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Twenty Nine

I was at the moment on what people call happily ever after. While I showered after our little chat, I reminisced what happened. Everything was on fast-forward I couldn't wrap my head around it. Did I just agree to be Hugh's girlfriend? So that would mean my search was over.

My thoughts were halted as someone knocked on the door. "Mitch, are you done? Do you want to eat lunch in the room or downstairs in the restaurant?" Hugh asked his voice muffled the wooden door blocking us.

"We can eat here," I replied aloud, knowing that he can hear me clearly.

"Okay! I will order us some room service," he said and then I heard his footstep walking away from the door before a door shut.

My body relaxed when I knew he was gone. From my reaction, I was confused why I was relieved he had gone out of the room. I quickly finished my bath and wrapped myself in a towel before heading out the room. When I saw that it was empty, I paced towards my luggage and fetch my clothes. I didn't bother to look which one I got. After grabbing the clothes, I headed back towards the bathroom and changed.

I felt stupid that I was shy if Hugh saw me in a towel. He had seen me completely naked a few minutes ago. But there was something different from then and now. Since we are together that would mean I would be marrying him after the one hundred days are up. Was I ready to marry him?

As I finished changing, I headed out in the room and joined Hugh by the couch as he started flipping the channel in the flat screen television. I went and sat down beside him as he wrapped me in one arm.

"The food will me here in a few minutes. Are you okay with pasta and salad? I also ordered a bottle of wine," he asked after giving me a quick kiss on my forehead.

"I'm fine with anything," I replied briefly and stared straight at the television.

"Is there something wrong? You sound off," he asked, twisting so that his who body was facing towards me.

I looked at him blankly before slouching in dismay. "It's nothing. We can talk about it later. I don't want to sour a good mood," I shook my head in dismissal.

"Are you sure? I'm not going anywhere, you know," he probed as he eyed me gravely.

"Later," I said in finality and turned back to look at the television.

I could see in my peripheral vision that Hugh was about to say something until the doorbell in the room rang. He closed his mouth and got up the couch to get it. I let out a sigh of relief when he was gone in the room. What was wrong with me? I should just tell him and get it out of the way. I didn't want another repeat and take us another year to get it out of my system.

I got out of my stupor when I heard Hugh entered with a hotel attendant as he rolled in with our meal. Hugh helped the staff set our meal in the dining table behind the couch. After they finished, I signed the bill and had it placed on the room's tab. Across from me, I was Hugh's disagreement but he didn't say anything. When we were alone in the room, he finally told me.

"I should be paying this lunch since I didn't even did a good job on the date a few hours ago," he stated as he sat down by the dining table.

I walked and sat across from him with a grin. "Don't worry. I would have your chance. This is still day one, actually it's only been a few hours since we established it for real," I chuckled in reply.

He rolled his eyes and shook is head in amusement. "I'll take you out to dinner tonight," he stated like it was already set in stone.

"And you aren't going to ask me?"

"You already heard me. And you have nothing planned tonight. I know your schedule."

"Are you going to be that kind of boyfriend who bosses around?"

He beamed at me and grinned. "So you admit that I'm now your boyfriend?"

I blinked my eye a couple of time as his playful manner and turned towards my meal. "I can't talk to you anymore. You're unbelievable."

"But you love me," he said triumphantly before he dig in to his meal.

I snorted but smiled at his words. And like the clock was ticking again, all my worries had moved on. I decided on talking to him about it after the meal. By the time we finished our meal, we had to check out of our room.

Mostly, I was the one needed to pack up since Hugh didn't bring any heavy luggage with him. I was the one who brought almost the whole wardrobe. So I was the one trapped in a brutal fight from packing up. Hugh helped out a little, but I asked him to stop when he found my extra pair of bra.

At around two in the afternoon, we were in the lobby getting checked out. I had Hugh call in Russell again to pick us up. It didn't take long before we were in the road and headed back to my apartment. I felt a little awkward while I snuggled with Hugh in the back of the car with Russell driving in front. From the last encounter we had that morning, Hugh and I weren't in friendly terms. I think he got the clue when Hugh kissed my forehead before I entered the car while he helped Russell pack my bags in the back of the car.

When we go to the garage of my apartment, Hugh helped Russell rolled my things to my apartment. As we entered the room, I flinched in surprise when I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

"Mitch! Where have you been? You didn't pick up your phone!" Jade shouted as she greeted me by the hallway leading to my living room.

"I was busy. And before anything, why are you here again?" I asked firmly. I wasn't going to get dragged in her mood.

