Chapter 20
 

Maneuvering through the hotel lobby was easy this time, since half of the guests were at the concert.I’d never appreciated how nice and quiet hotels were before then, now I’m used to them being crowded with screaming fans.Mike delivered me safely to my room and waited while I got some clothes and toiletries for the next day and the bag from Victoria ’s Secret. 
 

If Justin was sick, I’d give him some TLC.And if he was thinking about cheating, then I’d give him something to make him not want to.But that would be after his big surprise.Then I wondered if maybe his surprise had something to do with him and that girl?Was he going to tell me that they were dating? 
 

No, I was just psyching myself up for nothing.It was a good surprise, I could tell from the way he sounded when he said it.So I’d have a nice little surprise for him, too. 
 

Grabbing my stuff, I left my room and Mike walked me to Justin’s.
 

“You’re not going anywhere else, are you?” he questioned me as I walked in with my arms full.
 

“Nowhere, I’m waiting for him and we’re staying put,” I promised.I would’ve saluted if my hands were free, he was that serious.
 

He nodded and turned away, saying over his shoulder, “Call me if you need me, I’m next door.”Aww, he wasn’t so bad.
 

“Thanks,” I called out before closing the door.From my estimation, I had about an hour before Justin would be back, less if he didn’t shower at the arena.I had a feeling he wouldn’t, that he wanted to come back here first, so I sprang into action.Turning on the shower, I called down to room service and ordered a couple of burgers, French fries and chocolate milkshakes, and then I jumped in and washed quickly.I threw on the terry cloth robe supplied by the hotel and put on a little light make up, then answered the door for room service.Once that was done, I put on the skimpy outfit he liked -- there wasn’t as much of it as I thought, but since only he would see it, it wouldn’t matter.It was so not my style. The demi-bra pushed my breasts up to practically my chin, and the panties were a wispy piece of fabric that covered nothing.Thankfully there was a tiny little cover up that really didn’t cover anything but at least I felt like I wasn’t hanging out all over.
 

Next, I dimmed the lights and put on some good CD’s -- the ones I’d brought, not anything he had.His musical tastes were strictly R&B and hip-hop and I didn’t want us to bust a move.We were supposed to chill out, right?So I put on Dru Hill, The Best of Sade, Marvin Gaye’s Greatest Hits, the soundtrack to Love Jones, and a different CD that I really loved, Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.
 

If that didn’t set the mood, I didn’t know what would.
 

I really wished I had candles, but we were at a hotel so they weren’t exactly handy.Still, everything looked romantic and nice.I had another idea, and rushed to the bathroom.Rinsing out the tub quickly, I began to fill it with steamy hot water and dumped in some of the shower gel I got at the mall.It was sort of fruity for a guy, but I didn’t think he would complain since I was giving him a bath.Especially in the get-up I had on.The tub had just filled when I heard Justin come in the suite, so I shut the water off and ran out.
 

“Hey baby,” he greeted me, looking exhausted.His voice sounded scratchy and he had a towel draped over his head.I was right; he didn’t shower at the venue -- it was good that I’d run the bath.“Damn, you look good, T.”He dropped the duffel bag he had taken to the venue and advanced towards me, arms open.He sniffed deeply, smelling me.“You smell good, too.”He touched the lace around my breasts and his eyes got huge as he looked me over. 
 

“But you don’t,” I said honestly.He totally stunk, so I hugged him for a second then pulled back.“Take your clothes off, I have a bath all set.”
 

“A bath?” He sounded like I’d suggested he streak through the hotel instead.“Nah, that’s okay, I’ll take a quick shower.” 
 

Oh yeah?“Well, okay ... I was gonna help you, though,” I said slyly, tilting my head to the side and giving him what I hoped was a sultry look.It worked because he grinned and started stripping his clothes off as we headed to the bathroom.He slipped into the bubbles, complaining about the scent.
 

“This is girly sh*t, T!” But he sank down in the tub and closed his eyes, clearly liking how it felt.I knelt down beside the tub and swirled my hand in the water, trickling it on his chest.“Ahhh,” he moaned.“I’m so f*cking tired, babe.Felt like the day lasted forever, doing press and sh*t, then meeting fans ... I just wanna relax.I don’t wanna do anything.Except look at you in that outfit, baby, good God you look f*cking sexy!”
 

