There is always a heart waiting to be stitched back together.

-THEO

Caleb Parks POV

I feel lighter today. I don't have to put on a fake smile. I feel like I can be free from my demons because I finally faced them. I look beside me and see the person that helped me overcome them.

I remember spooning Peyton last night, but now she has half her body thrown on me.

So I'm sure if I wanted to leave before, which I don't, she would wake up.

I can't stop my hands from lightly feeling her face. Starting from the crown of her head, my hands slide down between her eyes and rest lightly on the lids. Then I run it down the slope of her nose and finally settle it on her lips.

How badly I want to replace my hands with my mouth.

Seeing her this peaceful must be a two-for-two thing because she gave me peace. I hum my old lullaby, the first song in the empatía album.

I let out a small sigh as I rest my hands on her hair and play with the golden tips.

"That was a nice song. You wrote it?" I hear her say.

I looked down and noticed something different about her, and it didn't take me long to figure it out.

Her sliver-blue eyes were warm blue with no hint of silver in them.

"I'm guessing my morning breath isn't scaring you away, so about that song?" She asked obliviously to my inquisitive stare honing in her eyes.

"It was my mom, an adoptive one. She would sing to Gail and me to sleep." I answer, and my hands caress her face. "Thank you,"

Her cheeks tinged pink, "It was no problem. Just helping out a friend." She moved away, and my hand fell from her cheek.

"Is it okay if I ask what your mom was like?" She avoids looking at me.

"She was a one-of-a-kind woman. She wasn't a pushover. She was the shoulder my dad and I leaned on. If anything, I would want my wife to possess similar qualities." I grin.

Knowing Peyton, she would have understood my silent message but chose to ignore it and nodded wordlessly.

"I like your eyes," I say.

Peyton swore, "Son of a biscuit!" Then she got up from the bed and made a straight line for the door.

"Have a good day Caleb." She called over her shoulder and slammed the door.

Before I could get a word out, she left me in her wake.

I decided to corner her later and ask her about her eyes. Meanwhile, I have a life to get back to with a smile on my face.

A real one.

I took a shower, dressed in a pair of joggers and a wife beater. I plan to spend my day practising with the backup dancers for the concert in NYC next week. I need to get back in great shape.

Jack and Jacob were in the kitchen, with Shawn handling the stove.

"Where are the girls?" I ask as I sit on the counter and try to steal a piece of bacon from the plate, but Shawn swatted my hand away with the spatula.

"Gone to school with your girl," Jacob gave me a knowing look while Jack smiled slyly.

"So, how was your birthday Caleb?" My best friend asked me.

"Honestly, it was good, really good," I answer truthfully.

"Nice. So how long will we wait before you knock her up?" Jack helped me reply to Jacob's question with a smack at the back of his head.

"Very funny," I laughed sarcastically. Then a thought popped into my head.

"Isn't one of you meant to be in the school with the girls?" I look from Jacob to Shawn.

Both brothers had guilty grins on their faces.

"About that, Peyton said she wanted to stay longer in the school to talk with Miss Beatrice, so we decided to have a late breakfast," Shawn explained.

Jack snorted, "After we get to the studio, Shawn and I will flip for who has to stay in the school."

"Meanwhile, Caleb, have you seen the tabloids today?" Jack said as Shawn placed a plate of bacon and eggs in front of us and sat next to me.

"I think I know what you're talking about." I said with a mouth full, "On the eve of thanksgiving dinner, I saw a billboard that had a picture of Peyton and me at the pizza place. I thought there were no buzzes around." I sigh.

"You're not that hard to get passed. Either way, Marcel wants to talk. Heads up in case you guys have the altered version of the birds and the bees." Jack gulped down some juice.

"It will be the musician and the babysitter." Jacob joked.

We all groaned and threw pieces of bacon at him.

-

"Five, six, seven, eight," I counted off as the deep bass sounded around the hall.

The backup dancer started moving slowly yet incisively; I was still hooked in place as two girls came to stand beside me.

They began to drag my hands towards each other as an electric tempo began; the routine was swift but slow, aggressive yet graceful, powerful yet gentle.

The lyrics were missing from this son. It is an instrumental that I have been working on with Jack.

The dancers all fell to the floor, leaving me standing when the song stopped.

Marcel clapped thrice and commended the dancers.

"Good work, guys, take five. Caleb, a word."

