Standing by the buffet table in the hall of the art museum in town, my eyes kept going to the door.

Fucking hell.

Another party. Another night. Another bimbo blonde giving me the ‘come hither’ look. I rolled my eyes, ignoring it. Avoiding Lucy’s stare, I looked at Chunk, trying his hardest to hit on one of the sorority sisters. He didn’t have a chance in hell. They only went for guys from rich families.

“Hi, Johnny,” her nasal, annoying voice said from beside me. “It’s good to see you.” She reached over, grabbing my tie and used it to pull herself toward me. “Especially tonight.” She licked her lips, attempting to look sexy. Several months ago, it would have worked.

“Hello, Lucy.” I placed my arms on her upper arms, gently pushing her back away from me. The last thing I needed was for Tillie to walk in and see Lucy touching me. “Just waiting for Tillie.”

“Still with that bitch?” she asked, her lip curling in disgust. “She can’t satisfy you like I can.”

“She satisfies me, just fine. Thank you for asking.” I fucking hated Lucy. She may have been pretty on the outside, but she was ugly as sin on the inside. “Especially with her mouth.”

She made a noise of disgust before turning around and stomping away. I didn’t know why she hadn’t just given up and moved on to the next poor fucker waiting in line.

I spent the next hour talking shit with Logan and the boys. He was asking a load of questions about game statistics and when he could expect to play. He just wanted one game. I guessed it’d be out of his system then.

“Hey, can I have some?” Bex asked, taking the bottle from Logan. She was dressed in a long, strapless black dress. Logan's eyes went straight to her chest. I felt for the poor guy. He obviously had yet to figure out that she wasn’t into him; never would be if Tillie was correct.

“So, where’s Tillie?” I asked, beginning to lose my patience. I was a patient guy but waiting over an hour was starting to make me frustrated.

“See for yourself.” She nodded her head toward the door.

I followed her line of sight and gasped at the vision that stood before me. She was dressed in a cream dress that came to her knees. The bodice was lace and hugged her curves perfectly, but the bottom was frilly. She looked like a fairy. Her hair was curled and flowing down her back and she had the sexiest, matching cream heels on her feet. Tillie was never one for getting dolled up, but I could tell she had made the extra effort. My feet took me straight to her.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered, leaning down and pressing my lips to hers.

“Thank you.” She tucked some hair behind her ears before smiling shyly up at me. “Everyone’s staring.” Her eyes moved behind me, flicking around before coming back to mine.

“Ignore them.” I took her hand in mine and began leading her to our table. She took her seat in between Sammy and me. I chuckled as she turned her body toward him. She fixed his tie, straightening it for him.

Looking around, I could see that half of the town was here. It was nice to be at an event that wasn't specifically just for college students.

“Would you like to dance, Tillie?” Sammy asked, holding his hand out for hers. She quickly accepted, letting him lead her to the dance floor. Sammy turned her so that her back was to us before Logan and Bex both turned to me at the exact same time.

“Where is it?”

“When are you going to do it?” They both fired off questions at the same time, making my head spin.

“Woah!” I raised my hands, trying to act cool. “What are you two on about?”

“Please!” Bex replied with attitude. “Sammy already told me!” She leaned closer to me, whispering. “You’re going to ask Tillie to move in with you.”

I looked at her in shock. How the fuck did she know what I was going to do? Shit! Did Tillie know?

I was starting to panic. I didn’t know why the fuck I was carrying the box around with her key tucked safely inside everywhere I went. I tried going over ideas in my head. It was all I’d thought about lately. I just didn’t know how to ask her. I wanted it to be unique and special, but nothing seemed to pop out at me. It had gotten to the point that anytime we got close or made love, I'd have to undress myself, fearing that she'd find it. It wasn’t like I was ready to settle down or anything, but I just knew, this key belonged to her. I belonged to her.

“Relax! You’re starting to stress me out.”

I couldn’t stop staring at her. Sammy was twirling her beneath the sparkly lights and she looked like an angel. She tipped her head back, laughing at whatever Sammy was saying. Living without a father around, it was hard, but I had kind of become that figure to Sammy. Watching the two most important people in my world laugh together in that moment, it was right.

“May I cut in?” I asked, directing my question at Sammy.

He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss there before leaving the two of us.

She wound her arms around my neck, pressing her tiny body to mine. “You look very handsome,” she said, her eyes flicking down to my suit jacket.

I hated dressing in monkey suits, but if it got her to look at me like that, then it didn’t matter. I’d wear them every day. “Well, it is our first New Year’s together, and I wanted to make it special.” I smiled down at her, loving the way her eyes twinkled up at me.

