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Early the next morning, we all checked out and left for the airport. 

Yesterday after the wedding and then later the reception party which continued from the wedding, everybody was so exhausted and drunk that nobody had the energy to meet anywhere else. When we got back to the hotel, everybody retired to their rooms and knocked out. Including Emmy and me. 

She was so tired that I had a hard time waking her up when we had to leave for the airport. Or maybe that was because I wasn't trying too hard to wake her up, more so to kiss her all over. 

Eventually, she woke up, we got dressed, packed up our things, and then headed out. It was so early that breakfast wasn't even open yet, so we decided we'd grab something at the airport. 

Once we arrived at the airport, we all sat together until it was time for us to board our flights and then said our goodbyes. Our families were flying back home, save the exception of Remy and Aspen who were flying to Barcelona for their honeymoon. 

With one stopover, our flight was incredibly long and tiring and since both of us have a hard time sleeping on airplanes, it's safe to say we were irritated by the time we landed. We arrived in New York at nine in the morning, feeling dead. 

"You're coming with me, right?" I asked her, carrying our bags towards the exit but not leaving just yet. I'd have to call for my car. 

She hummed, rubbing her eyes. I glanced at her while taking my phone out, dialing Joshua's number. She grabbed my free arm, hugging it and resting her head against it. 

I took a quick look around, feeling anxious now. This wasn't Marbella, we're back in New York, I'm right back under the spotlight here, and the people pointing at me and taking their phones out is reminding me exactly of that. "Are you here yet?" I asked immediately as Josh answered the phone. 

"Almost. I'm reaching your gate, give me five minutes." 

"Hurry, Josh. There are people here," I mumbled. I felt Emilia stiffen beside me, now wide awake. She tilted her head to look at me and I almost wanted to apologize to her. 

"I'm coming, hold on. Don't come out till you see the car, okay?" He hung up before I could answer and I tucked my phone away. 

"Sorry," I whispered to her, putting my arms around her, pulling her into me. 

She paused before putting her arms around my torso. "It's okay. I knew what I was walking into," she mumbled. 

I leaned down, kissing the top of her head. She lifted her head, looking at me again. I knew what she was thinking from the look on her face. "Yeah, your pictures might be taken too. Your face might be in any article with me. They're taking pictures of us together. Is that okay with you? If you want, I'll try my best to keep your name and face out of the papers." 

She paused in thought. "Are you mine?" she asked suddenly. 

"Of course, I am," I replied. 

"I'm yours?"

"Yes, you are." 

"Then I don't care." 

I chuckled, pecking her lips. "I love you." 

"I love you too," she said softly, avoiding my gaze and picking fuzz off my chest from the black full-sleeve v-neck I wore. I hadn't realized until now that we dressed the same. We both had on black full-sleeve t-shirts with grayish blue pants. I wore joggers and she wore actual pants, though. 

I spotted my car when I looked outside and grabbed a hold of our bags. "Hold my arm," I told her. She did. I recognized a few paparazzi men outside but there weren't too many. As the automatic doors slid open, Emilia and I walked out. Josh quickly got out, surprised to see Emilia. 

Oh, that's right. I didn't tell him I was bringing her home with me right away. 

He took the bags from us, quickly putting them in the trunk while I opened the door, ignoring the flashes from the camera and the questions being yelled at us. Emilia climbed in while I covered her and then scooted over so I could sit too. By then, Josh got in the driver's seat and quickly drove off. His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror and he didn't look too happy. "How was your flight?" he asked. 

"It was okay," I answered, my eyes going to the leg Emmy bounced nervously while staring out the window. I put my hand on her thigh and she stopped bouncing it around. 

Josh turned around to face us at a red light. He looked at her, pulling on a small smile. "I'm Joshua, by the way. His manager." 

"I'm Emilia. Nice to meet you." 

He blinked in realization. "Oh, you're Emilia?" 

"Yeah," she chuckled softly. 

"Oh... Yeah, nice to meet you." He turned back around and continued driving. I guess he's decided to like her after all. "Still going home?" He glanced at me. 

"Yeah," I nodded. I turned to her, shaking her leg a bit to get her attention. "Are you tired?" I asked. 

"A bit. Aren't you?" 

I hummed. "You can sleep till we get home if you want. I'll wake you up." 

She shook her head, glancing at Joshua. 

I reached up, pressing the button to pull up the divider between the front seats and the back. The black screen came up slowly before settling with a click. "He can't hear us," I told her. 

"Did you not tell him you were bringing me with you?" she asked hesitantly. 

"I forgot. I genuinely did," I answered. "Why?" 

"I don't know. I feel really weird. It's the first time I'm meeting him and it feels like he doesn't like me or likes driving me with you. I don't know. Am I just being weird?" 

"A little. But I don't blame you. And I'm really sorry about all the cameras and paparazzi." 

She shook her head. "Don't be sorry. It wasn't that bad. Does that really happen everywhere you go?" 

I nodded. "Most places. One way or another, they find out where I'll be and when I'll be there. Somebody tips them off. Sometimes, when I need the publicity, we tip them off, call them there." 