"We want details. What happened with the date? Did you get laid at all?" she hounded with question as I walked pass her towards the living room.

I stopped on my tracks when I saw Paige in the couch, munching on popcorn as she stared at the television. "Hey Paige," I greeted her briefly before joining her.

"How's last night? You look different," she tore her eyes away from the television and studied me.

"It was awful," I replied as I ignored her comment.

"What happened?"

"Robert and Eric met and they knew that I was dating both of them," I replied in a dead tone as I remembered the awful moment of the night.

"Why is this jerk in the apartment?" Jade asked in distaste, making Paige and me took up in her direction.

I blinked my eyes a couple of times before I registered the situation. "Shit!" I hissed under my breath as I stood up from the couch and walked towards Hugh. "Let's talk outside for a minute," I mumbled towards him and dragged him out of the room.

Jade and Paige didn't have time to question as we got out of the room in a flash. Hugh was silent and allowed me to guide him outside. After closing the door behind me, I glanced around the hallway to check if there was anyone around. When I established that we were alone, I looked up at him with an apologetic smile.

"I know what you are going to say. And I will give you time to tell your friends. I know it would be difficult since somehow they hate my guts more than you. But I get it. I deserve it," he stated before I could get out a word.

"Okay. I'm still new with this open-mindedness we both have," I murmured in admission as I stared at him in awe. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about," I continued and paused with a sigh.

"What is it?"

"Since we've already established that we are..." I started and trailed off as I gestured a hand between us to sign that we are together.

"Yes. We are a couple."

"Okay. You know that thing I told you about helping me find a... ah... someone..."

"If you are asking me to marry you, I would say yes," he stated before I could finish my thought.

I stared at him grimly. I was a little pissed that I had been worrying about nothing this whole time. I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity and smirked at him. "Well now that is settled, I think I'm fine for now. I need to tell the girls and my parents about it."

"Do you need help with that? I'm sure no one would believe you if you did tell them," he offered with teasingly.

"Don't test me, Burns. I can still change my mind," I warned as I eyed him in challenge.

"Really? Are you going to threaten me with that?" he countered in the same tone as he took a step closer to me.

"Don't you dare," I told him a little breathless as my firm resolve wavered.

Hugh took a few more steps towards me, making me step back from him. The end of his lips tugged upward as he continued his advance. Before he could reach me, the main door of the apartment opened as Paige walked out. We both looked up towards her, looking a bit surprised. From the confused look on Paige's face, I was sure that we were in the position that would be a bit questionable.

"What are you two doing?" Paige finally asked, breaking the short awkward silence.

"Nothing. I was just telling him something. He is about to go," I replied in nonchalance as I peaked up in warning towards Hugh, signaling him to not say anything.

I saw amusement gleamed in his eyes before he took a step back towards the elevator. "Would that be all, Ms. Newman?" he asked with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

"Yes. Thank you. You may go now," I replied a bit stiffly than usual as I turned away from him.

Paige studied Hugh and me for a second before Hugh nodded towards her in greeting and turned away towards the elevator. I stood by Paige as we both stared at his retreating back for a second.

"Let's head inside. I have something to tell you both," I said seriously, tearing her gaze away from Hugh.

"Does this have something to do about last night and why he is here?" Paige asked curiously as he glanced back at Hugh, who had walked in the lift.

I waited until he was gone from our view before I replied. "More or less. Actually a lot had happened since last night," I replied softly.

Paige stared at me for a second like she was trying to read my expression. "Did you finally resolve the thing you have with him?"

I blinked as I restrained the surprise on my face. "We talked but there is more. I will tell you inside with Jade. That way I wouldn't have to repeat myself."

She nodded as I encoded the password on the door and entered the apartment. Paige silently followed me inside towards the living room. When we got there, Jade was in the couch as she took place on Paige position with the popcorn bowl on her lap.

"You're back. What took you so long?" Jade asked as she glanced up at us.

"Jade. I have something to talk to both of you," I started as Paige sat beside Jade in the huge couch. I settled myself on the single couch on their left side.

"What's with the serious atmosphere?" Jade asked curiously as she glanced between Paige and me.

"What do you want to tell us, Mitch?" Paige asked as she interrupted Jade.

"Okay. I know this is weird and really hard to understand. So you have to listen on what I have to say before you make your judgment," I instructed grimly.

"Okay," Paige nodded in reply as Jade stared at me weirdly. "What is it, Mitch?"

