They’d fallen asleep curled up in each other’s arms. The pillow that had been between them on the floor, with Lillians face nuzzled in Brayden’s chest. He could feel her breast pressed against his stomach. Of course she wasn’t wearing a bra Brayden thought to himself. He gently stroked Lillian’s hair, sleepy mumblings falling from her mouth.

Brayden cringed, “I really hate to ask you this, but when is James supposed to be home?”

Her eyes snapped open reaching for her phone on the table. 6:07pm glared back at her. She took a deep breath and sat up gingerly.

“I feel like my legs have no strength.” She muttered to herself.

Brayden chuckled at her expense.

“He’s supposed to be back at 6:30.” Lillian murmured defeatedly.

Brayden brushed the hair out of her face gently.

“It’s okay.” Was all he could come up with.

He knew his eyes were sad, when he met her own defeated stare. What they had already been doing was wrong, but this, what had just occurred here, it was a whole new level of deprivation. He found guilt swimming in her eyes. She stalked into the kitchen and paced quickly. Brayden followed her into the kitchen bravely.

“I’m so sorry for all the hurt I cause you.” She whispered.

“Don’t be. Loving you, it’s everything.” He whispered back.

“What can I do?” She asked meekly at the devastating look on his face.

“Just let me hold you.” Brayden muttered, sweeping her up onto the countertop.

His face buried in her chest, deep, controlled breaths rumbling through his shoulders.

Her arms and legs wrapped around him tightly.

“You win.” She blurted out quietly.

Brayden pulled away starring down at her.

“I win?” He blinked back stupidly.

“Yes. You win, I give in.” She repeated.

“You – you’re leaving him?” Brayden said slowly.

She raised a confused eyebrow at him and nodded.

“Like actually? You’re picking me?” He whispered, tears brimming his eyes.

His heart soared and stopped and started and basically did whatever the hell it wanted as he observed her.

“Yes.” She repeated.

He pulled her off the counter and spun her in his arms.

“You’re not just saying that because of how pitiful I am, are you? Or how I made you cum without touching you?” Setting her back down on the floor with a wink.

He raised his eyebrow at her, half seriously.

“If I’m being honest, it was probably Halloween, when you really won.” Lillian mused softly.

Brayden feigned an offended gasp.

“You made me wait almost two whole months before you would admit it.” He cried.

Lillian rolled her eyes at the elated grin he couldn’t fight off.

“Please, don’t get too excited, Christmas is in 3 days and, I just can’t do it before Christmas, I wanted to wait until after to tell him, and then you.” Lillian looked up at him guiltily.

“But before New Years?” Brayden quizzed.

Lillian nodded, and Brayden kissed the top of her head squeezing her close.

“Exactly on schedule.” He beamed.

Lillian bristled at the idea that she was predictable while Brayden just pulled her even closer.

“Brayden, you have to let go. He’ll be home soon.” She mumbled against his shirt.

He released her slowly, gazing down at her with new eyes.

“I also – I know I said you win, but I don’t want to jump from 6 years with James, to you in a handful of days. I’ll need time.” She whispered again.

“Did you honestly think I was going to expect you to ditch him and be in a serious relationship with me by New Years Eve?” Brayden protested.

“I - well I don’t exactly know what your whole timeline is." She hissed, taking another step away from him.

Brayden grinned.

“Let me tell you:

We start with you leaving James between Christmas and New Years, declaring your intentions unto myself in the days or hours leading to our New Years Eve kiss.

In the following months we continue this dance, without the guilt I know you feel, just open, sexy flirting. I hang out relentlessly in your home, since this place will NOT be available.

I search for a new apartment, incessantly asking your opinion on layout and natural lighting until you realize I fully plan on moving you into it when you’re ready. Since this lease is up in February, you and I will have picked me a lovely new apartment by Valentine’s Day. By then you’ll be accepting my offers of dates and other small romantic gestures. You’ll still be avoiding actually sleeping with me and labelling it a ‘relationship’. I’ll move into the new place; you’ll help me decorate.

In March I’ll finally open up about the toll work takes on me and how it affects me day to day.

In April, you’ll start to feel new and refreshed, only weeks away from receiving your BSC. Your confidence will spike, and you’ll start to admit how you really feel about me.

Over the summer you’ll find yourself either a TA position or another big girl job, feeling independent enough to start wondering what moving in with me would be like.

By the end of summer, you’ll have admitted you’re madly in love with me. (Since we’ll have been sleeping together since April, you – again – just won’t admit it’s a relationship.)

And by the end of September, you’ll have moved in with me.” Brayden summarized casually, listing the events of the next several months with vague amusement and sarcasm.

Lillian stared at him, mouth open in awe.

“You have the next 10 months planned out?”

“Yes. After that, well ask me next week maybe I’ll have it figured out.” Brayden winked, unashamed.

Keys jingled in the hallway and Brayden took one large step away.

“Until then.” He smiled sneaking into his own room as the front door opened.