"So... if I go somewhere with you, chances are I'll have to deal with them too? Deal with articles like that?" 

I felt so guilty dragging her into this. "Yeah," I replied. "Emmy, if you don't want that, we'll figure something out. We won't let people know." 

"That's not practical though, is it? You can't hide what we have. I don't want to do that. You'll help me though, right? I don't know what I'm supposed to do in that kind of situation. I don't know how to deal with that much publicity or attention. I can't—" 

"I've got you, Ruby." 

She stared at me. 

"I'm right there with you, okay? Don't worry, we'll take it one day at a time. Hmm?" 

She nodded softly, seeming a bit more at ease now. 

I pulled her closer until she rested her head on my shoulder. "Go to sleep if you're tired," I chuckled, running my fingers through her hair. 

"I don't want to," she mumbled. "I want to talk to you. I'll take a nap when we get there. I'll take a nap with you." 

"All right," I mumbled before kissing her forehead, keeping my lips there for a minute. 

When we finally got there, Josh followed us up and into the penthouse. "I'll uh, I'll take a look around, okay?" Emmy mumbled before leaving me with Josh. 

He stared at me and then threw his arms up. "What were you thinking bringing her home with you? I told you, no scandals." 

"She's not a scandal, Josh. She's my girlfriend." 

"And are you ready for the world to know that and start picking your relationship apart? Adam, you don't pull someone into the spotlight with you when it's so soon. You're going to scare her away." 

"No, I won't." 

"Adam, she has no idea what it feels like to be under scrutiny every single day. Do you really think she can live her quiet life in her apartment like she was? People will know her everywhere she goes without you. She'll be stopped and asked questions, taken pictures of. I'm sure when you're with her, you'll help her through it all. But can she handle it on her own?" 

"She wants to try, Josh. And I know I want her to try. I can't give up on her again, I can't give up on us without even giving a shot." 

"If it doesn't work?" he asked, lifting a brow. 

I shook my head softly. "It has to. I don't know what to do without her anymore. I can't lose her again. I love her." 

"And she knows that?" 

I nodded. 

"And she didn't run away?" 

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Fuck off. Why are you still here anyway?" 

"I'm just checking in on you. You say you love her, I'm not going to interfere again, so relax. She's pretty." 

"I know," I replied smugly. 

He scoffed, "You're such a piece of shit." 

I shrugged as Emilia walked back in, taking another quick look around. "I think I should go home, actually," she said to me suddenly. 

"Why?" I frowned. 

"I have to meet Megan. She's my manager, she just called and asked to meet me. She said she's already on her way, so I should go. I can come back later." 

"Or you can call her here," I shrugged. 

She hesitated. "A-are you sure? I don't know if that's a good idea." 

"It's okay," I reassured her. 

"Adam..." 

"Call her here," I repeated. 

She shrugged and then walked away again, putting her phone to her ear. 

Josh simply shook his head at me and then sat himself down on the couch, taking out his phone. "I have your schedule for tomorrow, I just sent it to you. You'll be there for practice, nine in the morning, okay?" 

"Okay," I mumbled. 

"Adam, seriously. Do not be late. If she's staying here tonight, figure it out. But be there. Coach will kill you and seriously might replace you otherwise." 

"What happened to those tryouts?" 

"He canceled them yesterday." 

I nodded, feeling a little calmer. Emilia walked back in again, lingering awkwardly. "I'll look through the schedule, why don't we just talk tomorrow?" I asked him, shooting him a pointed look. 

He began standing up, rolling his eyes at me. "Sure." He headed towards the elevator, pressing the button and waiting there. 

Emmy walked over and I grabbed her hand and pulled her down and into my lap quickly. She stared at me, wide-eyed, trying to stand back up. "What are you doing?" she hissed in a whisper. 

"Shh," I said quickly. 

She shut up, watching me. 

The elevator dinged in the background. "Why aren't you at home?" came a brand new voice. 

I looked over in confusion while Emilia threw my hands off, shooting up. "Megan!" 

Megan looked up from her phone only after stepping out and ran straight into Joshua, mumbling, "Ow," as she took a small step back, tripping back into the elevator. 

"Careful," Joshua huffed, grabbing her waist and steadying her, pulling her back out. 

She gawked for a minute before clearing her throat and quickly stepping away from him, turning her attention to Emmy, then to me. She stared at me, her head tilting in surprise. "You're real?" She looked back to Emmy. "I thought you were kidding about being with Adam freaking Blackwell." 

"Uh, hello? A 'Thanks for saving me from falling on my ass, Joshua' would be nice," Josh scoffed. 

Megan turned to him. "I didn't even know your name was Joshua until you said it." 

"Well, now you know. Thank me." 

Megan laughed, "No. Em, come on. I need to talk to you." 

"Yeah," Emilia nodded, "come on." 

Both of them disappeared into the kitchen and I turned to Josh who decided to sit back down. "Leave, what are you doing?" I asked him. 

"I like her," he shrugged. "I want to annoy her more." 

"Who?" 

"Megan." 

I paused. "Do you... know her?" 

"No," he scoffed, "but I'd like to."

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