Paper was like people. A single tear left a permanent mark on the paper, just like a person. Something so small, a little slip up could be on that plain sheet forever. Our mistakes or tears would forever be ingrained in our skin even if we pretended it did not affect us. It's just the way the cookie crumbled.

My fingernail buds grew smaller as I nibbled on them while waiting for Ambrose. I wasn't sure if leaving Ambrose alone with his mother was the right call. She never physically harmed him, but that didn't make her any better than his father. His mom deserved to feel every ounce of guilty for staying by her husband's side instead of standing up for her son.

I wanted to run from the sanctuary of his room and listen in on the conversation. Anything to know that he's doing okay. The only thing holding me back was the fact that I probably smelled like sex. My phone vibrated on his bed table, and a spurge of relief emerged in my chest as Ambrose's contact popped up.

Don't worry, babe. Everything is going fine. I'll be in your arms in minutes. Where I belong ;).

An anxious gust of air departed from my lungs as I reread the message over and over with a huge grin. Ambrose really had me falling head over heels for him. It's fucking insane how fast it's happening. Skipping happily off the bed, I scanned his closet for a comfy shirt to lounge in. My arms slipped through the sleeves of a plain black-tee shirt, reaching down to my knees.

I jumped back into the bed, slamming my face into the comforter, missing Ambrose more every second that ticked by. Boredom crept on my skin like shivers as I glanced around the empty room with not even a TV to keep company. A brown crate by Ambrose's shoes caught my attention, so I did the smartest thing I could think of; I opened it.

All of our gifts from Valentine's day lie there; safe and sound. Everything from our friendly 'dates' remained in this box like a reminder of how important these moments were for each other. Maybe for different reasons, but they were significant nonetheless. To be honest, after the shameful, awkward kiss that night, I forgot about the gifts we exchanged until his very moment.

The light reflected on the brilliant pink hue so vivid it was almost impossible to ignore. It was a bracelet with three charms; a nurse hat, a pink emboldened heart, and lastly rosy-colored letter A. There was only one person who I could think of that was studying to be a nurse; Lana. Was this a sign if he kept these things?

That he still hoped for her to change her mind? Communication is key. All I had to do was have a conversation about how he felt for Lana, but I'm an idiot. I feared the unknown, the way our relationship could remain in harmony in this little bubble. I wanted to enjoy this bubble of joy just a bit longer...

The bracelet slipped from my fingers as the door cracked opening, abruptly slicing the silence in half. Ambrose struggled with the door while stumbling in with three plates stacked on his wrist and a soda litter under his armpit. From the outside perspective, he looked okay.

But was he really okay inside?

"Mom kept talking and talking. I was thinking she wouldn't stop anytime soon if I hadn't come up with a lie about how we're shooting early tomorrow," Ambrose said, settling the plates on the bedside.

"Are you okay?"

A lopsided grin stretched across his handsome face. "Yeah, I'm peachy."

Concern remained on my features. "Okay..."

Ambrose sighed. "There's nothing to worry about, D. She's harmless, she wouldn't hurt me besides all she wanted to talk about was meeting you."

My eyebrows perked up. "Really. Why?"

Ambrose laughed, popping a scoop of whipped cream into his mouth. "Because you're my girlfriend, silly."

I blinked. "They care about that stuff?" That came off snooty. "What I mean is like my mother doesn't bother getting to know you and my father is, you know... A weird case. I'm not used to my boyfriend's parents wanting to meet me."

Ambrose clicked his tongue. "What about Colton?"

I scoffed. "Yeah, I was more like a trophy that he could flaunt around whenever he wanted, but he didn't care enough to introduce me to his parents. I never could understand why at the time, but I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the relationship, isn't that stupid?"

Ambrose laughed lightly, lying back on his bed, and propelling his head on the pillow. "We all do stupid things as teenagers. But my job is to do everything right, to never make you feel like you're any less than you're... because you're Davina, my special person."

He's looking down at me like I'm a beautiful mess. Springing up from the floor, I crawled onto the bed, sliding my hands to his chest, and felt his heart pounding through his shirt. It's hammering as hard as mine was.

We locked eyes, and he didn't ask permission when he dipped his head and brushed my mouth with his. "Every night I'm thankful for our paths colliding, and every night, I'm thankful you drunkenly confessed your feelings for me so I could open my eyes and see what I was missing right in front of me. I'm going to kiss you now."

And then his lips claimed mine. My head was swimming, my body felt like it's floating on a cotton candy cloud, and I couldn't move my arms. But I don't have to, because he raised my hands above my head and interlocked our fingers, pushing them into the mattress. His tongue slid against mine, and there's so much emotion in it, it's as if he's kissing me the same way he looked at me.

