That night, after Ethan had came over to my place when as much work at the office he could get done for the day was finished, we did our usual dinner together and chatting about random things going on. Tonight was mainly about the upcoming wedding and how Kinsley is starting to freak out over little details the closer we get to it.

When asked about my day, it was hard to not include Taehyung in my very short list of activities I did. After Taehyung had left earlier, I did as he suggested and took some time for me to really think about things. Even though I'm nowhere close to come to a conclusion, it was nice to have some time for me to zone in on how I feel about it all.

Throughout the day, Taehyung and I texted about everything under the sun including how his family is doing, his time in the military, what's going on with the company and the fact that he's staying in Uncle Kim's old house until his, well I guess ours, is done being built. Jungkook and Jimin plan on also coming to the United States to work at the company once he accepts the role as CEO in just one short week. The same day as the wedding to be exact.

Looking over at Ethan while lounging on the couch, I admire him happily working away while on the phone with a client informing them of some good news he just got regarding their adoption status.

Times like this it makes me appreciate him for the man he is. Such a wonderful soul and deserving of everything good in this world. He doesn't deserve to be with someone who's heart is torn between two men. Neither does Taehyung. I'm not worth any of this. I'm surprised both of them hasn't just said screw you Ava and found some hot chick elsewhere.

KTH:
Sweet dreams beautiful.
I hope to see you again soon.

Smiling at the text message that came through on my phone, I glance back up to make sure Ethan wasn't paying attention before I typed out a reply.

Good night! Xoxo
We'll see each other ASAP.

Ugh, I feel like such an asshole. Maybe I should just tell Ethan. At least him knowing may soften the blow and not come as such a shock if I do choose Taehyung or at least he'll know he's back in my life for now even if I do choose Ethan in the end. It's not fair to him that only one side knows what's going on.

That's it, my mind is set. I'll tell him tonight when he gets off of the phone.

Almost an hour goes by and he's still chatting away details with his excited client and even though I know his line of business requires some late night work, having to wait even longer is only making me grow more and more anxious. My over thinking mind and my rapidly beating heart increases with each apologetic look he gives me for taking much longer than expected.

Just when I feel like I'm going to be sick from the bundle of nerves, he hangs up his phone and quickly walks over to me with a bright smile. He hovers over me with both of his hands firmly planted on either side of my body and peppers kisses along my cheek and neck.

"I'm so...so so...sorry. I...didn't...expect...for it...to take...that long." He says in between each kiss before stopping and looking at me with a furrowed brow when I didn't giggle or respond in any kind of way. "What's wrong? Are you mad?"

How do I even start this?

"There's...something we need to talk about." I convey in a soft, fragile voice.

He sits down next to where my knees are bent and grabs the open book neatly placed on my stomach. Without saying a word, he calmly puts the bookmark inside to hold my spot and sets it down on the table. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, he looks over at me with worried eyes.

"Okay. What's on your mind baby?" He grabs my hand and intertwines my fingers with his. "Why are you shaking?"

I was really hoping he wouldn't notice. My nerves are totally shot.

"There's something I should tell you." I begin once I've forced myself to look at him directly. The wheels are visibly turning in his head. "Taehyung is back in town."

Ethan swallows and looks at the coffee table where he sat my book down before looking back over at me. "Are you leaving me?"

"No!" I sit up and cup his face with both of my hands. His saddened eyes and dejected tone breaking my heart piece by piece. "I mean, I have some thinking to do, but I haven't made any choices."

Fuck...that can't sound good. I wish I had known what to say to make this situation better, but is that even possible anyway?

"You said you'd always choose him." He mumbles with a crack in his voice as he tries to hold himself together, reminding me of our past conversations.

"That was before I fell in love with you." Tears well up in my eyes and even though I don't even deserve to cry, seeing him like this hurts.

"Do you just know he's back or did you see him?" He questions, a lone tear running down his cheek. The hot liquid collects on the tip of my thumb as I look into his glazed irises.

"I saw him."

"When?" He asks as soon as I get the last word out.

"Sunday." I answer honestly and he closes his eyes tightly, remembering how I barely talked to him or texted him that day and hadn't really been myself since.

"Did you have sex with him?" He opens his eyes again, the hurt behind them almost too much to bear.

I shake my head furiously, "No! We never had sex."

He exhales shakily and wraps me in his arms, pulling me close to him and holding me there. The strength I had to hold back my own emotion is broken as soon as I'm in his embrace. I never wanted to make him cry. I never got into this relationship with plans on hurting him or anyone for that matter.

I don't even know if I'll choose Taehyung - as much as I love him.

"I don't want to lose you. Lose us. I've never been this happy." His voice rumbles next to my ear pressed against his chest.

"I know." It's all I can manage to choke out through the knot in my throat.