He was already turning around and heading out of the dance room without my reply.

I followed close behind him to the elevator and into his office.

Dinah was sitting at his table; her hair looked dishevelled, but I didn't point it out.

"How was your birthday?" He asked with concern.

I should have known. These two care for me as if I was theirs. And I couldn't have asked for better and had been more grateful.

"Good, great, awesome." I grinned at them.

"Can you be more descriptive?" Dinah probed further.

"Peyton helped me a lot, and I am very grateful: Though I haven't shown her yet." I already had a plan for that in my head.

Dinah smiled as she turned her focus from me to Marcel.

"Don't you dare!" Marcel glared at his wife.

"Pay up," Dinah stretched out a hand towards Marcel, "I called it."

Marcel grumbled as he put his hands into his pocket and placed some notes in Dinah's palm.

My eyes bulged out of their sockets, "Did you guys bet on my love life?"

Marcel said, "Bet, set stakes, make gambles, bring wagers. There are better words to describe it, but for your brain's capacity, we'll settle on a bet."

"Either way, we're happy that you have started dating." Dinah smiled, "But keep it in your pants, young man. I'm too young to be a grandmother."

I facepalmed as I felt my cheeks getting warmer. I felt mortified, "We only slept. The PG version of what you two always do in here." I lift my face from my hand and shoot the stellar couple a sly grin.

Marcel looked tongue-tied while Dinah's smug look fell.

"But, Caleb, have you talked to her about, you know..." She drifted off and avoided looking me in the eye.

Marcel looked heavenward, "Sugar coating things can get you as far as it took Jack and Taryn to admit their feelings to each other without us having to lock them in the same room." The sarcasm was heavy in his tone.

I chuckled. Getting Jack and Taryn to admit their feelings for each other took longer than I expected.

"But Caleb, you made a deal with Peyton. As soon as Taryn returns, she gets to leave. I'm assuming that you've paid her already?" Dinah asked.

"Yea, I had Jack do that the first week of her stay. I know she is bent on leaving, but I am bent on her staying." I answered firmly.

"May the force be with you."

Dinah and I both turned to Marcel as whiplashed, "Did you just quote Star Wars?" We both asked, having incredulous looks on our faces.

It's good to have a caramel-kissed complexion because I would have sworn that Marcel was blushing, "Maybe. It was a good show." He smiled sheepishly.

"On a more serious note, you'll need it." He continued.

"Oh don't I know it," I said.

After Dinah and Marcel stopped gushing about my upcoming relationship with Peyton, I returned to the dance room to continue practising with the backup dancers; until Jack came up to me and gestured for me to come closer.

"Take five guys." They groaned with happiness. And some of them slumped on the floor with tired expressions.

I jumped down from the stage and walked towards Jack.

He was wringing his thumbs. A tell-tale sign that what he was about to tell me was not good news.

"Here's the thing, Ken wants to talk with you before you go to NYC, but I told him your schedule is full this week. So he requested a viewing immediately after you get back." He said.

"Okay. But how exactly is this supposed to be bad news?" I scrunched my brows together in confusion.

"The bad news is that the Press and Ken think that something is going on with you and Peyton," He bit his lip as if he didn't want to say more.

"Go on, I know there's more to it." I sigh, not likely the way my day was turning out.

"They think that the place where she's from will blow their tops if they find out, so I advise that we keep things under the wraps for now." He concluded.

Among the prices to pay with the cost of being famous. I had to strive to have a relationship without having the presses muddle things up. But since it was already out there, I was going to make amends. There is no way I will allow a bunch of aggravating fools to come between me and my happiness.

Never again.

Not this time, not ever again. Now that I think of it, Peyton is part of the reason, I have been in a good mood all day. Despite hearing this, I was still keeping my cool.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Jack and I joined Jacob in an uber towards the school after I had a quick shower and a change of clothes.

Students were milling around on the premises, but I could see Marci far off as she chatted with some of her friends. Nate's hand draped around her shoulder as she talked animately.

Jack and I walked towards them with Jacob trailing behind us with a disgruntled look on his face.

"Are you done here?" I broke them apart while nudging my chin around.

Marci rolled her eyes at us and kissed Nate on the cheek before coming toward us.

"I thought we agreed I could take the bus this week." She voiced her complaint as we walked toward Gail's class.

"Yes, but I felt like fulfilling my role as a good older brother today." I draped a hand around her and gave her a cheeky grin.

