updating every day from now on. i finished writing TWOU, it's 3:06 AM, it's at 160,252 words. it's finished, it's complete.

im not crying

*

Andy sends another picture.

Fucking hell

She laughs. For tonight :)

God, I have a meeting in five minutes. Baby. Give me a warning at least.

Where's the fun in that? But what do you think :c i spent like an hour taking a good angle :c

I think it says enough that I want to go home & fuck you

Andy grins. So why don't you

Very tempting, but I have a meeting. I'll be fired if I skip. Don't make me lose my job, Sanford.

Before she can send her reply, Rhysand sends another message. You feel pretty, baby? Sending me these pics?

Andy bites her lip, fingers hovering over the keyboard. Yes. :c

Good. You are. And incredibly so.

Andy's heart feels like it's about to burst. You want me?

Want you always. You know that. Don't think I can go a day without being inside you.

She slaps a hand to her face, feeling the heat rise up her neck and cheeks. I thought you had a meeting!!!

You asked me and I answered honestly. Don't see why you're embarrassed—you never have been when you send me smthng out of nowhere. You're a fucking menace.

But you think I'm beautiful :D

Always do, sunshine. Wait for me at home and I'll show you.

Andy doesn't doubt it. :D You know the drill, pls delete <333 Good luck in your meeting, baby. Love you <33

Will do. I love you more.

*

Their second anniversary comes faster than the first, but Andy and Rhysand agreed on nothing fancy this year. They just went out to get fast food, caught a movie, headed to the arcade and made out in the photo booth (Andy cut the strip of pictures in half so they can each keep a copy), and visited the shelter before going home.

Rhysand notices she's wearing his earrings, but he doesn't ask for them back. Just flicks them with his finger before he bends down to kiss her.

Andy's gift to Rhysand is nothing special. She'll have to free up her schedule, he'll have to free up his schedule, too, so she can't buy the tickets in advance. They have to talk about it first, and when school and work aren't in the way, maybe they can go.

In her wistful imagination, though, she already planned an itinerary.

Rhysand tilts his head at the brochure handed to him. "I don't understand," he says, blinking up at her.

Andy bites her lip. "I was thinking," she starts slowly, swaying on her feet, "that when you and I are free...like, when you can leave work for a week or so. And I don't have school, too. During the break, or something. Maybe we can go to China. Visit your home country. That's where you were born, right?"

Rhysand gives her barely a nod, eyes unreadable.

She swallows and looks down. "I don't know if you'd want that," she says quietly. "But if you do, I researched and stuff. I looked up cool places where we can go and have fun—that's what's in there. The, um, itinerary. It'd be a good trip."

Rhysand doesn't say anything. He looks down at the brochure.

"Of course, we can go somewhere else," Andy is quick to say, pursing her lips. "The offer's just there—we can go to another country when we're both available, and of course, I'll pay for the tickets, this is my gift, after all—"

"I'd want that," Rhysand mumbles, looking up at her. He's squeezing the brochure in his hands. "I, um. Would want that. I haven't been to China."

"Oh." Andy takes a deep breath. She feels like a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders. She's so relieved, that stupidly, she answers, "I haven't been either."

Rhysand cracks a half-smile. "I know. Thank you, sunshine."

Andy steps forward to hug him. "You're welcome," she mumbles in his shirt. "I know it's nothing special."

"This is..." Rhysand takes a deep breath, one arm curling around her waist. The other keeps hold of her gift to him. "This is more than special, Sanford. Thank you."

Andy would give him anything in the world if he asked for it.

"My gift is..." he trails off, pulling back. Rhysand scrunches his nose. "It's not as...thoughtful as yours? And now that I think about it, I'm second-guessing, and it's stupid as fuck."

"Nothing you can give me is stupid." Andy smiles at him and brushes his hair away from his forehead. "You need a haircut."

Rhysand raises an eyebrow. "Are you going to give me one?"

"I can. I cut my dad's hair sometimes."

"Please don't cut my hair like you do your dad's."

Andy laughs, gripping his shirt around his back. "Okay. Where's my gift?"

Rhysand clicks his tongue. "Demanding."

"I told you I don't expect anything," she says, slipping her hands under his shirt. Rhysand's breath hitches. "You don't need to give me anything, baby. Spending the day with you is enough."

"It's the same for me," Rhysand says, sliding his hand down her arm when her finger draws dangerously close to his tattoo. Andy looks up at him, biting her lip, and Rhysand raises his eyebrow. "But you keep surprising me, anyway."

"Because I want to."

