Lover

Chapter 26: Nothing's gonna hurt you baby

Explicit

I get up and James meets me halfway hugging me tightly.

"I'm sorry." I say as he picks me up.

"No baby, I'm sorry. You're right sometimes I get caught up in stuff and have a hard time letting it all go, I promise I'll be better." I move so that we're face to face, he looks genuine.

"I'm sorry I asked for the letter. I'm gonna throw it away. I have all I need right here." He brings a hand up to caress my cheek making me smile. "I wanna go home."

"I think we know what you have to do baby." He says.

"I fucked it up with her." I sigh. "I was so horrible to her I'm sure she wants me out of her life."

"No, I don't." I hear Debbie say. I hop off of James and hug my mom.

"This is so crazy." I say against her hair. "My biggest dream came true."

"Mine too sweetie." She says. I relax in her arms in a way I never knew I could. It's so comforting.

"Let's go get some dinner tomorrow night?" James asks.

"Yeah I'd like that." I smile as Debbie holds my hand tightly.

"I'd love that." She nods. "I'll see you two tomorrow." She adds, giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek before leaving my apartment.

"Wanna take more things to our place?" James asks.

"Yes." I nod and grab the remainder of the boxes.

"Thank you for bringing Debbie." I say as he begins to drive.

"She went everywhere I went." He says. "Said if anyone could find you it wasn't Nick it Joey, it was me."

"And you found me."

"I did find you. I always will."  He says making me smile. "Nothing's gonna hurt you anymore." He assures.

We arrive to the loft and he shows me where I can put the boxes.

"This can be your office." He smiles.

"Baby I don't need an office." I laugh off. "I dance and that's it."

"You have all those sponsorship opportunities."

"Yeah, that's true, but they want me promoting their products because of my last name, not because I'm an athlete."

"So?" He asks.

"I want to change my last name."

"What?" He asks turning to look at me.

"Katherine Love, how does that sound?" I ask with a smile.

"Baby you know John is your dad." He reminds.

"I know, I'm just kidding." I say so he doesn't think I'm being weird, but I'm really considering it. They lied to me all my life. I don't know if I can forgive them.

(Authors Note: play song)

I set some things up on the desk before I get bored. I go change before I join James in the living room.

I watch as he lights the fireplace.

"Done so soon?" He asks looking back at me.

"Yeah." I drag. "Got bored." I shrug.

"Hmmm." He says with a playful grin. I see Dylan's letter on the coffee table and sigh. "I can help with tha-" he stops when he sees me look at the envelope. "You can read it if you want, baby. I understand" He encourages.