She rolled her eyes at me, "So what's the plan?"

"What do you mean?" I ask her.

"I mean, aren't you and Peyton dating now?"

It's as if the Wellingtons are ready to ship me off with any opportunity. I didn't reply when the sight before us held us both tongues tied.

Miss Beatrice was at her desk with Gail sitting beside her. It looked like she was explaining things to her. Gail looked up when she heard us come in and grinned.

"Are we interrupting something?" Jack spoke for us.

"Nope, we're already wrapping up." Miss Beatrice replied as Gail packed up her books and made her way to us.

"Mr Parks?" I turned around, "A word."

I nodded at the others to keep going.

If it were two months ago, I would have run for the hills when she tried to get me alone with her. But there was something about her that seemed off today. She would have insisted on making physical contact, but she was standing a respectable distance away from me.

"I want to apologize for my previous advances towards you in the past. It was way past formal, and the only relationship between us is Guardian and Teacher." She paused and looked at me to gauge my expression.

I clenched my teeth shut to prevent my jaw from falling.

"I was hoping we could put it past us and tackle a friendship not close to anything informal if you're up for it?" She stretched a hand to me, and I shook it without a moment's doubt.

I'm guessing something happened to her during Thanksgiving, but I was not going to question it.

"Fine by me," Came my solemn reply.

-

"Remind me why we're here again?" Marci whined again as we all walked into the orphanage.

Shawn and Jacob decided to go into the kitchen, claiming to be starving. Jack and Gail flagged my sides while Marci was grumbling behind us.

"Cause..." I had no valid reason for her, but I had one either way.

I passed the playroom where the kids were leaving Marci with Jack and Gail to entertain themselves. The kids were already gathering around Gail, so I was in the clear to get to the office.

A couple exited the office with a happy girl between them, heading towards the doors.

I felt a smile tug at my lips; families were formed in this building, and I would love to keep it that way.

I knocked and walked in. There sat Peyton skimming through a few documents.

"Parks' orphanage, how may I help you?" Exhaustion coated her tone, but the determined look on her face told me; she was ready to tackle the next client.

She hadn't looked up yet, so I took the time to admire her. Her hair was in a knot on top of her head.

My jaw tickled as I examined the masculine sweater that draped her form but rolled to the elbows. It's not like I could voice out my distaste. I liked her a lot; that didn't mean she liked me back. She wouldn't find it weird if I commented on it.

"I was wondering if I could have a chat with the manager," I say grimly.

Peyton freezes up; but doesn't look up at me as she replies, "You're speaking to him."

I rolled my eyes at her behaviour but decided to hit the nail on the head.

"What's your favourite colour again?"

She frowned but replied, "As black as the night sky."

"Interesting, I can't decide between silver-blue or brilliant blue. Can you help me decide?" I faked a pout.

She looked up at me; her brows scrunched as her patience wore thin.

"Fine, my eye colour is blue!" Even though she made herself look indifferent about my constant pestering, I knew something was off.

The silver in her eyes was back, and they steeled with the blue, giving out the stormy effect whenever she got angry. But I could still see the vulnerability in her eyes, and she looked like she regretted telling me.

"Why are you ashamed of your eye colour? Because if you think they would classify you into the dumb blonde with blue eyes category, you're not as smart as you give out." I mocked her with the intent of getting her to smile, but the vulnerability in her eyes deepened, and she turned away.

"You wouldn't understand." She muttered.

"Try me," I edged closer to her and went to stand next to her around the desk. I cupped her face to look at me.

She sighed and tried to look away, but I wouldn't let her. "In the empire, people always preferred my sister to me. We looked so alike that most didn't even bother to know my name. They called me hers."

"Is that why you dyed your hair?"

"Same intentions, different reasons." She replied vaguely.

"So if I were to see you both, would you still be the hotter one or..." I trailed off. I needed another reaction from her, but she wouldn't give me.

No one should have to change their physical features to suit the views of others.

"I think I prefer blue; they make silver-blue look like wannabes." I grinned at her and began stroking her chin.

I wanted nothing more than to drag her out from the chair and kiss her insecurities away.

Something she said earlier caught my curiosity, "You said that people of the empire treat you like that. What empire are you talking about? Is that where you are from?"

She had the deer caught in headlights look but decided to play it off.