"And I want to as well."

"Okay, where is it?"

Rhysand pulls her hands away from his body. Andy stands, biting her lip in anticipation, as Rhysand opens a drawer from his desk.

He hides the gift behind his back when he faces her again. The tips of his ears are pink.

Andy grins. "What are you so nervous for?"

"J told me it'd be a good idea," he says lowly, furrowing his eyebrows. "But now I think I shouldn't have trusted him."

"You asked him for help?"

"For his thoughts," Rhysand corrects, clearing his throat. "And I didn't...show him everything."

Andy's curious. She's so curious, she doesn't know what he's holding that he'd have to ask his best friend for his opinion.

"Baby, it's okay, I'll love it no matter what it is," Andy assures him, laughing.

"Jesus, fuck, okay." Rhysand shoves it in her chest. "Just don't. Laugh."

ndy bites her lip as she looks at his gift. They're pieces of cardboard with words written on them, bound together by a ring, and Andy flips through it.

"Breakfast in bed," she reads, blinking. "Date night—no work. I buy you two boxes of nuggets—Rhysand, are these coupons?"

Her boyfriend nods stiffly. "There are twelve. And they expire next month."

Andy's smile widens. She flips through it again. "I don't smoke for an entire day—oh, I like this."

Rhysand scoffs.

"Home-cooked meal," Andy reads, "bubble bath. One hour of extra cuddles. Quickie before work—Rhysand!"

"You'd want it, don't lie."

Her cheeks heat. "Steal something of mine—again."

"You steal enough of my shit," he says. "Another one won't hurt."

Andy smiles at him. "Slow dance—since I know you love dancing." She looks at him. "Rhys."

"Finish it," he says, tipping his chin up.

Andy nods. "Day off for you—I won't complain and pout. No jealousy and selfishness."

Rhysand finds her hand and squeezes her fingers. "I promise."

She gets to the last coupon. It's blank. "Why is this blank?"

Rhysand shrugs. "Free wish. Ask me whatever you want."

Andy grabs onto the nape of his neck and pulls him down to kiss him hard. Rhysand grunts with surprise but kisses her back nonetheless, hand gripping her hip. "I love it," she says, kissing him again, and again, and again. "I love you. You didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

"Can I cash one in now?"

Rhysand's eyes twinkle. "Which one?"

"The blank one." Andy fumbles for the buttons on his shirt. "Kiss me?"

Rhysand does. "Is that the wish?" he asks, running his hands down her legs, and Andy shakes her head.

"No, my wish is for you to do what you want to me, with me," Andy says in his skin, trailing her lips down his neck and collarbone, sucking and biting. "No holding back."

Rhysand pushes her back gently. His eyebrows are furrowed. "You want me to be rough?"

Andy flushes, but she nods. "I know you want to do more than what we're doing—"

"I don't need to," her boyfriend says sharply. "I'm fuckin' happy with what we do, I'm lucky enough that you trust me with your body, sunshine."

"And I'm saying I trust you to do more," Andy tells him, unbuttoning his jeans. "Whatever you want, I'd want it, too. Just...go easy on me. Talk to me. And ask me if I'm still okay with what you're doing."

"We're doing," Rhysand corrects. "It's not just me here, baby. It's the both of us."

Andy nods. "Okay."

He's still hesitant. Rhysand exhales heavily. "I'm going to be mean. And I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't. We have a safeword system, Rhys. That's what yellow and red is for, remember?"

Rhysand's jaw tightens.

Andy sighs. Threads her fingers in his hair. "I want to do what you want to do. I'm open to anything. I just don't want you to hold yourself back for me. We can do gentle and slow that way I want, but we can also do it the way you want. Can you tell me what you want?"

"Wanna tie your hands together," says Rhysand. "Blindfold you. Fuck your mouth. Choke you. Degrade you, edge you, make you cry from frustration."

Oh. Well.

Rhysand raises an eyebrow. "Still want it? Ask for something else."

"I don't mind," Andy says, swallowing. "I don't mind."

Rhysand stares at her. "Sunshine."

"I'm being honest," Andy tells him truthfully. "It's just...I'm embarrassed and nervous. But I want to. And if you're going to be mean...just assure me you don't mean any of what you say afterwards."

"Of course," Rhysand says, face twisting in concern now. "Baby, you don't have to. I'm fine with the way things are. You don't have to force yourself."

"I'm not. I swear I'm not." Andy is being honest. "I've been thinking about it for a while. And you never tell me what you want to do. And I want to try. What you said." She clears her throat, burying her head on his shoulder. "Ah, this is embarrassing."

