Chapter 10

Meri's POV

We talk about anything and everything. I've forgotten all about our investigation and I am solely concentrating on the now. I love how animated he is when he talks about his music, he really wants to succeed with his brothers. I honestly think that's more important to him than some girl coming between them. I think that's partially why he didn't hit his brother. I feel bad for him, I do, but I think he's better off without that girl. I hope his brother realizes what he did was fucked up and maybe he'll let her go too.

We head back to the hotel doggie bags in hand, happily walking and talking. I love the city at night, all of the lights and the chaos makes the city feel alive. I am looking around like I am a tourist enjoying it all. I take out my cellphone as we pass by Times Square, we decided to take a different route back to the hotel. He takes it and flips the camera to selfie mode, and we snap a shot together right in the heart of Times Square.

"I feel like such a tourist," I joke.

"Live in the moment babe," he says.

I swallow hard, did he just call me babe? I smile because it's cute, but I don't think any further into it. We walk around taking selfies and random pictures of things. I feel like this whole day has been a dream, and I'll wake up soon to find out it never really happened.

It's almost midnight and I am honestly not ready for all of it to end. What do we do now? Do we both sleep in the hotel together again? I mean we did it last night, but we weren't aware. Taylor stops right outside the room, his hand in his back pocket waiting to pull out the card.

"Hey, do you um... want me to get my own room tonight? My flight doesn't leave until tomorrow afternoon," he says.

My heart sinks when he talks about Tulsa. It means that all of this is getting so close to being over and we still haven't figured out anything about last night.

"You can stay if you want," I say softly.

I don't look at him when I say it, I'm feeling a little embarrassed. I do want him to stay, but I am scared. I'm worried I might do or say something stupid. Last night I was too drunk to care so I don't know what I said to him.

He nods and pulls the key out and swipes it in the door. It opens and we are engulfed in darkness. I step in first and he turns the lights and locks up behind me. Without saying anything I grab my comfortable clothes and head into the bathroom. I can feel my emotions getting the best of me and a sob escapes my lips. I cover my mouth worried he might have heard me. I have so many emotions running through me. Between my huge mistake yesterday, the fight with Charlotte, to everything today with Taylor. I don't want him to think I am an emotional basket case, but I can't help feeling sad. I cover my face and sob.

I jump when a hand touches my shoulder, I forgot to lock the door. He spins me around and pulls me into him.

"I'm sorry," I sob.

"What are you sorry for?" he asks.

"This whole mess," I say.

"What whole mess?"

"Last night?" he asks.

I nod.

"I wish I could remember and then you wouldn't have had to spend a whole day..."

"Hey," he says taking my face in his hands.

"It was my idea too to figure it out. Don't blame yourself for anything that happened. Whatever we did last night doesn't even matter now. If I can be completely honest with you I am glad it happened, whatever it was that did happen. If none of it did I wouldn't have gotten to know this amazing girl standing in front of me," he confesses.

I don't know what to say I'm completely in awe. He thinks I am amazing? Even after I told him what I did yesterday, that I slept with my ex on the day of his wedding to my best friend. He still wants to be here with me.

"I'm amazing?" I ask.

"Meri if you don't realize that by now you must be living in an alternate universe. I'm so glad I met you. You made me forget about the pain I was feeling," he says.

"You did that for me too," I admit.

He lets go of my face and puts his hand on my waist.

"Do you still want to figure this out? Is that part of the reason your upset?" he asks.

I nod.

"So let's figure it out," he tells me.

"Okay," I say wiping my tears.

We settle back on the bed in our comfortable clothes. He places his arm back around me and I cuddle into him. My head sits on his chest.

"What if I kissed you?" he says out of the blue.

I sit up and stare at him. I am not sure what he's getting at.

"I mean, maybe if we kissed last night it might bring back some memories..." he tells me.

"Oh. Yeah. I guess it might work," I tell him.

Although I've wanted to do this all day I am feeling nervous. We sit up and face each other and it feels like two teenagers kissing for the first time. He leans forward first and I follow. His lips linger right above mine and I close my eyes. I can feel the softness of his lips as they graze lightly against mine. Just as I'm about to press against him his phone goes off. He sighs loudly and turns to answer it.

"Shit," he says.