"It's like a branch of a country that gets a say in whatever goes on. It's more for people who come from the same race or religion. And yes, that's where I'm from."

At least she was opening up, and I was gladly going to probe further.

"Are you happy at the empire?" I ask, still trying to gauge her expression.

"Sort of, but it doesn't matter." She shook her head firmly and turned away from me, making my hand fall away from her face.

"You know you're free to stay, right?" I raise the offer again.

"Caleb, deals have to remain deals." She graced me with a small smile.

"Come on. I promised the kids; I'll tell them a story before I leave." She nudged her head at the door.

Without waiting for an answer, she stood up from her seat and was already out the door. I followed closely behind.

We walked out of the office and into the playroom. The kids huddled around Gail as they played while Jacob, Shawn and Jack sat at the dining table nursing cups of drinks. Marci was nowhere in sight.

"Where's Marci?" I asked, getting everyone's attention.

I vaguely heard Jack say something about how her dad came for her and that she was spending the night with him and Dinah.

The kids scrambled around and came towards me with a force to be reckoned with me. n

One of them crashed into my legs while some were tugging at my hands, and another jumped on my back.

Peyton tipped her head and laughed as she had Lucy straddled on her waist. Lucy had her hands coming out of her flowing Hijab, trying to reach up at the paper in Peyton's grasp while trying to hide the slight reddening of her cheeks.

I thought of her holding a child who was a striking resemblance to her and me. A lopsided grin took over my face. Even though I knew the possibilities of that happening were very close to nil, a boy could hope.

"From Parks to Parks." I laughed at her comment.

I turned my attention to the children, unknowingly at the end of her jab.

"Guys, if you stop climbing me like a mountain. I'll join Peyton to tell you guys a story," I suggest.

Excited squeals filled the room as they went to sit on the floor.

Lucy sat on Peyton's lap while Peyton and I sat on chairs facing the children.

"There once was a boy named Mowgli. Abandoned by his parents after an accident, he was supposed to have lived in a human village. But he grew up with a pack of wolves."

I felt myself go stiff at the beginning of the story, but I'm pretty sure that the former occupants of this orphanage home were humans with fur.

"With time, the head male and female wolves decided that he should be on his way to join his people. So they not only sent him away to find his people but to also find himself and to avoid the tiger that wanted him dead. Shere Khan.

"He ventures deeper into the forest and stumbles upon a black panther named Bagheera and a bear named Baloo.

"They help him on his journey, and Mowgli proves his worth to the duo he is capable of when he protects Baloo from Shere Khan.

"In time Bagheera decides that Mowgli should be with his people and agrees with the wolves to try and help him find them. Baloo strongly opposed it, saying Mowgli was better off staying in the jungle.

"But when Bagheera reminds Baloo of the incident with Shere Khan, Baloo sees reason. They can't protect Mowgli from everything.

"Mowgli ends up being drawn to the town by a beautiful girl who happened to be fetching water from the river."

Lucy put her hand near Peyton's hand and scrunched up her nose, "What is the moral of the story?"

I look from the kids to Peyton with a smirk, "The moral is to be brave. You can't run away from your problems and hide in fear; you can be like Mowgli and face them head-on and find yourself. Or you could be like Shere Khan and fight your battles by being a bully."

-

"I have arrived to make sure you're still breathing," Jack announces his presence as he walks into my room and lands on the bed.

I drop my pencil and lean on the window plane, "Oh goody." I gush.

Jack sends a pillow my way, and I return a favour.

"You seemed happy today. What's up?" He asked.

"I guess I'm glad that I am finally over Peter and Carol's death, over my Shere Khan-like parents," I reply as I shrug my shoulders.

"Did you relate your birth parents to an aggressive Tiger?" He asked with a smug look.

"Have I mentioned that we should go to the hospital and check your ears?" I roll my eyes at my best friend.

"Or we could go there and make sure your heart hasn't broken your rib cage from the erratic beating it does whenever you're near a certain blonde girl." He smiles.

I think Peyton is rubbing off on me because I roll my eyes at him again, "And he thinks he's the smart one."

"So, what are we doing tomorrow?" I ask.

"You and Marcel are spending your day with the old dudes from the retirement centre while I make sure everything is ready in NYC for our departure." He informs me.

I raised a brow haughtily in his direction, "Dare I ask why you're not coming with us to make sure that I still speak current English after the performance?"

