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"The thing is..." Mark took a deep breath. "About what I said after that...I-"
"You lied, didn't you?" Tiffany cut in softly. "About...not having a crush on me anymore."
"Tiff, I-"
"Can we talk about this somewhere more...private?" she asked.
"Yeah. Um...the recording studio?" he offered.
She nodded.
He led her there quietly, his nerves screaming in his ears. Once inside, he closed the door and turned to face her.
"Tiff..." he started again, voice barely steady. "I need to say this because I don't think I can keep it in anymore. I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember."
His heart was pounding so loud he was sure she could hear it.
She smiled softly.
"Took you long enough, Market."
Relief flooded him so fast he almost laughed. He stepped forward without thinking and pulled her into a hug, arms wrapping around her waist, his face pressing into her neck.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to tell you that," he murmured.
Then she sniffled.
"Mark..." she whispered. "Let go."
He pulled back immediately, startled.
"What...did I do something?"
"No," she sighed, looking away. "I just...I think I'm scared."
He reached out gently, cupping her cheek. "Look at me. What's wrong?"
"Before this...we were best friends, right?" she said. "What if something goes wrong? I don't want to lose you. Not as a friend, not as someone I love. I know I'm overthinking but...I can't help it."
He swallowed hard and stepped closer.
"Tiff. I might not have been in a relationship before, but I know that both people have to choose each other. We can make this work."
"You don't understand," she whispered. "We live in different worlds. You're here, I'm in Houston. You travel the world, I want to build a quiet life. You're a celebrity, Mark. I just want to become a doctor, buy a house, fall in love normally...get married."
"And I don't want that?" he asked quietly.
"Will you move to Houston?" she asked with a sad laugh.
He hesitated.
"You wouldn't. And I wouldn't ask you to," she continued. "This is your dream. I'd never take that from you. I'm...I'm no one."
"Tiffany, you're everything to-" his voice broke.
She lifted her hand and brushed his cheek, her touch gentle, almost apologetic.
"You have millions of people who love you," she whispered. "Even if they don't love you the way I do...you'll find someone. Someone better."
He grabbed her hand before she could pull it away.
"I'm in love with only one girl," he said. "And that's you."
Her breath caught.
She tried to pull back, but he held her hand carefully, not tight, not forceful, just honest.
"It's okay if you don't want this," he said softly. "Just...don't tell me to move on with someone who isn't you."
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