He slowly planted kisses down my neck, keeping my hands secured to the bed, not allowing me to touch him back while he explored my skin. God, I loved the way his touch soothed my worries, my goosebumps and made me feel completely in every way.

The pressure on my right hand disappeared as he ran his fingers down the length of my arm, all the way to my waist. His mouth returned to mine, and he kissed me again as his hands gradually began to crawl inside my shirt. Just feeling his fingertips on my skin caused the butterflies to flutter in my belly.

It was so easy to get lost in his kisses. I forgot where I was. And who I was. Just two people, kissing with so many things lingering behind them, the feels, and the knots in my stomach. His hand slipped behind my head, bringing us closer and causing chills on my skin.

Ambrose pulled his mouth from mine, and the awareness of our separation became painfully prominent. His forehead pressed against the side of my head, and his hands lingered underneath my chin, playing with the ends of my hair.

"Sometimes I wish I meant you ten years ago... when I didn't come with so much baggage. You would've liked me from the start back then," I whispered, his hot breath landing on my face.

His fingers tenderly caressed my cheek. "I like you now. Just the way you're... there's not a single thing I would want you to change. Please, just stay with me, forever."

My nose tickled as my eyes began to water. "It almost sounds like you're proposing to me."

Ambrose cracked a lopsided smile. "It wouldn't be the first time I proposed to someone. But I want you to be the last person I ever ask... but I want to do it right this time and take things slow..." He stuck out his pinky. "It's you and me, D, always."

I curled my pinky with his. "Always."

"Oh dear God!" Ambrose grumbled, pinching his nose. "You would think I'm asking you the hardest question in the world! Hurry and choose a snack so I could cuddle you until we fall asleep in each other's arms."

I groaned, throwing my head back in amusement. "Oreos and gummy bears!"

"Finally," Ambrose chuckled, dialing the number on his landline, holding up his body from the bedstand by using his arm. Dirty thoughts flashed through my mind as I admired the way his arm flexed against the table.

Jesus, he should choke me with that thing.

Ambrose hung up the phone and snuggled his way underneath the covers next to mine. "It's going to take forty minutes, so hopefully we don't fall asleep until then."

"We can go for round two?" I wiggled my eyebrows. "That would surely keep us awake."

His lips curled upward into a grin. "As much as I love that idea, I'm so fucking sore." His face scrunched up in discomfort as he gripped his shoulders. "How about giving me a massage with nothing on."

My mouth slightly fell open. "Is that some kinky fantasy you dream up? Though I would love to hear more of your kinky ideas."

Ambrose's eyes twinkled with humor. "Grab that tub of lotion and jack me off. That's something I always dreamed about, especially with you."

I rolled my eyes and playfully swatted his shoulder. "Jesus! Flip onto your back so I can rub some lotion on you."

"That wasn't the area I asked."

"I'm going to squirt lotion in your eye if you keep it up," I threatened.

Ambrose barked out a laugh. "I'm just fucking messing with you! Now, pretty please with a cherry on top massaged my back?"

I waved him off. "Yeah, Yeah."

I squirted a glob of lotion in the palm of my hands and carefully kneaded his back, earning several deep groans from him. His bareback was the sexiest shit I've seen. Because of his lack of athleticism, I wouldn't have pictured his entire body to be pretty ripped, but his back muscles shined even when unflexed.

And I fucking loved it.

"D, I've been keeping a secret, and I feel extremely guilty about it, so I'm just going to go ahead and tell you," Ambrose said, his tone growing sincere compared to its playfulness minutes ago.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Go ahead."

My nerves went haywire like an overused plug that got overwhelmed with electricity. Was it going to be about the biggest elephant in our relationship? Was he going to say his feelings for Lana still existed? It had to be about her, right? What else was there to lie about?

"I'm thinking about purchasing a restaurant for once the competition is over... That's where I went the other day... to look for properties and decide if it's really something I could imagine myself doing. They called today about the property I wanted having another buyer so I outbid them, and it's mine," he revealed, air releasing from his lungs just like the guilt. "I didn't mention it because I wanted to be hundred percent sure before sharing it with anyone."

"All my life, I'd done things for other people. I fought tough and nail to impress my parents in high school, obviously failing badly... All my jobs in New York were to be closer to Lana, though it didn't hurt to get familiar with the background in Italian food. But I wanted to do something that was solely my decision, not because others input their reasons." Ambrose raked his fingers through his beautiful, brown hair. "I'm not saying, I don't appreciate your opinion, I do, I rea-."