"Cause buddy, I like my balls more than watching old women swoon over you. Plus, Marcel and I need some space." He said the last part quietly and avoided eye contact.

"What did you do?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

It wouldn't be the first time I have seen Jack and Marcel piss each other off, but the last thing I need is a falling out between my manager and producer.

"Nothing. We just had different opinions about the women in our lives when one of the backup dancers made a pass at Marcel while you were in the showers."

I don't even want to know what happened next.

"Long story short, I think we both should cool off for a while without having to be in the same proximity."

I nodded because he was not only right but also Marcel needed a reminder to know when he was in the wrong.

And I planned to be that reminder.

As I stepped out of my room, I made a beeline for Peyton's room but made a pitstop in the kitchen first. My courage was on shaky grounds, so I made sure to down a quick shot.

I knocked twice, and I heard a muffled 'come in'.

I walked in and saw that she sat on her bed, legs crossed on her bed in an indie style while facing the door.

"Am I interrupting something?" I ask, feeling the alcohol taking in its effects.

She yawned, "Nothing. Just having a chat with my imaginary friends."

I felt my lips tip upwards, "Very funny, but don't you think you're too old for that?" I tease her.

She yawned further and waved at me dismissively.

I frowned, "Didn't get enough sleep?"

"I did get too much if I might say."

"So, what are you doing today?" I venture head first.

"Last time I checked, an employee was supposed to do the job her employer employed her for." She raised a brow hauntingly.

I internally facepalmed.

I made such a big deal about me being her employer when she arrived, and now she threw it back at me.

"Right, what time do you normally leave the orphanage?"

"Supposed to be at six, but if the clients are so adamant, I stay till seven or eight."

How have I never noticed that?

"Could you stop by the zoo before you come home?"

That last word felt right and wrong as it left my lips.

Right, because that was what I wanted with this girl. I can't even explain how I fell for this girl in a short span of three months, but if I had my way, I would want her in my home.

Our home.

That would not be this penthouse. Even though having a family is a touching subject for me. I always wanted a family in a large family home, and I'd be damned if I didn't make that happen.

Wrong, because a small part of me still reminded me that my happy ending would never happen.

"Caleb Parks, are you asking me out on a date? Again?" She was grinning like a Cheshire cat as she gave me a double-take.

"Please don't tell me; I have to make a deal to get you to come?" I groaned.

Peyton chuckled, "As fun as that would be, I think I'll save that deal for a later note. I'll be there."

-

Nothing could damper my good mood.

When Jacob launched a series of dry jokes my way during practice, I found myself smiling and replying.

When Jack wrote a whole poem about his infatuation with superwoman and how Taryn reminded him of her, I remained unfazed.

Not even when I confronted Marcel about his supposed infidelity to Dinah, and he gave me an answer that had more alphabet than the ones that Abigail had learnt.

Nada.

Nothing.

Zilch.

Zero.

Nil.

Nought.

I was in a good mood. And I would like to keep it that way.

As Marcel pulled up in front of the zoo, he put up the child lock before I could get out. The dread built up in me that what we were about to talk about would affect my mood.

"Caleb, Son?" Marcel sighed when I gave him a curt nod.

A backup dancer had made a flippant comment on whether Marcel would want to see how flexible she could be outside the dance floor.

This statement did not sit well with me and was an understatement.

Marcel sighed and cut the engine, giving me his full attention.

"I know this looks bad but hear me out," He began, "The only reason I considered this was because I caught wind of Dinah's new bedmate a couple of days ago. I felt angry at first, but the hurt was soon to come in long after. I felt lost and confused.

I came to personally pick Marci from the orphanage last night, to test Dinah. To see if she still wanted what Marci and I had to offer."

"Why won't I like where this conversation is going?" I finally turned to look at him, and the sight I saw had me tongue-tied.

Marcel Wellington. The founder and current owner of Wellington records, the man who helped me to where I am today. The one person I knew could get away with intra-racisms, even though his banter with Jack and Jacob seems real at times: The one who hardly dishes out compliments.

I could go on; about why what I see before me makes no sense. Marcel's eyes were bloodshot, and tears fell from his eyes.

"When dinner ended, Dinah said she wanted the divorce to be final. She said that Marci could decide who she wanted to stay with.

I don't even know what was more upsetting; my daughter became emotionless and walked back to the penthouse, or Dinah got up from the dinner table, slapped me hard and kissed me. To make matters worse, she apologized and ran away."

