"Luce, does Tate know about dad?" I asked my sister the next day as we sat around our small kitchen table eating crummy Chinese take-out.

I thought it would be nice to come home for their first day back, even though Tate high-tailed it to some dinner he had promised to be at, but it was actually kind of nice with just Luce and I. We hadn't had a 'family dinner' in as long as I could remember, and I forgot how much I missed my sister when she wasn't yelling about school or Rex.

Those electrifying blue eyes of hers flickered briefly from the noodles clutched between her chopsticks and down again. "Yeah, but we've been dating for a while, Rosie. He was bound to find out eventually." She shrugged her slender shoulders like it was no big deal, though her gaze could no longer hold mine. "Why do you ask?"

I dropped my gaze back to the beef and broccoli in the little paper box and stabbed chopsticks absently at the food. "Did dad ever offer him a job?" My voice came out a lot softer than I meant for it to, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Not that I know of. I don't even think he's ever been to Evans Corp. Why? Everything okay?" I could practically feel those blue eyes staring holes into the side of my face.

I never told her about asking dad to bail Rex out of trouble, or anything about him really. I knew she didn't like him, and I feared starting an argument anytime I brought him up. But she was the only one I could talk to, besides Jax—though he didn't understand our father like we did.

"I-It's about Rex." I finally admitted on a sad little sigh and pushed the food out of the way. I hadn't had an appetite since that conversation with our father, much to Rex's disapproval. He had been trying to force food on me all day at school, which was a little awkward since I couldn't find it in me to talk to him much. He understood without me having to say anything, but I knew he wasn't happy about the fact.

"I know you hate him, but you're the only one who understands." I mumbled miserably to the table, and crossed my arms over my chest so my hands wouldn't be tempted to tear up the napkin fidgetily.

Luce sighed, though unlike me, she shoved more noodles in her mouth before speaking. "I don't hate him, Rose. I want what's best for you, and he only seems to be a distraction to your future." Her tone was gentle enough, but that didn't stop the heavy rock from settling deep in my stomach. She didn't understand that he was my future. The only one I wanted to have at least.

I kept that thought to myself though. Luce was always preaching about grades and good colleges, which was all nice and everything but I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn't good at anything, besides swimming, and the occasional puzzle. It wasn't like I was crazy smart with a million opportunities ahead of me like Rex. I would be lucky getting a secretary job until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life.

"That's not true. He helps me study and takes care of me, and dad likes him." I pointed out, even though that was the whole reason I was in this position to begin with.

She rolled those bright blue eyes but didn't stop shoving noodles into her mouth. "Yeah, I know." She started once her pie-hole was empty again. "And I know how much you like him, which is why I'm backing off." My eyes widened in surprise at that comment and I leaned forward excitedly against the table.

Those eerily electric eyes narrowed in warning. "That doesn't mean I'm okay with you staying the night with him alone—I'm really not ready to be an aunt yet, kid—" The frown was back in full force at that comment, but she was pushing on before I could say anything. Why would she be an aunt anytime soon? "—but dad's right. You turn eighteen next month, you're an adult now and can make your own decisions."

"So, I can stay with him?" I urged against my better judgement, a smile pulling on my lips that had no intention of hiding itself anytime soon. This was becoming too good to be true. I almost forgot what I wanted to talk about to begin with—almost.

"Is me saying 'no' going to stop you?"

"Nope." I popped the 'p' a lot more excitedly than I should have, which only earned another eye roll from my sister.

"Then it won't matter if I let you or not." She said on a dramatic sigh before leaning back in the kitchen chair, finally full enough to stop stuffing her face. I was trying not to bounce out of my seat in excited glee. "Just... come home every once in a while, okay?" I was surprised at the soft plea in her tone, and the almost somber edge in her bright gaze. "I miss you sometimes."

The excitement slowly left my chest and I settled down enough to give her a small smile. "Of course, Luce. I still live here." She made a weird 'hrmph' noise in the back of her throat, but changed the subject anyway. "Is that what you wanted to talk about? Staying with your boyfriend?"

The pounding of my heart instantly increased until I could practically hear the beat in my own ears at her words. I felt that all-too familiar blush stain my cheeks. "No, a-and he's not my boyfriend."

She scoffed. "Right, because I believe that."

"It's true."

"Sure, it is."

"No, we haven't talked about that at all!" I wasn't sure why I was getting so heated. Rex and I never really talked about the subject, besides that one time in his living room when he said he would be whatever I wanted him to be—which was everything—but that didn't really give me any answers.

"Then maybe you should ask him." Luce rose her water glass casually to her lips, a mischievous light dancing behind her eyes. "Because I'm almost positive that boy thinks you two are married with how he acts around you." Tomato girl mode activated. I simpered down in my seat as a furnace ignited in my cheeks and trailed down the back of my neck.

"I—I... That's not—Not—!"

"So, what's on your mind besides the obvious?" She asked around my mindless stammering, thankfully saving me from any future embarrassment. The heat was still there though, even as I tried to bring my thoughts back to why I brought him up in the first place.