My plan was working so far.I smiled to myself as I soaped the washcloth.“I don’t wanna do anything, either.I already got hamburgers from room service, so we don’t have to go out.Sit up.”He complied and I rubbed the soapy cloth over his back and shoulders, then his arms.I took my time, carefully stroking every inch of his skin, ending up washing his chest.Then I rinsed him off, letting the water drip over him.
 

“You’re not coming in?” he gave me a ‘come-hither’ look and I contemplated climbing in the tub with him, but ... yuck.Not this time.
 

I shook my head, “No, this is for you ... you need to relax.Let me wash your hair.”He sat back and I used the cup to wet his curls, and then poured a generous amount of shampoo in my hands.My fingers sank into the thick curls and I rubbed hard, massaging his scalp.We were both silent, listening to the music as I gently rubbed his head in slow circles.
 

Unconsciously, I began to sing along with the song playing. “ ... And I would be the one to hold you down, kiss you so hard I’ll take your breath away...” As he tilted his head back so I could rinse the soap away, I saw that he was laughing.
 

“What?”I covered his eyes with one hand so the water wouldn’t drip in his face.
 

“Nothing, baby ... keep singing.”He sounded amused.I knew why.
 

“Look, I know I can’t sing like you,” I admitted, “but I’m not that bad, am I?”Normally I wouldn’t sing around another living soul, but I was so comfortable with him that sometimes I forgot that I wasn’t alone.I know that sounds weird, but being with him was so relaxing that everything felt natural.
 

Sitting up in the water, he pushed his hair back and leaned over to give me a peck on my lips.“Nah, T ... I love the way you sing.”Don’t push it, J.
 

“I know I’m not that good.My parents used to practically run screaming from me when I’d try to sing,” I said while I put a little conditioner on his curls and rubbed it in.
 

“I don’t care how you sound ... I like it when you sing to yourself,” he told me.How would he...
 

“When do I sing?When have you ever heard me sing?”I was mortified.I am the definition of a bad singer, and to my knowledge I hadn’t sung in front of him before.“Except for karaoke, and that doesn’t count.I was drunk!” I said indignantly.I had tried hard to forget about that karaoke.
 

He lay back in the tub again, resting his head against the ledge while I rinsed out the conditioner.“You sing a lot, T.Sometimes when you’re taking a shower, or when we’re in bed and music is playing you sing ... usually you’re drunk.”He looked at me carefully.“Are you still drunk from earlier?What the f*ck did you guys drink, you were lit when you came back.”
 

I was still trying to remember when I sang in front of him.How mortifying!“I sang?I am so sorry, J.”Really.I couldn’t hit a note with a rock, I swear I can’t sing.He confirmed that with his next statement.
 

“Baby, you’re f*cking tone deaf, but its music to my ears ... don’t be embarrassed.”He leaned forward and reached for me with dripping hands, but I moved back.I didn’t want to get drenched, not in this new thing I had on. 
 

“I’m embarrassed and calling me tone deaf doesn’t help!”Couldn’t he have lied just a little?But the last part was sweet -- he really must like me if he’d withstood my singing.“C’mon, dry off and let’s eat before your food gets cold.”Standing up, I grabbed a towel and held it out for him to take.He rose from the tub and I couldn’t help but watch him as he toweled off.He was thin but not scrawny, just lean and muscular.I loved watching him naked, and I got the opportunity to do so often.Justin loved parading around with nothing on; he said he felt more comfortable that way.As if he knew what I was thinking, he casually tied the towel around his waist and followed me into the living room without bothering to get dressed.
 

We sat down on the couch, me settled between his legs, and shared the food I ordered.He devoured both cheeseburgers while I munched on the fries and drank a milkshake.Every so often, he coughed or sneezed, and I was sure he had a cold. 
 

“You’re singing again, baby,” he said after he had consumed the last of his shake.And I was, leaning into his chest and singing along to Dionne Farris, a song called Hopeless.God, what was wrong with me?I was never drinking again.When I stopped, he protested.“Don’t stop, T, sing ... I like it.”
 

“No, you sing for me,” I turned the tables.“You’re the singer and I never get to hear you ... shouldn’t you serenading me be a benefit of us dating?”That wasn’t exactly true; he sang all the time as he walked around doing just about anything, but he never sang to me, per se.If anyone deserved a performance, it was me!
 

