You're My Exception

Chapter 18

"Hey baby," Sterling said as soon as he found her, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss.

Demi quickly dodged the kiss, making him kiss her cheek instead. "Um, hey."

"Where were you?" he asked.

"Just talking with Selena," she answered.

"Baby, how about we go to my place later? You can stay as long as you want," he murmmered in her ear, then lightly nibbled it.

She didn't like where this was going so she peeeled herself away from him. "You're suggesting we have sex after this party?"

Sterling put his hands up in surrender. "I was just hoping..."

"Ugh, Sterling I'm not in the mood." she rolled her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, trying to pull her close.

Demi pushed him away. "Just leave me alone," she walked away, suddenly disgusted with every little fact about Sterling.

"Ugh," Joe groaned the next morning. There was yet again a pounding in his head.

"Good morning, sunshine," he heard Demi smile.

He stayed still for a few minutes as he pieced together what happened last night, then faced her. "What? When did I get home? Was I really drunk? Did I miss something at your party?"

She laughed softly. "Calm down, Joseph. You were very drunk. Selena and I brought you home. Don't worry, nothing happened." 'Except for the fact you kissed Selena,' she thought to herself.

"Um, how drunk is very drunk?" he asked, squinting at her.

Demi looked out the window, and casusally answered, "You kissed Selena. I walked in on it."

"Oh..." he quietly said, looking down. 

"Even though you were drunk," she quietly went on. "Did that kiss mean anything?"

"Huh? Oh no! Demi, of course it didn't," he rambled. "You know how me and Selena are, she's like my little sister."

"We said that about each other," Demi said. "but then look what happened."

Joe sighed. "Demi that was different. Me and Selena aren't like you and me. Trust me, Dems. She's just a friend." She nodded, still looking out the window. "Oh, you should really be with Sterling right now," he told her.

"No, I want to be here with you," she replied. "I know about your stupid deal."

"It's not stupid, Dems," he said, slowly sitting up. "I just want you to be happy."

"I'm not happy if I'm not allowed to be around you!" she said, suddenly facing him. "You're my best friend, Joe. If Sterling can't understand that, then he's not the one for me."

"No, Demi. I see how he makes you happy. The way your eyes light up, your laugh, your smile, just...everything you do around him seems to be brighter than usual." Was he really saying this? He  almost had her, but he had to be a better friend first. "I don't want to see you two separate because of me. I support you two, even if Sterling and I have our differences."

She sighed, looking at Joe. "I don't deserve you."

"Aw, now come on," he said. "Come here." Demi sat next to him as he hugged her. "Now of course you don't you deserve better."

"No I don't," she muttered in to his shoulder.

"You were there for every single one of my heartaches when we were teenagers. We'll always be there for each other, no matter what."

"No watter what," she repeated numbly.

"Demi! What happened last night? Why were you so mad?" he asked as soon as she entered his house.

"Sterling," she sighed, some anger was gone after seeing Joe, but there was some that remained. "I know about your deal. I know you told Joe to stay away from me."

"Baby," he said, then thought for a moment of what to say. "I was just trying to protect us. You mean the world to me."

"You know," she laughed without humor. "He was actually telling me why I should be with you this morning. He told me he supported our relationship."

"Well Dems, I - wait, this morning? You saw him this morning?"

"Yes," she crossed her arms. "This morning. He was so hungover last night. Selena and I brought him home. I stayed with him the whole night. It's what best friends, do, Sterling. He supports us, but you can't even support my friendship with him."

He looked away, sitting down. "So maybe I've been a really big dick to him."

She nodded. "Very big."

"I'm so sorry, baby. You can see him as much as you want. I just didn't want to loose you. You two have chemistry, and I was afraid of that."

Demi smiled, unable to help it. At the end of the day, Sterling and Joe were her two main men. She couldn't help but forgive him. "Sterling, babe," she sat next to him, taking his hand in hers. "It's okay, I understand. I see you with gorgeous girls all the time, I'll always feel jealous."

"How about you and me go out to dinner tonight and then watch a movie at your place? Hmm, how does that sound?"

"Perfect," Demi answered, pecking his lips.