"I asked dad to get him out of trouble a few weeks ago, a-as Rune Evans, and Rex went to Boston to confront him." I admitted quietly as those, honestly kinda creepy, eyes of hers stayed glued to my face. "They talked and I guess dad offered him a job—"

"Wait a minute. Dad let him up to his office?" She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table incredulously. I nodded and bit anxiously at my bottom lip—until the memory of Rex biting it flashed through my mind and I let quickly go. "He never let's people up there. Especially if they just show up randomly."

"I know."

"And dad actually offered him a job?" The sheer surprise in her tone matched the terror I felt the day before, which was a little comforting. At least I wasn't the only one who had been shocked.

I nodded again and tugged solemnly at the edge of Rex's hoodie that I had been wearing all afternoon. I didn't want to wear his jacket inside, and he practically shoved it at me when I was getting out of the car. I had raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't ask any questions at the look in his eyes. "Rex said it would have started as a paid internship while he was in college, then get bumped up to full time once he graduated. Apparently, dad even wanted him in the 'think tank' now."

"Would have?" I flinched as the question left her lips. Of course, she would catch on to that part.

"I asked him not to take it." Begged was more like it, but I decided to keep that little part to myself. "I—I don't want to lose him." I couldn't keep the wobble from my voice, and that hard demeanor of hers seemed to slip away.

"Hey..." She started softly and stood out of her chair to take the one beside mine. I didn't pull away as she reached for my hand to hold it tightly in hers. "I get it, okay? You know I get it better than anyone else. We've been through too much to build the life we have now, you more than anyone. But Rosie," She paused and squeezed my hand tightly, reassuringly, as those blue eyes held me immobile.

"I don't think there's any chance of losing him. Regardless if he works for dad or not. Did you miss my whole 'he acts like you're his wife comment'?" She smiled softly, and the action made her already pretty face turn unearthly beautiful, but it did little to ease the heaviness in my heart.

"I know why you don't want him to take the offer. I really do, but think about what an opportunity that is for him. I mean," She started to explain when she saw the look taking over my eyes, "people work their entire lives on just the dream of one day working for Evans Corp. Any college business major hoping for just an interning shot there has to be at the top of their class, preferably from an Ivy League. Trust me, I know. Tate's applied like four times." She rolled her eyes at that last part, but it did make me smile a little.

"And dad just offers Rex one like it's free candy during a parade? Come on, Rosie. Even you have to admit that he will never get another opportunity like this. It's a once in a lifetime chance." She squeezed my hand again when I sucked in a shaky breath.

She was right. Of course, she was right. No matter how badly I didn't want any part of the Evans industry, I couldn't say that for the rest of the world—for Rex. I knew he wanted to go to college for business, and use that perfect smart-smart brain of his to become an entrepreneur. Starting off as an employee for Evans Corp would open worlds for him no other industry could.

"Besides, it's not like you're going to be in the tabloids or exposed to any kind of press again. You would never have to go there, or be seen with dad. We haven't been in the spotlight since you disappeared, so it's not like they can match your face to the Evans name anymore." I let out a strangled breath as her words sunk in, even if they drove an icy wedge into my heart.

Okay, sure. Staying away from it all while he was an intern, or even starting at a base level of the company was one thing. But what would happen when he would start getting prompted and climbing higher up that ladder? Because it was bound to happen. You don't keep someone as smart as Rex at the bottom of anything. My father knew that, and I had no doubt it was why he wanted Rex there to begin with. I doubted I would be able to stay out of the public eye when that happened—if Rex even still wanted me in his life by then.

Was I really selfish enough to keep Rex from the future he could have? Even if it meant I couldn't be in it?

Which was a dumb question in retrospect. I knew from the start I couldn't keep him forever. That I was just living in this happy little make-believe bubble where he would always be there with his soft smiles and sweet kisses. And I knew that if he accepted the job, it would be the start of that bubble shattering. The start of losing him.

No. No, I wasn't that selfish. No matter how badly I wanted to be. I wouldn't keep his future from him, and I didn't care what that would do to me.

A few days went by and despite my conversation with Luce, and my decision to tell Rex he should take the job, I couldn't find it in me to bring the subject up. I knew I was holding off the inevitable, holding tightly onto that perfect little bubble wrapped around us. And I hated myself every day I let the opportunity to tell him fade away. I was selfish, and horrible, and the worse person alive.

Besides the obvious war raging inside my mind, everything was fine between us. At least, I kept telling myself that. Rex and I had been—weird all week. We still spent all of our time together, and he was doing that thing again where he had to be touching some part of me at all times—which I loved—but we didn't talk much.

I knew it was my fault. Knew the minute I tried to talk about what happened, or the job, I would break down and lose it. Rex tried to bring it up a few times, but I just shut down and turned away. He never pushed the subject though, or demanded that I explain myself, which I appreciated more than he knew. Even though he stopped trying to hold just regular conversations after a while. He always did hate when I talked too much. This was probably the break he needed.