“Okay,” he said easily, settling back and wrapping his arms around me.We lay there in the dimly lit room, his hands wandering over my bare stomach and arms while he sang quietly.His voice was slightly hoarse from the concert and his cold, but it was probably the nicest thing I’d ever heard.The song was almost perfect for him to sing to me.It went like:
 

The sweetest thing I’ve ever known
Was like a kiss on a collarbone
A soft caress of happiness
The way you walk, your style of dress
Wish I didn’t get so weak
Oh baby, just to hear you speak
 

And so on.He didn’t get too much into the song before I had turned in his arms to watch him sing.He looked right into my eyes the whole time, his hands brushing my cheek and touching my face while I gazed at him in wonder. 
 

He was so stunning, so perfect and fun and wonderful in every way, and we were together.The last thing I wanted to do was think about him and another woman, but I couldn’t get the words those girls had said earlier out of my head.Was this all some kind of act, something to keep a chick on the side?Was he really dating Britney Spears?If so, why was he even bothering with me? 
 

My face must have reflected some of what I felt, because he stopped singing.“T ... what’s wrong?Is the same thing bothering you from before?”
 

I closed my eyes and returned to laying my head on his chest.“No, I’m not thinking about them,” I referred to my mom and dad.“I was just listening to you, don’t stop.” 
 

I thought, please don’t pursue this, Justin, it’ll ruin everything ...I don’t want to know the answer to the question that I’m thinking...
 

“Uh-uh, come on,” he straightened up some, and lifted my chin to look at him.“What is it?You promised you wouldn’t keep any secrets.” 
 

Did I actually promise that?I wouldn’t promise something like that, because I had a million secrets.Sh*t, maybe it would be better to just put it all out there.It’s better to know than wonder, right?So I took a deep breath and blurted it all out.
 

“Umm.Okay, look, tonight after Jen and me were on-stage, one of those girls saw you kiss me on the cheek, and then they all acted weird.And it bugged me because they were really nice before, but then as soon as they thought we knew each other, they were, like, nasty.And then one of them said something that really bothered me ... it’s stupid, I know, but it was just weird that they said it.And don’t think I’m checking up on you, because I’m not, I mean, you asked me what was wrong and I’m just telling you, so...” I ran out of breath and paused, while he kept looking at me.When I didn’t say anything else, he nudged me.
 

“What did they say?Why didn’t you tell Mike or me?What was it, did they call you names or something?”His body language was tense now and I didn’t like it.We were supposed to be relaxing and this was all becoming an issue because of that lame cow at the concert.
 

“No, listen,” I said soothingly, sitting up to face him.“She didn’t do anything crazy.I told Mike I wanted to come back here because I did, not because they scared me or anything.” 
 

He wasn’t satisfied.“They shouldn’t have said sh*t to you, what the f*ck did you do to them?You see what I’m saying?This is the bad sh*t that nobody knows about, when some fans give other ones a bad name by acting like extras from Fatal Attraction.What’d she say, huh?Tell me.”
 

Good God, I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.“J, chill!She just said something about Britney, that’s all.”I waited for him to relax and blow it all off, but he stayed as tense as before.
 

“What about her?”Was that all he had to say?What about her?That’s exactly what I wanted to know, why the f*ck was her name been mentioned in the first place?But I chickened out and didn’t actually say that to him.
 

“They said something like the only reason I was there is because Britney’s on tour now.”I waited for a reaction.This time, I got the one I wanted.He relaxed and exhaled.
 

“That’s all?Baby, please ... you know that sh*t ain’t true, right?”He waited while I paused before answering again.“Right, T?Come on, you don’t actually believe that crap, do you?”
 

I sighed.“No, I guess I don’t.It’s just weird, having them go from being so friendly to saying nasty things to hurt me, you know?And saying that stuff about Britney just made me feel...” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word.
 

“Insecure?”He had no problem saying it, spitting out the word, sounding angry.“That’s part of the game, T.They’re gonna make you jealous, make you wonder sh*t about me.People will lie or do anything to hurt your feelings and cause trouble between us.Don’t let them do that, sweetie.”We exchanged a long look, his eyes begging me to understand and mine begging him to reassure me that the girl had been lying.
 

“I won’t.I know she was trying to hurt me, I know that.But I just have to ask you once, and after I ask you I won’t ever again, J.Okay?Will that make you mad?”I needed to know.I needed to ask and look him in the eye while I asked him, and know that he was telling the truth.
 

“ Tara ... you can ask me anything you want.I don’t have anything to hide from you.”He knew what I needed to know and was giving me permission to ask it.I looked at him again, squinting my eyes in concentration and my voice shook a little. 
 

