dad's house. "I'm coming to your house, not your office. If you're not there, then... tough," he shrugged.

"I'm at home. Just hurry over. And if your mother calls, don't tell her."

"What?" Before Vince could ask any more questions, his dad hung up the phone. Only for it to ring again a moment later. "What?" Vince asked, knowing it was his dad.

"Is Demi with you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Hurry." And then he hung up again.

Vince and I looked at each other in confusion. "What do you think he has to say?" I asked.

"I don't know. Let's find out." We arrived at the house and were let in by the housekeeper, who pointed us to Mr. Graham's study. We walked there and I was about to knock when Vince just pushed it open and took my hand, pulling me inside with him. I didn't say anything and sat beside him in the two chairs. "What?" Vince asked.

"Your last game. It's on Christmas eve, isn't it?"

"So?"

"I'll be there."

My eyes widened and Vince went quiet.

"You will?" I looked at Vince. He seemed surprised. But pleasantly. Like he'd been waiting to hear those words from his Dad.

"Your mother's planning something. Surprisingly enough, she told me about it." He reached into a drawer and took out some papers, sliding them over to us.

"That's our contract," I said, remembering it. I turned to Vince. "That's the contract we signed with your lawyer. For the..." I glanced at Mr. Graham who simply lifted his eyebrows at me.

"Go ahead, by all means. Because your secret isn't a secret anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Vince questioned.

"Blythe was confused about your relationship. She was having a hard time understanding it and how it came to happen, that too at such convenient timing. It saved both your careers. So, she went to Ashton and first got a copy of the NDA Demi must have signed when she was hired by Royal Riders' agency to be your assistant. From there, God knows how she got a hold of this. I don't know if she interrogated Ashton into it or if she had someone steal it for her, but she has another copy of this and she knows that your relationship is fake."

I stayed quiet, processing.

"It is fake... isn't it?"

"It was fake," Vince admitted, "it isn't anymore."

"That's what I thought," Mr. Graham mumbled, "unfortunately, that's not what she plans to tell the public on Christmas eve. She's scheduled an interview to reveal this contract to the press to convince everyone that this relationship is fake. An interview with City Scoop."

"Why would she do that?" I scoffed.

"Because she wants you, my dear, out of his life for good," he said to me. "For some weird reason, she doesn't like you, which I don't understand why or how it's possible, but it is. This was always Blythe's problem, Vince. She's always wanted full control over you. That's why I never let her take custody of—" Mr. Graham blinked in realization, stopping himself short.

"I thought she gave up custody," Vince said, his voice hard, his jaw tense.

"That's a different conversation," his Dad dismissed it.

"No, it isn't. If you're trying to give us a warning, tell us the whole story," Vince demanded, "now."

Mr. Graham sighed in defeat and rushed the words out. "I didn't let her take custody of you. She wants to control you, Vince, she would have ruined your future."

"You wanted to control me too," Vince accused.

"But I didn't and she did," his dad argued. "I know we have a rough relationship because of the things I've done to you in the past. I regret them, I really do. And I'm... sorry," he huffed. "But I understood you, even if it may not have seemed that way. You picked your career, you decided which road you wanted to go down, and I may not have liked it, but I accepted it. That's the difference between your mother and me. If she doesn't like what you do, she'll do everything in her power to force you to change your mind and follow her. She doesn't want you to be with Demi, she has someone else in mind for you. Some daughter of a friend, I don't know," he shook his head.

"I called you here because I'm..." he paused, seeming hesitant for the first time since I've met him. He's a confident, arrogant man, otherwise, with anger issues, of course. But for once, he seems nervous. "I'm trying to fix things with my son," he finally admitted. Vince's hand tightened around mine under the table and I squeezed back. "I hurt you when you couldn't even defend yourself. I regret it, there's nothing I regret more. I ruined the relationship I could have had with you. Never came to any of your games, never supported you. I was in my own head. It hurt me when you rejected the company and went your own way. I was upset with you but I shouldn't have been. I'm sorry.

"But I'm trying now to fix things as best as I can. I know things will never be normal, whatever normal is. But I want you to be able to look at me without anger flooding your senses. I want you to hate me a little less."

I looked at Vince. This had to be completely his call. As tempting as it is to forgive his dad and act like the past is behind them, it's hard. After the things Vince went through, it's difficult to act like those things never happened, especially when they still affect him. But Mr. Graham is trying and I do give him credit for that, even if I hate him for hurting Vince in the past.

"Anyhow, this was a conversation I wanted to have another time when your career wasn't on the line again at the hands of your mother. But I called you here to give you both a warning. A heads up."

Vince fell into thought, sighing in frustration and taking a look around.

"Would she really do that?" I asked. "Ruin Vince's career just to... get rid of me?"

Mr. Graham shrugged, "You never know with her."

Vince glanced at me and shook his head softly. "Don't even think about giving up now. We're in too deep, too in love to let it go. I'll figure something out."

I bit back a smile. "I wasn't thinking about giving up." We both groaned softly in sync and leaned back.

"Instead of lying again and again," Mr. Graham cleared his throat, shooting us a pointed look, "why don't you try being honest with the world for once?"

"How?" I inquired.

He shrugged. "Blythe's interview with City Scoop will be live but it's after your game. So, at the game, make an announcement. Admit to the press what the truth was but more than that, emphasize how in love you two really are. How you fell in love despite the beginning being a lie. How you fell in love without even realizing it. How you'd do anything for each other."

"But this is his career on the line," I mumbled. "What if it backfires?"

"Then it backfires," Vince shrugged.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"If it backfires then it backfires. I still have you."

"Vince," I said nervously.

"And worst comes to worst, I'll have to take a season off before coming back into the public eye. It's a small, romantic scandal, not a career-damaging scandal. People will forget."

"They didn't forget last time," I reminded gently.

He blinked and then turned in his chair to face me. "We'll figure it out. I promise." He then turned to his dad. "Thank you. For warning us."

Mr. Graham nodded. "Of course."

We said bye and then left, driving to the apartment. We were almost there when Vince asked me suddenly, "What do you think about getting married?"

I stared at him and then chuckled softly, "I think we've only been together for three months, Vince."

He nodded slowly. "But I've known you for two years. Wanted you for almost two years. Is it still too soon?"

"Are you really thinking of getting married?"

"I don't know. I'm just trying to figure this out," he mumbled.

I paused and thought about it. Seriously. "I think there's a lot more to marriage than love. There's stability, trust, what kind of person you are, and reliability. There's so much more to marriage than just love. And to be honest, Vince, you're the best kind of person there is. Especially for me. I think about my future and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I see myself getting married but only if it's to you." I took in a breath, staring at him. "I love you."

"If I asked you to marry me right now, would you?" He stopped at a light, turning to me. He really is being serious about this. He's really considering marriage to save our careers and reputations so we can stay together without it costing it everything this time.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. If you asked me to marry you right now, I would." We stared at each other silently. "Are you asking me to marry you?" I raised my brows.

"I don't know," he admitted and then continued driving.

What are we getting ourselves into?

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