"Who are you?" Austin asked.

"I'm her boyfriend and I can take it from here," Andrew growled.

Austin put his hands up.

“Hey, sorry, man. She didn't mention she had a boyfriend."

“Well, she does. Come on, Addison, let's get you home," he spoke as he put his arm around my waist and helped me off the stool.

"Let go of me." I struggled, but his grip was tight.

"Be a good girl and don't cause a scene," he whispered.

"What's wrong, Andrew? Aren’t you embarrassed to be seen in public with me? Your little whore you keep to yourself locked up in your apartment," I hissed.

His grip on me grew tighter.

"I will ignore that comment since I know it's the alcohol talking and not you."

As soon as we exited the restaurant, Andrew picked me up and set me inside his SUV. He climbed in and pulled my head into his lap so I was lying down.

"I'm taking you back to my apartment and you're going to sleep this off," he spoke as he stroked my hair. “Understand?”

“Yes,” I whispered in a soft voice as I closed my eyes.

When we reached his building, Andrew carried me from the SUV and up to his apartment. The elevator ride made my stomach churn something awful. After opening the door, he carried me straight to his bedroom. I placed my hand over my mouth, but it didn’t matter. Before he could lay me down on the bed, I threw up all over me and him.

"Fuck, Addison, you should have warned me."

He rushed me to the bathroom and over the toilet, where I vomited for what seemed like an eternity. Instead of cleaning himself up first, he sat beside me and held my hair, wiping my mouth after each episode. Once I was finished, he took off his shirt and pants and cleaned himself up as I lay on the bathroom floor in humiliation. After pulling on a pair of sweatpants, Andrew walked over to the tub and drew a bath.

“I don’t want to take a bath. I just want to sleep.”

“You have no choice,” he spoke as he took off my clothes and gently set me in the tub. "You don't listen very well, do you, Addison?" he asked as he washed the vomit from my hair.

“Save it, Andrew. I don’t want to talk.”

After he cleaned me up, he helped me out of the tub, dressed me in a nightshirt, and carried me to bed. I didn’t even remember my head hitting the pillow.

I woke up the next day to the smell of strong coffee and a pounding headache. I struggled to open my eyes as the sunlight filtered through the blinds. When I looked at the clock, I couldn't believe it was noon. I grabbed my satin pink robe and followed the aroma of coffee. Once I made it to the kitchen, Andrew got up from the table and grabbed the aspirin bottle from the cabinet.

"Good afternoon, sleepy head. How are you feeling?"

"Like shit. Thank you," I responded with an attitude.

“Take these,” he spoke as he handed me two white pills and a glass of water.

“Coffee. I need coffee.” I laid my head down on the island after taking the aspirin.

“Here you go,” he spoke as he slid the coffee mug towards me.

I lifted my head, grabbed the black mug, and took a soothing sip.

"We should talk about last night,” he spoke as his blue eyes turned gray.

"There's nothing to talk about, Andrew. Did Jasper call you to come get me?"

"Yes, he did, and it's a good thing. And by the way, don't ever call yourself a whore again," his voice commanded, referring to the statement I made last night.

I rolled my eyes as I got up from the stool and took my coffee over to the couch in the living room.

"I'm sorry, but that's how you make me feel sometimes.” I stared into his eyes as he stood over me.

He sat down on the couch and wrapped his arms around me.

 "I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I never meant to."

"How do you expect me to feel? We never do anything outside of this or my apartment. Why is that, Andrew?" I sternly spoke.

He softly kissed the top of my head.

"I know and I'm sorry. I just prefer to be alone with you and not share you with anyone."

Those words. The same words Bradley spoke to me. The very words that ended our two-year relationship.

“Do you think you own me or something?” I broke free from his arms.

“No, of course not.”

“Do you even hear yourself, Andrew? You don’t want to share me with anyone?”

“I’m sorry, Addison. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”

“Then explain yourself.” I narrowed my eye at him.

“It’s just I’m around numerous people all day long and sometimes it can get a little overwhelming. When I get home, I just want to spend time alone with you and nobody else.”

“I have needs too, and I like to go out. Sometimes I think you’re embarrassed to be seen with me or something.”

“Why on earth would you say that? I love you, Addison. There’s no way I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”

“Nobody at work knows about us. You drop me off at the front and you go around the back. You don’t come see me during the day and we don’t have lunch together. Shit, I’ve never even seen your goddamn office,” I voiced loudly.

“That’s because I don’t want people at work knowing yet. I’m protecting you.”

“Protecting me from what?”

“Rumors that could be started. You’re the new girl, Addison. You haven’t worked for me for very long. How do you think that’ll look to everyone? They’ll talk about you and think you’re getting special treatment because you’re my girlfriend. I don’t want to put you through that.”

“I can take care of myself. I’m going to lie back down. My head is killing me.”

He got up from the couch and held out his hand, helping me up.

“I love you.” He kissed my forehead. “Don’t ever doubt that. Go get some rest.” He smiled. “I’ll see you when you wake up.”