“Are you dating Britney while you’re dating me?” 
 

His voice was strong and confident, and his eyes never wavered when he answered.“No.I’m not dating Britney and I haven’t been since before I met you.” 
 

I exhaled, unaware that I’d been holding my breath.He passed the test as far as I was concerned.Maybe I was too trusting, maybe I was too in love ... but I believed him.He wasn’t lying when he said that. 
 

“Okay.I’m ... I’m sorry I had to ask.”And I was, I shouldn’t have to question him.I should trust him already.
 

He shrugged.“If you don’t ask me, then you’ll always wonder.Look, I told you before I dated her when I was, like, thirteen.And she opened for us early this year, and we went on a few dates or whatever, but that was a long time ago.She’s my friend but I barely even talk to her.I’m not checking for anybody else right now but you, okay?”
 

I nestled back into his chest, closing my eyes.I shouldn’t have even brought it up, I felt so dumb.“Okay.I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.It’s just those girls...”
 

His arms closed around me protectively.“I’ll never lie to you.Those girls, some of them, are gonna make you doubt your own sanity sometimes.Even tabloids and sh*t will say stuff that ain’t true.But don’t ever let them make you doubt how I feel about you, T.” 
 

Okay, he said I could ask him anything...
 

“How do you feel about me, J?I need to know how you feel if I’m not supposed to believe what other people say.So ... you tell me something for a change.”
 

He shifted me in his arms so that he could see me.“You don’t know how I feel?”No, Justin, I didn’t get to call Miss Cleo earlier tonight...
 

“I’m not gonna guess what’s on your mind.I want you to tell me...” My heart was beating so loud in my chest that I was certain he could hear it.Maybe I should just tell him how I feel, instead of waiting for him to say it.But what if he didn’t feel the same way?God, I never should’ve asked him in the first place...
 

He sat up from his reclining position.“Go in the bedroom and wait for me, I’m gonna give you your surprise.”I’d forgotten all about that after the drama with the girl ... wonder what it was?
 

“Aren’t you gonna answer my question?” I had to know if he was trying to divert my attention from the question, but he wasn’t.
 

“Yeah ... you’ll get my answer ... just hang on a second.”Standing up, I watched him get up as well.What did the present have to do with what we were talking about?I shook my head and walked into the bedroom, sat on the bed and waited.He only took a few minutes to get whatever he needed, and then walked in the room with his hands behind his back.There was a little smile on his face, but he looked more nervous than anything else.That worried me.
 

“Close your eyes,” he instructed me.
 

I tried to lean over and see what he was hiding but he wouldn’t let me.“Lemme see...”
 

“Nope.Just close your eyes for a second, babe.I want it to be a surprise.”I didn’t think I could really take any more surprises, truthfully, but I did as he asked.I could hear him moving toward me, and then he sat next to me on the bed.I heard paper rustling and then he finally was ready.“Okay, you can look now.”
 

My eyes flew open.He was sitting next to me on the bed holding a blue bag, which he offered to me.I took it slowly, then gasped.“J ... this is from Tiffany’s!”My absolute favorite store in the world, which also happened to be at Phipps Mall.“When did you get this?”How could I have missed him shopping at Tiffany’s?
 

He smiled.“When you were at Victoria ’s Secret ... I wanted to get something to cheer you up ... so I sneaked into the store while you were busy.Surprised?” 
 

Was I ever!I’d gotten presents from guys before, but nothing like this ... there wasn’t one cheap thing at Tiffany’s!But even if he’d gotten me a diamond flake, I’d still love it.Thankfully, it wasn’t a chip.“Yes!” I exclaimed, and then hugged him tightly.“I love it!
 
 

“T, you didn’t even open it yet,” he reminded me, laughing at how happy I was.And how stupid.
 

I blushed, and then reached into the bag.“I’m saving all this,” I told him while handing him the bag.Inside was a blue box, too big to be a ring.Not that I expected one, but you know all girls immediately think that.I shook the box playfully, and he pinched me.
 

“Open it, hurry up!”Who was getting the present, him or me?
 

“Chill,” I told him, and then took the lid off the box.Inside was another box, a velvet one, and I was all out of patience.I hurriedly took that out and opened it.Inside was a Tiffany gold link bracelet with a heart-shaped charm on it.I loved it, squealing immediately.“Oh my God, Justin, this is so sweet!” 
 