"Hugh and I are now together. I know it's weird and difficult to picture from how we've acted for the past few weeks since we met. But this all goes way back before he humiliated me at his brother's wedding," I blurred out as fast as I can, trying to fit in everything into one breath.

"You and him are a what now?" Jade asked in disbelief.

"I thought you liked Jon?" Paige chorused in the same tone.

"I did like Jon when I was younger. But I've sort of started liking Hugh right around my last year in college," I admitted shyly.

"Wait a minute. Hold up. Can you repeat what you said the first time? You and Hugh are a what now?" Jade held up her hand as she tried to comprehend the situation.

"We are now dating. Exclusively I hoped," I replied with a light humor, trying to lighten up the serious atmosphere.

"Are you kidding me right now? I though you hated that prick! Shit, Mitch! Him? Are you sure? Did you make you drink a love potion or something?" Jade burst in to a fit.

"Jade. Jade. Come down." Paige grabbed Jade shoulder so that she wouldn't jump towards me from her bubbling rage.

"This is why I didn't tell you before. You wouldn't understand if I did tell you I started liking him," I countered back in the same volume.

"Why didn't you tell me, Mitch?" Paige asked, looking a bit hurt.

"I'm sorry. Okay. I'm sorry I hadn't told you about my weird crush on him. I hadn't really established what I feel from how he had acted towards me since forever. I'm starting to think I'm a masochist or something. But I can't seem to help it. He talked me this morning and then one thing led to another..." I trailed off as my face started to heat up from this morning physical activities.

I glanced back at my friends from their lack of response to my outburst. And as our eyes met, Jade and Paige stared at me with a mixed of skepticism and surprise. There was another second of eerie silence since the volume from the television somehow was turned into mute. And then, they exploded again.

"You fucking had sex with him!" Jade yelled in disbelief.

"Did you sleep with him?" Paige asked breathlessly at the same time.

I winced at the sound of Jade voice as I looked at my friends guiltily. When I didn't reply, Paige covered her mouth from her surprised, though the twinkle in her eyes was undeniable. On the other hand, Jade was fuming from this revelation.

"I don't know what to feel right now. I'm happy that you've finally got laid. But Hugh freaking Burns? Are you kidding me?" Jade gapped as she tried to cool down.

"And you still wondered why I haven't told you," I argued in frustration.

"Then, why haven't you told me?" Paige interrupted as she stood up from the couch, turning our attention towards her. "Why haven't you told me about liking Hugh before?"

"I wanted too, Paige. I was going to tell you but I wasn't sure of it myself. It was just a crush that didn't seemed to go away..." I trailed off as Paige continued to glare at me. It was the first time I saw her angry and silent.

"So, that is it? You're just going to forgive him for what he had done and be with him?" Paige asked after a moment of silence.

"We already talked and we are starting to work it through," I replied in admission.

"I can't have you as a girl who sleep with the enemy, Mitch. And I thought I was bad," Jade stated in distaste as she also stood up and grabbed her things.

"Are you happy with your decision?" Paige stayed still from where she stood as Jade continued to pack up her things.

"I am happy," I look at Paige with a faint smile as I replied shyly.

She stood still for another minute as she studied my expression before turning towards Jade, who was already half way out the door. She glanced back at me with a strained smile.

"I will go and calm down Jade. This doesn't mean I'm not angry anymore from lying to me. But I am happy for you. You've been my best friend, Mitch, and I've always wanted for you to be happy. Jade doesn't express her endearment, but she is happy for you too. Though it is hard for us to process on the fact that you are dating a guy you have been telling us that you hate for years."

"I understand that you can't loosen up with the idea. I was at fault for not telling you about it. But, trust me on this. He makes me happy now."

"I see. Well best of luck," she nodded in reply as she slowly retreated towards the main door, where Jade just bolted out. "I will call if Jade started to calm down. Don't take us away from the engagement invite because we are pissed at you."

I chuckled dryly at her attempt of lightening up the mood. "Thank you for everything, Paige. I know you'd understand."

She tiled her head briefly in reply before heading out of the room. I stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door where both my best friends walked out on me. I understood the gravity of how they felt. I had blindsided them. And I would accept the consequences for my actions. Even if there is a chance of losing one of them, but I know I wouldn't. They were my friends and they would come to understand soon enough.

__________________________________

A/N: Hey everyone! This story is almost at it's end. I've just finished with the draft for the last chapter. I can't help but feel a bit sad. It's is always likes this whenever I finished writing a story.

I will be updating everything with in the week. We have three more chapter to go, more or less. Isn't this a treat?

Until the next chapter,

Have an awesome day and Happy reading!

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