Paul sat at the bar as he sipped a beer. He had just finished having dinner with the business associates and wasn't quite ready to go up to his room yet. He knew he'd just sit there and stew about all the things going on with Stephanie. He looked up feeling eyes on him. He saw a cute little brunette girl watching him. She was at a table with a couple other girls. They started giggling and he rolled his eyes as he turned back to his drink. Suddenly he remembered what Shawn said. He just couldn't do it though. He was still in love with Stephanie.
"Hi, I'm Ashley."
Paul looked back seeing the girl standing right next to him now holding out her hand. He took it with a smile.
"Hi Ashley." He replied.
"May I?" She asked as she motioned to the stool beside him.
He shrugged. "This is America."
"What's your name?" She asked with a smile.
"Um..."
"You forget?" She pushed as she winked.
"No." He said with a laugh. "I'm Paul."
"Paul... Nice." She said as she spun around leaning into him as she brought her lips to his ear. "I think you're hot and I want to have some fun tonight, I see you are alone, are you down with that?"
Paul swallowed hard as he cleared his throat. This was new. Shawn was right about 'club rats'. He moved his lips to her ear mimicking her.
"I'm here on business. I have someone at home." He said simply.
Ashley laughed as she ran her hand up his thigh before gently rubbing him through his pants. He gripped his bottle tightly as he bit the inside of his lip. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't really with Stephanie and maybe this night of nothingness would help.
He reached down pushing her hand away slightly. No, he wasn't that guy anymore. He went to speak when Ashely leaned in kissing him. She instantly deepened the kiss rolling her tongue with his. He enjoyed it for a few more moments before sitting back.
"You're beautiful and I'd love to spend time with you, but I have someone at home. I'm sorry." He got up leaving money on the bar.
"Lucky bitch that must be." Ashely muttered walking back to her table as he left.

Stephanie flipped through the channels a hundred times before just settling on law and order. She sighed heavily wondering how Paul was. She knew she hurt him yesterday and she wished she could fix it somehow. She took a deep breath before blowing it out. She picked up her phone as she scrolled through finding his number.
'How's the city?'
She fought with herself over sending the message or not before finally deciding to. She heard it buzz a moment later and picked it up.
'Good. I got picked up at the bar by a young lady, but I told her no, I have someone at home.'
Stephanie smiled as she put her phone back down he was too sweet. God he deserved so much better. Still she was stupid for letting him go. She bit her lip rolling over in bed. Maybe someday.

Paul sighed not getting a response from her. He got undressed as he ran his hand through his hair. He laid in bed flipping through channels aimlessly. What the hell was he really hanging into? Stephanie or the idea of who she could be? He just wasn't sure. A part of him knew he was going to have to do something drastic to get her to open up though. He'd just have to figure out when to make that move.

Paul sat quietly as he drove to his house Stephanie sitting silently beside him. The rain beat down on the roof making the otherwise silent atmosphere somewhat musical. He sighed as he rolled into his muddy driveway. He had been contemplating if he should tell her his story the whole way finally deciding he had nothing to lose. He got out of the car as she scooted over into the driers seat to avoid getting wet. He waved to her as she began to back up before running back up to her window knocking on it and spooking her in the process. She rolled the window down as he stood there getting soaked.
"You're getting soaked Paul-"
"I killed him, my father." He said as the rain pounded down on the car.
"I thought he was already dead?" She said shaking her head.
"That picture from my graduation, that's the last one hes ever been in. I got wasted graduation night. He came to pick me up, he was killed by a drunk driver. I have a sister, Lynn, she won't speak to me. I hardly visit my mom cause when she looks at me she can't stop crying."
Stephanie was dumbfounded. She couldn't tell if he was crying or if it was the rain. She felt her own tears roll down her cheeks.
"That's my story. So now you know you're not the only one who's been scared. Maybe someday you'll find your courage too."
Stephanie gripped her wheel as he walked back towards his house. She went to back up and closed her eyes putting the car in park instead.
"Fuck it." She muttered.
She threw the door open slamming it shut behind her causing him to turn. She walked to him the rest of the way as she jumped into his arms.
Paul barely had a moment to think before he felt her lips crash down on his. He wrapped his arms around her as they both stood soaking wet in a torrid kiss. He walked backwards as he stumbled up the stairs. He fished around in his pocket looking for his keys. She fell against him as he finally opened the door. He dropped the keys kicking the door shut as he shoved her jacket off her shoulders and it dropped to the floor. He felt her pushing his t shirt up as she pulled it over his head. He heard it land in a heap on the floor. He smiled at her as she leaned back in kissing him as she reached down unbuttoning his jeans. He pushed her hand away as he pulled her tank top over her head. She leaned up kissing him again as he reached down lifting her up into his arms as he kissed her running his hand through her hair. She moaned as she leaned against him and he hit the wall. He groaned loving her aggressiveness as he bit on her lower lip. She shivered feeling the cold on her skin. Paul felt her goosebumps under his hands as he set her down. He took her hand pulling her up the stairs. He brought her into his room as he focused on undressing her the rest of the way.
She shivered feeling his fingertips gently skimming her skin. She stood naked before him as he ran his hands up and down her upper arms. She shuddered as she looked into his eyes. She leaned forward biting his earlobe. He felt her hands move to his jeans again and he shuddered as she unzipped his pants and pushed them down. They laughed as he tried to kick his shoes off pulling off his socks as he fell onto the bed. Stephanie grabbed his jeans shimming them off of him as she dropped them to the floor and climbed up his body. He smiled up at her pushing her hair aside. She looked down at him as she laid next to him. He leaned in beginning to kiss her again and she slid her hand up his chest pushing him off gently.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he ran his hand down to her hip.
"My parents were murdered in a home invasion when I was 14, I went to live my uncle and for the next 3 years he used me to seal the deal in his business with men. You're the only man who's ever made love to me. That's probably grosses you out-"
Paul held his finger tips against her lips as he smiled. "No, I'm honored." He said softly.
"I love you, I'm sorry." She said as she began to cry.
"I love you too."

Stephanie sat up against the headboard running her fingers through Paul's hair. She was content in just listening to his soft breathing as his chest rose and fell. Even when they weren't technically together he still was faithful to her. She wondered what more she could possibly ask for.
Every part of her was telling her to run. But how could she? He made her different, better. She knew in her heart that he probably deserved better but she could change.
For him she could at least try.
Because she loved him.
She closed her eyes. Even if she left he'd come looking for her. And she wouldn't hide from him forever. She closed her eyes feeling his head shift as he reached up pulling her down onto his chest.
"Get some sleep sweetheart." He whispered kissing her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you." She replied kissing his chest.
She smiled as he ran his hand up and down her back. Yeah this was where she belonged now she just had to let her heart make the decision for once.