He had to be the nicest, best, most wonderful boyfriend ever.I was a little down and he went to Tiffany’s to cheer me up?I sighed, tearing up a little.“I really, really love it.Thank you so much, sweetie,” I turned to him and kissed him softly. 
 

He kissed me back, and then frowned.“What ... are you crying?God, girl, don’t ... are those happy tears?”We laughed together, and I knew I was being silly but I also know he liked that side of me.“You didn’t look close enough,” he said, and I glanced down at the bracelet. 
 

“What?I see it,” I said, running my fingers over the soft metal while I leaned into him. 
 

“No, here.The charm is engraved,” he lifted it out of the box and opened my hand to lay it in my palm.I bent over to read the inscription.
 

It said:“For my Princess, Love always, J”. 
 

Love always, J.
 

Love always.
 

Love?
 

What did that mean?Was it being used as a figure of speech?Or was it his way of telling me that he really did love me?And he gave me the answer I was looking for.
 

“See ... that’s how I feel about you, right there.”
 

Love.
 

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move.I couldn’t do anything but read the words over and over, mouthing them silently.I mean, I had to have sat there for at least five minutes, just staring at the bracelet.I had no idea what to do next.
 

He whispered into my ear.“I love you, Tara.” 
 

And still I sat there holding the bracelet, my hand trembling a little.He loved me.
 

I loved him, sure.But he loved me, too.Wow. 
 

My hand began to shake even more, but I still couldn’t stop looking at the words.
 

“Baby, look ... I know this is kinda soon,” he said haltingly, “and I mean, you don’t have to say it back if you’re not sure.But I am sure and I couldn’t wait to tell you anymore.I love you, I don’t know when it happened or how, I just, like, woke up and was f*cking crazy about you.Almost from the very

 

Silence.
 

“But...” he said, his voice less sure than before, “like I said, you know, you don’t have to say anything.I just wanted to tell you.” 
 

He sounded sad, and I immediately snapped out of my trance.“J!No ... I know exactly how I feel about you.I just can’t believe you feel the same way!”Suddenly I was shy again, looking into his dark blue eyes.“I’ve felt ... I knew a long time ago, well a little while, anyway, that I was in love with you.I just didn’t want to push things before you were ready.Because you’re right ... this is fast.It’s like a tornado or something, the way you came into my life and just became, like, the center of it.But you did and you are.The center of my world ... I love you, too.”Clutching the bracelet tightly, I looked away from his steady gaze, my face flushed.
 

I couldn’t believe how the night was turning out, or the whole trip for that matter.First the weird bus ride, being caught by his mom, arguing about my parents, being on-stage and having the little altercation with those girls, then this. 
 

He loved me.And I loved him.He wasn’t dating Britney Spears, I looked him right in the eye and he told me the truth.Why those other girls believed that he was, I didn’t know and I didn’t care.All I cared about was that I knew him, and I knew he wasn’t lying. 
 

Now, I can see that at that moment in time, he really wasn’t lying.That would come later.But now, everything was coming up roses.
 

His arms slid around me and hugged me against his bare chest, and I put my face into the space on his shoulder that seemed to fit my head perfectly.My tears ran onto him, wetting his skin.I was so embarrassed but I literally couldn’t stop crying. 
 

I was too happy.
 

“T ... don’t cry...” he lifted my face and wiped my tears with his hand.“You’re giving me a complex here ... you’re not supposed to cry when I tell you I love you.”He kissed both of my eyelids, then my cheeks, and finally pressed a lingering kiss to my lips.“Aren’t you happy?Don’t you wanna smile?”
 

That did make me smile, and I even laughed, sitting up and wiping at my eyes.“God, I feel so stupid,” I told him.“I’m so happy, and I love you so much, Justin.I just can’t believe its turning out this way, you know?It’s like, I couldn’t have dreamed anything this wonderful could happen, but it is.You know how I always ask you if things are real when we’re together?It’s like we’re a dream come true or something.”I paused to stare at the bracelet again and I shook my head.I was rambling like crazy.“I sound silly, don’t I?” 
 

But he understood what I was trying to say, as always.“Nope ... I know exactly what you mean.”He scooted back on the bed.“C’mon up here with me,” he opened his arms for me and I crawled into them, settling in between his legs and resting my head on his chest. 
 