“First? You planning for more?” She gave me a cheeky wink, but I understood the question.

“Many more.” I bent my head, slowly pressing my lips to hers before pulling back.

After many more dances, I took her hand in mine and led her outside. We had only thirty minutes until midnight and I wanted this to be done before then. I’d been a nervous fucking wreck all night and I just wanted to get it over with. Walking through the gardens, she smiled at all the twinkly lights that were spread around us. If I hadn’t known any better, I would have said it looked like the simple fantasy of heaven.

Technically it was. I had my angel right here with me. Life was looking pretty good.

I tightened my grip in hers, pulling her into my arms. As I rocked my hips from side to side, we slowly danced in a circle. Just the two of us. Surrounded by the lights. The moment was as perfect as it was going to get.

“Tillie,” I whispered against her hairline.

She smelled beautiful: a mix of strawberries and vanilla. Bringing her lips up to mine, I gave her a quick kiss.

I smiled when I saw the faint dusting of pink chalk on her fingertips. I chuckled, imagining her doing some last-minute drawing in her frock before she came here.

She blushed, pulling her hand away, embarrassed that I had seen it. “I was surprised by tonight,” she whispered, allowing me to hold her hand, placing it against my chest.

“You were?”

“I was.” She nodded her head. “I kind of expected another college party.” She frowned, collecting her thoughts. “Either that or for it to just be you and me.”

“It’s just me and you now.” I smiled down at her. The nerves were creeping back up my spine, causing my feet to twitch.

“Are you okay?” She stroked the hair from my eyes with her other hand. “You look nervous.”

I took a deep breath before nodding. “I’m so fucking nervous.” I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

“Talk to me,” she whispered. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head. “Everything is perfect.”

The frown on her forehead creased. I was just confusing her more. I removed her hand from my chest and took a step back from her. It was now or never. Her hands dropped at her side before a look of hurt crossed her face.

I took her left hand in mine, needing this moment to be perfect.

“Before you, Tillie, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know that I was missing such a huge part of my life. College parties and sleeping around was just how it was supposed to be.” I shrugged my shoulders, disappointed that I’d thought that. “But then, this crazy, strange, quiet girl moved in across the street from me. She tilted my axis and suddenly my whole word seemed to re-align. What was down was now up. I could suddenly see what was right in front of me.”

Her eyes filled with tears before they slowly spilled over her cheeks.

“Tillie Jacobs.” I took a deep breath before continuing. “I would love to share my home with you. For you to be mine completely. Mine to love. Mine to adore. Mine to protect.” I dipped my hand into my trouser pocket. I opened the small blue box and held it open to her. “Will you move in with me?”

“Johnny, it’s too soon.” She shook her head, staring at the key nestled inside the box, shocked. “We’ve only been together a few months and we haven’t really had any problems yet and I…” She was rambling now.

“Tillie.” I took her left hand again, holding it tightly in mine. “Do you love me?”

“Of course I do, but…”

“Do you see yourself loving anyone else? The way that I love you?”

“No.” It came out as a squeak due to how choked up she was. “But what if…”

“I love you. I will always love you. What else is there to know?”

She fidgeted, her fingers tightening around mine.

“Move in with me, Tillie.”

Before I could say anything else, she nodded her head.

“Is that a yes?” I choked out the words, needing to hear her.

“Yes!” She giggled, wiping her tears away. “Yes, I’ll move in with you.”

I grinned, jumping to my feet. I picked her up, letting her wrap her arms around my shoulders and spun her around on the spot. Pressing my lips to hers, I kissed her, pouring as much of the passion coursing through me into it. Placing her down back on her feet, I grinned, loving the way she squeezed the key in between her fingers.

She grinned, looking down at it.

I pulled her to me, hugging her tight. Rocking her there from side to side, life was blissfully perfect. Nothing could ruin it.

A shiver ran through her and she tightened her arms around my back, hugging me tight beneath my jacket.

“Let’s go back in.” I hugged her close, taking her back inside.

Walking back in, we headed straight for the bar. I could get served in most places whereas Tillie would still pass as a high school student due to her height. Ordering myself a quick beer and Tillie a fruity cocktail, we re-joined our table. We spent the build-up to midnight just chatting and Tillie laying her head on my shoulder.

When it was a few minutes to midnight, Tillie stood up and sat across my lap. She hung her arms around my shoulders, smiling up at me.

Tonight went perfectly. My girl looked happy as she stared up at me.

“You happy?” I asked, rubbing my nose against hers.

“So happy.” She leaned up to press her lips to mine, but I pulled my head back.