I still held onto the fact that the only other person in this world who was like a beacon of hope was on her way, and I refused to allow my mood to plummet.

"I don't know what to say." I breathed.

"I can tell." Marcel sniffed and looked me dead in the eye, "Whenever you decided to tie the knot with Peyton. I advise you to make a deal that might change everything. If not a happy ending would be the least of your problems."

-

I kept pacing as my mind kept showing me the outcome of how everything I planned was going down the drain.

All the secrets buried under carpets seemed to break free. I mean, what more could Dinah want for her to want to leave her marriage?

Is love so far-fetched that even people who are married get theirs shattered?

Could I build myself a family when the ones I grew up in crumbled before my eyes?

Dare I agree with Marcel?

Is a happy ending for me sound so absurd that I find myself doubting; what was it that I felt for Peyton?

"Last time I checked, this was an aquarium, not a runway." I felt my heart beat fast as Peyton made her way toward me.

I couldn't stop myself and met her halfway and engulfed her in a hug.

Peyton was quiet while I hugged her as if this was my last.

She rubbed my back as if she knew I needed the comfort that only she could provide.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not yet." I moved back so that I could look at her face. A pair of bright blue eyes searched my face.

A grin made its way to my face. "There is something I want to show you." I take her hand and lead her deeper into the aquarium.

"Is the part where I ask if Freddy Krueger is here?"

"I never knew you were into kinky stuff." I bite back.

"How do blood and claw-like hands become a turn-on?" She asked with disbelief.

"Trust me; you don't want to know." I chuckle.

The memory of Jacob going down on one of the maids while Krueger was chasing kids on TV comes to mind. And I exploded into full-blown laughter when Taryn used a knife to hit him in the back.

I finally reach the chairs in front of the biggest fish tank and make Peyton sit with me.

"What do you see?" I motion towards the tank.

Peyton looks at me and back at the fish tank, "I see fish: Fish-eating fish, fish going down on fish, fish acting like Dora, fish playing temple run. Need I go on?" She grinned as she finished her observation.

"Don't tell me you brought me here to reenact Ariel?!" She smirked.

I chuckle, "Actually, I brought you here because this place means a lot to me." I felt her stiffen next to me, but I continued anyway.

"My dad, Peter Parks. He brought me here on my first birthday with them. He showed me that the fishes resemble how life is."

I look at her and cup her cheek, "I know that you're not going to stay, no matter how much I ask you, but could I at least make a deal with you before you go?"

I promise that was not how I saw this conversation going. It just came out on the spur of the moment.

I'm not sure if Peyton knows she is not mute because she chooses to nod.

"If I let you go, promise me that I'll get to see you again?"

I wanted to take her in my hands and kiss her, but as always, such dreams remained farfetched.

She sighed and looked away, "Caleb. I can't make that deal. Who's to say that the next time we meet won't be in a wheelchair or worse in a casket?"

She looked back at me, and I could finally read into her eyes. Where the silver would have blocked out, I could see the worry in her face, fear of the unknown. Something I never thought that she was capable of feeling.

"If you let me go, you continue with your music. You continue being yourself, the happy version, not the brooding one. And don't forget me."

That was my breaking point because I pulled her closer and rested our foreheads together.

Our breaths mingle in the small space between us; I wanted so badly to close.

"Caleb?" She whispered.

"Yea?"

"I think the fishes aren't old enough to witness something, not PG." She still managed to joke about the situation.

I needed no blind man to tell me that kissing her would do more harm than good. With a reluctant mind, I kissed her forehead and dragged her up with me.

"I think I can point out that if you keep treating me like a rag doll, the outcome would be very far from being PG." She remarked.

"I'd believe that when I see it," I said.

I led her through the back, where a small restaurant sat. I already had Jack arrange it to remain open but empty till a little after ten.

We got in, and I felt a homey feeling overwhelm me, but I shrugged it off.

I led Peyton to a table, and we both ordered our dinner.

"How ironic," I say out of the blue.

Peyton freezes with the spoon still in her mouth as she looks at me. She swallows.

"What?"

"I don't know my employee that well." I humour her, and she instantly flushes.

"I think we boarded a train and left that station long ago." She adds.

I say, "How about a game?"

She rolls her eyes at me, "Can we just get to the part where you subtly but determinedly try and find my inner secrets." She mocks me.