“It’s crazy, you’re right.It’s just like a month since I met you, T, I know it.But right away we just clicked.I’ve never met anybody like you, and I don’t want to.We’re the real thing.”He picked up my hand that had the bracelet and slowly clasped it around my wrist.“I wanted to get you something bigger, with like more diamonds or whatever, but then I thought about it, and I thought you would like this better,” he said as he closed the catch and held out my wrist for us both to admire.“Eric thought so too.Like, Bobbee or somebody else might be into bling and sh*t, but he said you’d probably like whatever I got.”
 

Eric said that?He had a soul after all.“He was right.I don’t need presents from you to feel better.You always make me happy.If you just told me you loved me, I still would’ve been this happy.” 
 

And I was happier than I think I’d ever been in my life.He was the only person who could take away all my sadness and just let me be ... me.I didn’t dwell on anything sad when I was with him, because I was always so happy just to be near him.
 

“That’s what he said,” he repeated.“We’re gonna be so happy, baby.I mean, we’re happy now, but this is just ... it’s like ... life is perfect, you know?”
 

I did.We were both talking in circles, trying to explain our feelings for each other when there was no way it could be put into words.So I stopped trying and just turned in his arms, resting my head on the pillow beside his.We looked at each other for an eternity, not saying anything while he sniffled from his cold and I sniffled from crying.I listened to him breathe and felt his warm breath on my face, watched the _expression in his eyes and fell even more in love.I think I memorized every line, every mark on his face that night.I didn’t want it to end, but he broke the mood.
 

With a loud sneeze, making us both jump.I reached past his head to grab the box of tissues on the nightstand.“Here,” I gave him a handful.This really was love, because I wasn’t totally grossed out.I even loved his snot, y’all.
 

He blew his nose loudly.“Way to break the mood, huh?”I nodded, and we smiled at each other.He lay back down and ran his hand over my arms.“You look so hot,” he said, eyes wandering over the skimpy material I wore.I didn’t speak, just lay back as he touched me everywhere, his hands lightly brushing over my breasts, my stomach, my hips, legs ... all the while looking deep into my eyes.The music playing in the background made me feel like we were acting out a scene in a movie, something romantic and wonderful. 
 

Knowing that he loved me, that we were in love, made sex more intimate and special to me.Every touch was meaningful.Every kiss was another reminder of how much we loved one another.And that night, he took his time and kissed every part of me, every inch of skin was lavished with attention while he told me how much he loved me, and why. 
 

Pretty soon I was trembling all over, I wanted him so bad.And I know I said I withstood his torture, that I was abstaining for a short time.Well that time officially ended when he told me he loved me.Would you have been able to say no?
 

It was the best time ever, too. 
 

You know how on television, they show people making love and it’s all fuzzy and blurry?It looks soft and magical, and everyone moves in slow motion.That’s what it felt like that time.Everything was unrushed and slow.He was so patient and tender with me, so sweet and giving ... it felt like we made love all night long, for hours and hours.
 

Did it get any better than this?
 

At some point during the night, I sighed, and he caressed my cheek.“You okay?”
 

“I’ve never been better,” I said, and it was true.I’d never been so happy.“Are you okay?”We were being so sappy that night, it was out of control.But I loved it.
 

He gave me a lazy grin.“I’m in love,” he said cockily and my heart turned over crazily. 
 

“You really love me...”I said aloud.It was like I had to be sure he wasn’t making a mistake.I hated being so insecure, but I was.Wouldn’t you be?
 

He kissed me.“With all my heart ... I can’t believe you don’t know that already.You think I’d be going crazy over you talking to other guys and calling you every five minutes if I wasn’t?I felt like an idiot, always screaming sh*t at you, all jealous,” he said, still touching my face. “You’re always so calm and everything ... and I was freaking out and usually it’s the other way around for me.You know, girls freaking out and screaming at me, but you never do that.You trust me ... I like that.”
 

He did act like a madman for a little while there.I laughed when I thought about how he acted the night of Sasha’s party.“I do trust you.You told me you wouldn’t lie to me and I’m holding you to that.”
 

“I won’t,” he promised.“I won’t have any reason to lie to you, T.”I lay there so blissful, so happy.And then he ruined it.
 

“And you won’t have any reason to talk to that dude, Dave, anymore either,” he began that same old argument, blathering on about how Dave was now kicked to the curb.But I didn’t even mind.The rumbling of his chest, and the sound of his voice lulled me into a deep sleep. Even then, in my dreams, he held me in his arms.
 

Just like in real life.
 

When have you ever known your real life to surpass your dreams? 
 

When Justin Timberlake loves you, that’s when. 

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