The next morning, Winston woke up before Corrine.  He looked at her and panicked, remembering what he said to her.  "Mental note," he said to himself, "stop drinking."  He got out of bed without waking Corrine.  He threw on his boxers and feeling his head pound said, "What have I done...this is not going to go well."

      Corrine woke up and saw him pacing.  "It's O.K.," she said.  "It's forgotten."  He looked at her wide-eyed.

      "Corrine..."

      "It's all right, Winston.  I know you didn't mean it."

      "You don't know anything!" he yelled, making his head pound.  He watched as her eyes teared.  "Don't cry, please, don't cry, I don't think I could handle it right now." 

      Corrine wrapped the sheet around her and quickly got out of bed; she began to gather up her clothes.  "You won't have to."  She went into the bathroom to get dressed, locking the door behind her.

      Winston pounded on the door.  "Corrine, open the door!  I didn't mean to yell at you."

      "Bite me, Winston!"

      "What will that solve?" he laughed, trying to lighten the mood.  "You like it when I do that."

      "I'm glad this is funny to you.  I should have left you alone last night!  I knew I'd just get myself into trouble!"

      "Corrine, please come out of there.  We need to talk about this."  The door opened and there stood Corrine, tears streaming down her face.  Winston felt his gut twist.  Claudia never cried, Winston wasn't worth the trouble to her, but there was someone standing in front of him that loved *him* and nothing else.  Not money, not fame...him.  He reached out to her, but she stepped back.     "I've truly hurt you."

      "What did you expect?" she asked sadly.

      Winston sat on the edge of the bed.  "I...I'm sorry, Corrine."  Corrine began to walk out of the room.  Winston jumped up and grabbed her.

      "Let me go, Winston!"

      "No!"  He yelled at first, but then his voice softened.  "No, I can't."  She looked at him, terrified.  "Damn it...this is going to be hard as hell."

      "Please let me go," she said crying once again.

      He took a long, deep breath, not letting her go.  "I love you, Corrine.  I actually love you..."

      "Winston, don't.  Please don't do this to me."

      "Do what?"

      "Tell me that you love me."

      "Why not?  I'm being honest for once in my life and I'm not even drunk!"  His grip on her tightened and Corrine became frightened.

      "Let me go, Winston...please."  She was shaking and Winston realized that he was being much too forceful with her.

      He loosened his grip, but still held on to her.  "I'm sorry, Corrine.  I...God, I don't even know how to act."

      "We can pretend that last night didn't happen.  Things would probably be better that way."

      "I can't do that, Corrine.   With one-night stands or tawdry affairs, it's easy to forget.  When you make love to someone, it's etched into you."  He pushed her hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek.  "I want this, Corrine, don't you?"

      "It doesn't matter what I want, Winston.  You had an experience last night that's left you confused.  You'll just regret things in a few days and I'll be the one who gets hurt in the end."

      "I won't hurt you.  I promise.  I swear on everything I have, I swear on my life."  He leaned his face down to hers and kissed her as he did when he was making love to her.  Things *had* changed, and Corrine could feel the proof of that in his kiss.  "I love you," he said praying that she would finally echo the words.

      "I love you too, Winston."  Tears fell from her eyes, but not in anger or sadness.  "So, now what?"

      "I really don't know...you do have a big night tonight though." 

      Corrine's heart jumped.  "I forgot...I can't believe I forgot!"  It was the night of Corrine's first concert for actual fans and not wheelers and dealers.  "I was so worried about you yesterday that..."

      "You were worried about me?" Winston asked, smiling.

      "Of course I was.  I have to go and get ready and..."

      "Relax, the concert isn't for another several hours..."

      "I have to rehearse.  I've gotta go, Winston.  I'll see you tonight, right?"

      "Of course you will.  I'll be there for the sound check.  Keep a hold on yourself, Corrine, you're going to be wonderful."

      She smiled and kissed him.  "See you tonight."  She practically ran out of the room and out to her car.

      Winston stood in his room, alone.  He couldn't help but smile; things in his personal life were finally going well...though he had to make sure that this didn't affect his business savvy.