I stopped him mid-sentence with a quick kiss. "I'm not mad, and I totally understand what you mean. We're at an age where we have to fight with what we want and go against others' wishes if it makes us happier. So, if you wanted to know my opinion, I'm fucking ecstatic that you found your passion for cooking and have a concrete plan. It will be tough, really tough, but I'll be your personal cheerleader until the very end."

A sparkling, jubilant glint gleamed in his eyes. "With the cute cheerleading two-piece?"

I laughed, playfully rolling my eyes. "I'll wear whatever you want me to wear."

My moist hands worked his back as if it was dough, earning several deep groans that resided within him. From a few movements, I could sense the stress hindering his muscles, slowly inching away with every touch. For a second. The purchasing of the restaurant could be the cause of his stress or was it something else.

"Babe?" Ambrose's words hung in the air.

My head snapped up. "Yes?"

Suddenly, Ambrose swung around, causing my body to land by his. He hauled me towards his chest, caging me in a bear hug. My head dipped into the crook between his chin and neck. Ambrose left a trail of kisses along the slope of my jawline before placing the last one straight on my nose.

He confessed, "There's been another thing bothering me, lately."

Gazing into his sympathetic eyes, I whispered, "What is it?"

Ambrose chuckled in a strained manner. "It has to do with my dad. When doesn't it have to do with him?"

I traced circles on his bare chest. "Don't beat yourself up about it... Your relationship is fairly complex."

A slight smile sneaked onto his lips. "That's a great way to put it. Anyhow, when we hung out two weeks ago, he played around with the idea of me lending him some money. He was very passive-aggressive with it, but I didn't want to ruin the day by reading too much into it."

Distress clawed at my heart. "How much did he ask for?"

"One hundred grand!" A deep sigh escaped from his lungs. "I know. It's fucking insane. He's planning to invest in this big shot experimentally company with his AA buddies. I want him to do better, be better, but at my expense? Should I feel guilty for putting myself before him? Because I do... He's a shitty father and never has cared about me but aren't, I supposed to break the cycle. You know, pay it forward?"

My face darkened with extreme dissatisfaction. "Sorry if I'm being harsh, but you don't owe that man shit! You're doing enough by opening yourself to these people who don't even deserve it, to begin with. You have one of the biggest hearts in the universe, but you're also incredibly smart. Even if you like to bring yourself down, you're are smart!"

Ambrose paused again, seeming to struggle to find his words, before telling me. "But-t... As much as I hate to admit it, I liked having them in my life, again. I-I have a feeling if I refuse to give him the money that he'll hate forever."

"I get it," I hummed, wincing sympathetically. "I don't think a single hour goes by where we don't wish for our parents to love us, but it isn't written in stone. Our circumstances are opposites sides of the barrels, but if he has the audacity to be annoyed, then fuck him. You aren't a bank, you're his son."

Ambrose swallowed uncomfortably. A pained gleam flickered in his eyes. "I'm tired of being a disappointment in his eyes. But I don't trust him enough to give him money. Maybe in a few years, if he sticks around." His smile widened as he gazed at me with an expression full of hope.

My heart melted as I flashed a smile back at him. "If it makes you feel any better I'll be right by your side when you tell him. We can do it at the dinner, they have been begging to have."

"It's easier to breathe with you, clinging right next to me," Ambrose said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You're a cheesy shit!"

He laughed cheekily and gave my boobs a quick, playful squeeze. "Only when I want to impress you."

I can't help but blush. "Everything you do impresses me."

"Well, it's never ever going to change because I'll make it my life mission to impress you until we grow old together so we can have a million stories to share with our kids," Ambrose babbled, staring off to the ceiling as if he could see the future right there.

My breath hitched slightly. "So you have our whole life planned out already?"

Alarm flashed in his eyes. "Shit... I didn't mean to scare you off... fuck. I just speak out of my ass sometimes... I'm sorry if I went too fa-."

My mind felt like it was on cloud nine as I leaned over to kiss him, gently tugging at his lower lip. His tongue slid in, tasting like minty mouthwash. A heart was an organ. It had been just an organ for me since Colton.

But slowly, with every passing minute, Ambrose adapted the bloodless organ into a functioning muscle. It lived to be with him, to be touched by him, to support him. His affection brought hope to the organ for everlasting love. Like in tangled when Rapunzel sacrificed her hair to save Flynn's life. I would do the same and so much more for Ambrose if I'm given the chance.

Because...

Because... I'm falling irrevocably in love with him.

Happy New Year Eve guys!! Hope this chapter makes your day even better or slightly better!! I'm a sucker for sappy simple chapters like this!!!

Love you guys and can't wait to hear your thoughts!!💜❤️💜