"Nothing embarrassing about what we do, sunshine," Rhysand tells her, running his hand down her back. "Just..." he sighs. "Are you sure? Are you one hundred percent sure? You're not bullshitting me and you're going to tell me to stop and slow down when you're not comfortable anymore?"

"Yes, one hundred percent, yes, I'll tell you when I feel uncomfortable," she says, biting her lip. "Please."

Rhysand flips them over and pushes her up on the bed. "You trust me, baby?"

"I trust you with my life," Andy says, meaning it.

"Good." He bends down to kiss her. "I love you."

"I love you too."

If Jenner notices that Andy can't move the next morning, he doesn't say anything, and if he sees the scratch marks all over Rhysand's back, he doesn't comment on it, either.

Andy is grateful.

*

They do it a lot.

More often than before. Everywhere.

*

Andy cashes in all her coupons before three weeks are up.

She asked Sage to check if Rhysand followed through with his 'no smoking' promise. She's proud to say that he did.

She stole Rhysand's cologne and spread some of his scent on the shirts and the hoodie she stole from him—from all the washing and laundry, they don't smell like him anymore.

And Andy doesn't want to return them—doesn't intend to.

"So you're not giving me back my cologne?" her boyfriend asks, raising his eyebrow.

"No, I need it to make your clothes smell like you again."

Rhysand's lips curl up. "So I'm guessing I need to buy a new cologne. The same one."

Andy nods and kisses him. "Please."

When Andy shoves the quickie coupon in his chest, it's against the wall just as he's dressing for work.

Andy cashes in the breakfast in bed, the home-cooked meal, bubble bath, cuddles, the nuggets, and the date night on the days she has her period—and Rhysand takes care of her. Even without the coupons, he would've taken care of her.

Her day off is with MJ and Sabina at the spa. As promised, Rhysand doesn't pout. He even pays for her treatment.

Andy tilts her head at the front desk and slips her card back inside her wallet. MJ and Sabina scoff.

"Must be nice to have a famous, rich boyfriend," the model says.

"Sugar boyfriend," MJ says, snickering.

"Shut up," Andy tells them, blushing. She takes her phone out and sends him a message. You paid for my appointment today?

His reply comes in a second. Problem? :)

Andy smiles. You didn't have to, but that's sweet of you. Thank you, love. I had a great time <3

Good. It's your day off, anyway.

Andy grins and pockets her phone.

She uses the slow dance coupon last—they're just in pajamas, in the kitchen, and Rhysand wanted cheese tarts without having to go to Baked!. Andy makes do with the ingredients in the cupboards, and Rhysand watches her from the counter until she pulls him up on his feet. She sways him left and right, twirls around in his arms and steps on his slippers, laughing against his chest, and Rhysand kisses her hair. It's perfect.

Everything's perfect until Andy meets Sophia.

Andy never planned on visiting Sterling, but her mentor from the school let her go early since it was her last day, and she figured she can stop by to grab food on the way to Rhysand and go home together.

It was supposed to be a surprise, but there's laughter coming from the other side of the door—a girl's laugh, high-pitched and too forced to sound genuine—and Andy's hand freezes on the doorknob.

Thankfully, Embry sees her from the hallway. "Hey, Andy."

"Embry, hi." She smiles at him. "Is Rhys in here?"

"Yeah, Soph's inside with him." He steps forward and blinks at her. "Aren't you coming in? Why are you still here?"

"Oh, right, yeah." She follows after him, holding her breath when Rhysand and Sophia come into view.

Her boyfriend is on his desk, attention focused on his computer, lips pressed into a tight line and eyebrows furrowed together. Sophia is leaning into him, one hand on the table as she stands behind his chair, a sultry smile gracing her red-coated lips.

Andy's jaw tightens.

They both look up. Rhysand's face softens. "Hi, sunshine. Didn't know you were coming."

"I had time," she says easily, smiling. She drops the food on the table, and Embry tosses himself on the couch, and Andy leans down to quickly kiss Rhysand on the cheek. "I brought food, so come eat when you're done."

There's another heart-shaped note on his desk.

"Hi," Sophia says brightly, and Andy turns to her with a smile. "I'm Sophia, the intern. Sort of. You're Andy, right?"

She takes the hand extended to her and shakes it quickly. "Yeah, I'm his girlfriend," Andy says. "Nice to meet you."

And here's the thing—she tries so hard to mean it. She's not rude. She's not evil, or petty. She just...she was right. Sophia is pretty. Andy bites her lip and turns to Rhysand. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?"