He pulls back to look at me and swipe my tears away. Why is he being so kind to me right now? How can someone be this good?

"I know you still...you still love him. I just hope you'll at least consider staying with me. I want to make you happy. I want to live together, get married and have as many babies as you want. I want you to live out your dreams and I want you to want me too." His voice fades off, unable to remain stable under his fragile state of mind.

"I've always considered us." My lip trembles.

"Were you happy to see him?" He inquires. I figured he'd have a lot of questions running through his mind the moment he found out, whether or not I told him right away.

"Honestly?" I take a deep breath to calm myself so that I can get out more than a few words. "I was in shock at first and then I yelled at him."

He chuckles at the unexpected response while waiting for me to continue, knowing that wasn't all I needed to say.

"But then we talked. In Korea, a male is required to enlist in the military for about two years. That's why it took him much longer to come back." I explain as Ethan nods, understanding. "He didn't want me to hold back my life for him so he told Uncle Kim to not say anything."

"Did you kiss him?" Ethan searches my face and I know he can sense my despondency. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. I'm not mad at you. I'm not mad about any of it."

"You're not?" My eyebrows knit together.

He shakes his head slowly and leans in to sear an anguished and fucking sexy kiss upon my lips. His anxious tongue finds mine and a whimper escapes me as his large hand cuffs the back of my head, deepening the kiss and leaving me begging for more once he pulls away.

"It's your heart. No one can tell you what to do, but you. I'm not going anywhere, but I'll be damned if I let you just slip away without me trying to keep you." He leans back in, locking his lips with mine once more and cherishing the feel of our connection. The one that's solely ours.

While moving to put his back to the couch, he wraps his arm around my waist so that I'll shift with him and making me straddle his lap. His tongue caresses my own in a way that speaks volumes as to what his heart doesn't have the words for. His hands glide over my body as if he's admiring every curve and reflex to his touch. The way his lips sent warm ripples of shock through my body made me hypnotized under his command.

He was fighting for me, loving me, and professing to me all at once and I, too, was reassuring him of the love I do have for him.

Slowly but surely he made a room inside of my heart just for him. He needed to be there just as much as I need him there. One of my best friends turned lover. A man who knows me inside and out and one who pays attentions to the small details.

How do I choose between either of these men?

I'm doomed.

"Ava?" He whispers as I move to kiss along his jawline.

"Yeah?" I mumble, too focused on cherishing him.

"Baby...stop. Please." He gently grabs my arms to get my attention.

My head raises up and my brow knits when I lock eyes with him again. Ever since he and I started dating, he's never been one to stop anything between us and my heart starts to rip as I stare at him for a bit longer.

"Do you want me to...?" I motion with my head, suggesting if he'd rather me get off of his lap.

"No. Not that. I just...I love you, Ava." His eyes search mine as if he's trying to figure out if those words affect me the same way they had been.

"I love you, too." I smile, trying to relax him.

Taking a second to just look at me and softly run his fingers over the side of my face, I slowly blink under the comforting touch I've grown to adore.

"I know you do." He finally smiles back at me and kisses me so passionately that it makes my head spin once he pulls away, leaving my eyes to flutter back open. "I have some good news for you, by the way."

"Hm?" My eyebrows raise in curiosity.

"You know that other building you really liked? The one you said was another one of your favorites?" He begins and I nod, knowing exactly which building he was talking about.

It was a newly renovated building in another good neighborhood. The oak wood flooring and cream colored walls were neutral enough so that the artwork would stand out. Even though it didn't have a lot of natural light, it already had recess lighting and spot lights set up leaving out a lot of work I would have needed to do on my own anyway. Once I found out my offer fell through on the first place, I had put in an offer on this one. It's taken so long to hear back on it, I had kind of given up hope and had been doing some realty searching on my own.

"Well...what's the good news?" I excitedly ask. My original plan of not getting my hopes up was clearly not happening.

"The seller accepted your offer. If you still want it, all you have to do is sign off on all of the paperwork. I can be there to help if you want." He smiles proudly at me as I let out a squeal of excitement.

"Hell yes! Do we go down there tomorrow? Is there anything I need to bring? What do I do? You can come with me, but I'm not paying you as my lawyer." I put my hands on my hips and frown at him to let him know how stern I was.

He chuckles at my reaction and shakes his head, "Of course you wouldn't pay me. At least not with money." Giggling and smacking him playfully on his arm, I roll my eyes at his cliche guy remark. "I meant with love and appreciation. Gosh! What kind of dirty mind do you have?"

"Oh shut up and kiss me, Ethan." I bite my lip with a smile as he runs his hands up my thighs again.

"Say it again." He demands through a chuckle as he cranes his neck up to meet my lips.

"Ethan." I purr lovingly.