"Touché," I narrowed my eyes playfully at her.

"If you were to marry Jacob and Shawn, who would you pick?" I begin.

"I can't pick. I've gotten used to seeing them as friends." She answers honestly.

"Abigail or Marci?"

"Depends on the given situation."

"Interesting, dare I ask Jack and me?" I grin.

"I think Taryn would have my head if I pinned over her man, so you win by default." She snorts.

"Good choice. If you had to carter for dozens of dogs or ten smaller versions of Gail, which would you pick?"

"Gladly, Abigail, turn on some SpongeBob or Mulan, and she's as mobile as a stationary bike. And dogs can get vicious if need be."

The conversation ended there as the waiter came to give us the bill and I paid, and we came out of the restaurant.

"So, how do we get home? Without getting mobbed, raped or worse ravished by your crazed fans?"

She has a point; even though the moon was already near its peak, the streets of Miami were still crowded and let's not forget that the wind was picking up with winter around the corner.

I shrugged off my jacket and draped it around Peyton's shoulders to that she raised a questioning brow.

I give her an eye roll, "I think we both know that if I offered it to you and you were on the verge of having frostbite, you still wouldn't take it."

"You know me so well." She smiled and slipped her hand into the holes.

I was about to recommend walking home despite the disadvantages until a car pulled up in front of us.

The passenger window went down, and my best friend came into view.

"Are you guys going to get in? Or are you guys going to get it on the sidewalk? Because if so, Jacob gave me his camera." Jack sported a grin as he looked from Peyton to me.

His eyes honed in on the jacket around her shoulders, and I smirked.

In an orderly Peyton behaviour, she walked up to the door, opened it and got in.

"If both of you are mind-linking each other, I would like to get home and have a shower. It has been a long day." She called out.

"Oh shoot! I even forgot to ask, how was your day?" I asked her with concern after I had stepped in and the driver had started the car.

"It was entertaining, to say the least; I never pegged Shawn to be a fan of dirty dancing."

Laughter flooded the car.

I found myself inching my hand closer to hers. When it touched hers, I slipped our little fingers together.

Peyton looked at me, and I saw warmth cross her features. That was the only confirmation I needed to grab her hand in mine and rub the back of her hand.

The fight through the press in the lobby was more wrecking since Jacob and Shawn were not here.

The buzzes had a field day, with the lack of bodyguards and the extra clothing on Peyton that was not hers.

The elevator doors closed, Peyton snickered, and Jacob and I followed.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I wish I could have another look on their faces when they saw us walk in." I breathed through laughter.

"You and I are both, brother," Jack said.

The elevator doors opened, and Jack made his way to the kitchen to most likely get some dinner in his system.

Peyton was about to walk up the stairs, but I stopped her.

"Would it be inappropriate if I wanted to spend the night with you again?" I couldn't help the huskiness of my voice.

I saw a blush creeping up her neck, "Tell you what, let me check up on Gail and Marci, and I'll get back to you on that."

She wasted no time creating distance between us and went to the hallway under the stairs.

I sighed at her retreating back.

I knew I was in for heartbreak. I wanted her in my arms till she wouldn't be there anymore.

I felt something thump on my head. I reached into my hair and picked up a piece of popcorn.

I looked up and saw a sly-looking Jack on the stairs.

"If you're lusting on her behind, we have a call to make."

I followed him up the stairs.

"Who are we talking to?"

"I don't know. Why don't you guess?" He said as we walked into his and Taryn's room.

I would have sworn that this place would be messy, but it seems like my best friend proved me wrong.

Jack turned on his computer, and after typing on the keyboard for a few minutes, Taryn's frizzled face came to view.

"Hey, girlfriend," I chirped and pushed Jack away from the screen.

Taryn smirked and puckered her lips towards me, "I miss you too, bestie."

"There is nothing more hurtful to a man's ego than being friend-zoned," Jack announced with a matter-of-fact tone before shoving me to make room for himself in front of the camera.

"Guys, I have good news." She smiled brightly.

"Your hymen grew back." Jack smiled.

"Again, how did I ever sleep with that?" She pointed at Jack as she looked at me.

"Don't look at me. You were the one that said you had good taste in men, but I would beg to differ." I got a pinch from Jack for that.

"Anyway, the burial was a success, and the borders are open. I'm coming home tomorrow."