“You can’t kiss me yet,” I teased. “It’s not midnight.”

She pursed her lips in the sexiest pout, turning those Bambi eyes on me.

The countdown started, resulting in everyone getting to their feet. Logan and Sammy were both holding one of Bex’s hands each. That was an odd love triangle, if I could even call it that. What do you call something when two straight boys are both crushing on a very lesbian female?!

The countdown got down to a few seconds when I grasped Tillie’s chin between my forefinger and thumb, slowly pulling her lips down to mine. I didn’t want to roughly kiss her, not after tonight. I wanted to treat her like the angel that she was.

She grinned against my lips before pressing them firmly against mine. I groaned, loving the feel of her in my arms. I could kiss this girl forever and never get bored.

Sounds of celebrations and excitement erupted around us but it didn’t stop us. We were in our own blissful bubble, just the two of us.

She pulled back, resting her forehead against mine. “Love you,” she whispered.

“Love you too, baby,” I whispered back.

She leaned up to give me a quick kiss before excusing herself to the ladies.

I grinned watching her go. When she disappeared out of sight around the corner, I froze as a hand settled on my shoulder and rubbed down over my chest.

“Hello, lover,” Lucy purred, pressing her nose against my skin.

“Get off me!” I pulled my head away from her, not wanting her to be anywhere near me.

“Does she know?” she asked, walking until she was in front of me. Sitting in Tillie’s chair, she smirked cockily. “Does she know that before you were fucking her…” She licked her lips, trying to look sexy. “That you were fucking me?” She slid her hand over my leg, climbing higher.

I grabbed her wrist, roughly shoving it away. “Keep your nasty mouth shut!”

I was angry. She thought she could hold this over my head, and the sad thing was, she could. This was going to break Tillie. She had asked me point blank if I had a sexual history with Lucy and I fucking lied.

“See you later.” She smirked, standing up and leaving me.

The night was perfect, and it was quickly going to shit. If Lucy had her way, my days with Tillie were numbered. Lucy wouldn’t stop. She was determined to win this game.

Minutes later, Tillie came bouncing back to the table, entwining her fingers with mine. “Do you want to get up and have a dance?” she asked.

“Sure.” I smiled, trying to act nonchalant. Taking her hand, I led her to the dance floor just in time for the start of a new song. Several couples joined us as I began to gently sway Tillie from side to side. I rested my chin on the top of her head, trying to figure out how the fuck I was going to fix this clusterfuck.

“You okay?” Tillie asked, looking up at me. “You’ve gone really quiet.”

“Just tired, baby.” I pressed my lips quickly to hers before pulling back. “How about we go home?”

She yawned as soon as I finished asking her, making me chuckle.

“Let’s get you home.” I wound my arm around her, steering her to the door where Sammy was waiting. “Want to share a taxi?” I asked, directing my words at Sammy.

He nodded, looking just as dog-tired as Tillie. He wobbled to the side, obviously drunk.

“Where’s Logan?” Tillie asked, looking around for him.

“Gone home with a friend.” Sammy used quotation marks, rolling his eyes.

Tillie giggled, taking Sammy’s hand in her free one. Bex ran ahead and opened the car door for us, before waving us off. As soon as we got in the car, he leaned his head on Tillie’s shoulder, his eyes drifting closed.

Getting out of the taxi, Tillie held the door open for me. I grabbed Sammy by his arm, pulling his drunken ass out of the car. Tillie jogged ahead, unlocking the door with her brand-new key. Her smile was beaming as I passed her.

“I won’t be long.” I held his arm over my shoulders and began helping him up the stairs.

Tillie followed us up after locking the door and made her way into my room: soon to be ours.

Laying Sammy down on his bed, I pulled his shoes off, followed by his jeans. I pushed him backwards and flung the blanket on him. Poor fucker would be hungover in the morning.

Turning his light off, I walked in to my room to find Tillie waiting for me. She was lying in the centre of my bed, her head on my pillow dressed in her tank top and shorts pyjamas. It may have been winter, but Tillie always got too warm in the night.

I walked to the window, feeling drained. Right now, I should be cuddled up with her in that bed but all I could think about was Lucy and the words she’d said to me earlier. I knew that whatever she had planned wasn’t going to be pretty.

I looked at Tillie, scared to death that our happy relationship was going to hit a major speed bump. I just hoped we would survive it.

Stripping out of my clothes, I kept my boxers on and climbed in behind Tillie. Wrapping my arms around her, I tried turning off my mind. Closing my eyes, I willed my body to relax. It didn’t work. I tossed and turned all night long with one question constantly turning in my mind.

Was Lucy going to break Tillie's heart, or would I?