"No, you're good," he answers, catching her fingers and squeezing them. "I'm done, actually. Sophia just asked me something about a track and I showed her."

Andy's smile feels a little forced on her face. "Oh, good, then."

"I'll come by tomorrow afternoon for the session," Sophia tells Rhysand, brushing her bob cut hair away from her small face, keeping her smile. "Is there anything else you need, Mr. Harton?"

"Told you to call me Rhys," he says distractedly, watching his monitor screen and playing with Andy's fingers at the same time. "And no, come by in the morning so we have time for the briefing. Don't lose my flash drive."

"You got it, sir—Rhys," she says, laughing, picking up her things. Andy notices that she bends down enough for her chest to be seen, and she almost scoffs, grits her teeth, but Rhysand isn't looking—doesn't even care. "See you tomorrow! You too, Embry."

He waves at her in response, and Rhysand says, "Get home safe."

"Will do!" she chirps brightly before leaving the studio.

"What's tomorrow?" Andy asks through gritted teeth.

"She's going to help me work on a track," Rhysand mutters. "Just work things."

Embry puts his feet up on the table. "You know, I just noticed. You're the only one she calls Mr. Harton," he says, mimicking Sophia's voice.

Rhysand frowns. "That's not true."

"Andy just heard her call me Embry with no hesitation," Embry says, scoffing. "Whatever. Her crush is getting annoying."

"It's not a crush," Rhysand says, looking at Andy.

Andy's fingers have gone limp. "Why is it annoying?" she asks Embry, pulling her hand back and crossing her arms.

Rhysand stands. "It's nothing, it's just respect." He turns to his friend and says, "You get out right now. And don't say anymore shit."

He raises his palms and turns for the door. "Just saying, Braeden would be clawing her eyes out if she was flirting with me."

Rhysand grabs an eraser from the desk and tosses it at him, but Embry already shut the door.

Rhysand sighs and turns to Andy. He looks tired. "He's lying."

"No, I just saw it happen," Andy says, staring at him. Staring at the heart-shaped notes on his desk. "She's flirting with you in front of me."

"Did I flirt back?" Rhysand counters, raising his eyebrows. "You were here, right? You saw what happened?"

Andy swallows the lump in her throat. "I'm not worried about you, Rhys. I'm worried about her. I'm here, literally holding hands with you, and she has the nerve to flirt with you?"

Rhysand hangs his head back and groans, running a hand down his face. "It's just work, Sanford, let's not fight about this, please. I'm tired."

And he's right—the best thing she can do is step back and let it go. Rhysand clearly doesn't pay attention to her, doesn't acknowledge her advances. There's nothing she should be worried about.

So when the words come out of her mouth, Andy is surprised. "Tell her to back off."

Rhysand stares at her. "I don't need to do that."

Andy takes a deep breath. "Why? Because she's your VP's niece? Because you have to be nice to her?"

"Because Sophia isn't crossing any lines," Rhysand says lowly. "She knows I'm taken, and she knows that everything we do is here for work. Just work."

Andy doesn't understand what she's feeling, but she's not liking what she's hearing, either.

Rhysand steps forward and puts his hands on her shoulders, tipping her chin up, and Andy meets his gaze with a glare. Rhysand sighs and says, "This is my workplace, Sanford. I have work relationships here. I'm friends with Embry and Sage, sure, even Celine and Derek, but this is my work. I don't need a heartbroken intern on my hands—it will make shit awkward. She's not going to hit on me."

Andy stares at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "And if she does?"

"If she does, I'll make her back off," Rhysand murmurs, pressing his forehead to hers. "But right now, it's just work. Okay? You said so yourself—you're not worried about me. You don't have to be worried about me. Baby, God, I'm crazy about you. I can never look at someone else."

Andy knows.

She believes him.

Exhaling heavily, she wraps her arms around him and mutters in his chest, "Why do you have to be so hot?"

Rhysand laughs and kisses her forehead. "Sorry, sunshine."

"I love you," Andy says. "And please, I know you said it's work, but it's bothering the shit out of me, please get rid of the heart-shaped notes." She pulls back a little to pout at him. "I can't—it's really not sitting well with me and I won't feel better."

Rhysand is quick to nod. He cups her cheek, brushes his thumb against her skin. "Okay. I'll throw them away."

"Thank you." Andy hugs him. Breathes in his scent. "You hungry?"

"So bad." He kisses her quickly and pulls her hand. "Let's eat and go home."

"Okay." Andy smiles at him, and everything's okay.