It was sixth period break that Friday when I finally felt like talking, even though I was still too weak to mention the job, but I missed hearing his voice. We were leaning back against our usual spot behind the tree, his arms wrapped so tightly around my body that my back was plastered to his stony chest. I couldn't move, at all, and with his face buried in the crook of my neck, I didn't want to. He had been holding me like that a lot lately, like he was afraid I would disappear if he didn't.

"Rex?" I asked softly, I didn't want to wake him if he was taking his usual nap.

His arms tightened around me, which I didn't realize was possible, and he rubbed his handsome face against the skin of my throat. "Yeah?"

"Can we...do something today?" The words felt weird leaving my lips, like I wasn't actually sure that was what they wanted to say.

"Fuck yes." He grumbled into my hair, and the way his lips brushed against my skin sent electricity surging through me. It reminded me of those kisses from days before, the long hungry ones where his tongue fought mine and he stole all the breath from my body. "We can do whatever you want, Roza. Just name it."

"I want to go see Jax."

The dark groan leaving his chest let me know he wasn't too pleased with that idea. I turned my head away from his, my fingers picking absently at a loose thread on my leggings. "You said you would meet him..."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." He pressed a kiss against the side of my neck, one that lingered and made those electric tingles start all over again. "It's just the thought of 'sharing' you that makes me very unhappy." Rex's voice was a grumble and I couldn't help but laugh as it tickled my skin. I could feel him smile against me.

"He's just my friend, and you're..." There it was again, that question I had no real answer to. I felt heat creep into my cheeks.

"I'm what, Roza?" He asked softly, those insane mind-numbing lips tracing easily over me.

I'm sure he could feel the heat radiating from my cheeks and down into my neck. I walked myself right into that one. "You're, um, y-you're—Rex!" Then my mind flashed back to when he first kissed me, in his bathroom in the middle of the night, claiming he didn't want to be my friend. He wanted to be my everything. The heat flaming my face only grew. "You're everything." The words were barely a whisper as they left my lips, and I knew if this subject didn't change soon my face would be permanently stained red.

Rex's face pulled away from my neck, and for a minute I feared I said something wrong. Panic started to swell in my chest, the blush quickly receding, as his arms loosened from around my waist. But one of his strong hands hooked under my knees and dragged me around until I was sitting sideways in his lap, both my legs thrown easily over his large right thigh.

I blinked up at him in surprising, my mouth forming a small 'o' as that chestnut gaze washed over my face. "You mean that?" He asked softly, his fingers strong but soft as they traced along my jaw.

My brow furrowed at the somber look in his eyes and I bit my lower lip. "Of course, T'." His thumb pulled my lip from my teeth, that gaze never once leaving the action. My breath caught in my throat.

"Remember what I told you about biting that." There was that look again, the one from the other night, right before he introduced me to a whole new world of kissing. Yeah—yeah, I remembered what he told me. My lip had been sore for most of the day afterwards. He bites hard.

He leaned down, his lips brushing softly against my own. "I've missed you." Rex whispered before pulling away.

I frowned, but his fingers quickly brushed the look away. "What do you mean? I've been with you this whole time."

His fingers stopped their gentle caress to grip lightly at my chin, and those dark eyes burned holes into mine. "Have you?" I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but the look on his perfect face made me feel like I didn't want to. "You're my everything, Rosalyn. You always will be." Then his lips were pressing against mine again, and it took all I had not to swoon against him.

My fingers curled into the soft fabric of his shirt in the only form of stability I could find. My heart felt like it was going to explode, and the funny things his lips always did to my insides were going haywire. The kiss was sweet and gentle, unlike the other ones with his tongue, and I found my own hand leaving his shirt to trace the strong plane of his neck. He stopped the kiss before I could get over the fog in my brain.

I didn't keep my lips from pouting, and Rex chuckled as he pulled away. "You're cute." He mumbled against me, and the blush that panic had pushed away was back in full force.

He hadn't given me anymore of those deep, fire inducing, kisses since that night, but I hadn't asked him to either. Despite how much I enjoyed it, it only seemed to hurt him, and hurting Rex was something I never wanted to do. I was lucky enough that he wanted to kiss me at all. That he was still here. He kept putting up with me, kept saving me, kept doing things for me.

And what have I done? I've been selfish. I made him worry, enjoyed his worry even, made him turn against his friends, made him fight, begged him not to take a job that would ensure a perfect future—haven't told him I change my mind on that either. I was horrible. Awful. I didn't deserve him.

The moment of happiness and peace that settled in my chest disappeared, but Rex didn't seem to notice as he cuddled me back into his chest. I stayed there pressed against him, in those strong arms that I didn't deserve to have around me, for the rest of the break. I tried to burn the feel of them into my mind, etch it into every corner of my memory. It would be all I had left of him eventually.

I only prayed that 'eventually' was no time soon.