I woke up to the sound of Ian's voice. I opened one eye, stretching my arms out as I rolled onto my side. Ian was talking on his cell phone beside me, grumbling about his book. I sighed as I traced my hand up his bare leg underneath the covers. Memories of last night were fresh in my head, and I couldn't help but smile.

Ian had finally let me through those thick walls of his. Just thinking about the sound of his deep throaty moans last night when I was on top of him almost made me want to take him right now. I think Ian might have liked bottoming more than he originally thought. Although he was a little controlling in the beginning, I got him to loosen up fairly quickly.

I smirked at the thought, not realizing Ian had hung up the phone.

"What are you so happy about?" Ian asked his eyes fixed on me. "Hm?"

"Just thinking about last night," I replied smugly. "Particularly when I was on top of you."

Ian laughed. "Oh really? Better savor that memory. You never know if it's going to happen again."

I snorted. "You say that now. A couple of days from now, you'll be begging for it."

Ian shook his head, kissing me on the lips. "You're cute, Ryder. You stay right here, while I make breakfast."

"Thank god, I'm starving," I retorted as Ian crawled out of bed, quickly sliding a pair of boxers on. I whistled at him playfully. Ian ignored me, walking out of the bedroom.

I glanced at the clock beside me to see it was ten in the morning. I swore underneath my breath. My mother was going to kill me. I don't think Nicki would be able to cover for me for this long. I quickly rolled out of bed, scanning the floor for my clothes. But I couldn't find my shirt or my pants. Hell I couldn't even find my boxers.

I quickly opened Ian's drawers and slid a pair of his boxers on as I heard voices echo from downstairs. I couldn't hear what Ian was saying, but by the tone of his voice, he wasn't happy. Just as I opened Ian's bedroom door, I heard the front door slam shut.

My stomach twisted in knots as I heard footsteps echo up the stairs. I rubbed the crust from my eyes as Ian appeared in the hallway. He walked right by me, not saying a word.

"Ian," I said. "Who was that?"

He scoffed, running his fingers through his chocolate brown hair. "Who do you think it was?"

"Shit," I muttered. "What did she say? Was she pissed?"

Ian took a deep breath, and walked over towards me. He kissed me on the forehead.

"She said you have a choice," Ian began. "You have to chose between the two of us - me or her. She said she was through playing these games with you."

I bit my lip. Her or Ian. I sat down, processing everything that Ian was saying for a second. My mother was making me chose between her and Ian. That wasn't fair. She knows that I can't just leave her. After my father died, she was a wreck. I had to keep everything together. She wouldn't be able to take it if I left too. That boyfriend of hers wouldn't last and she'd be alone.

My stomach twisted in knots as I rested my face in my hands. I love Ian. But was it worth losing my mother over? I mean what if this didn't work out between us? Where would I go?

"Fuck," I growled. "Fuck. Fuck."

"Ryder," Ian said pulling me into his arms. "Your 22 years old. You have the right to make whatever choice you want. If your mother can't accept you for who you are and who you love, then maybe you should consider moving out. I have more than enough room for you. I love you, and you know I'll do anything for you."

I nodded. "I know. You're right. I should just move out. But she's the only family I have, Ian. It's just hard."

"I know," Ian replied. "But maybe she just needs a taste of what it feels like to be alone to appreciate you."

I sighed. "That didn't work with your parents."

"My parents are a completely different story," Ian huffed.

I took Ian's advice. I went home that morning and I packed my clothes up, and I left. Clothes were really the only thing I needed. I brought all of my things over to Ian's house. As I walked down the street with my bags in hand, I could feel everyone's eyes on me. Even though no one was outside, I could see people watching me from their windows. I'm sure Mrs. Tillman had notified everyone in the neighborhood about my moving out, and Ian and I's relationship.

I didn't care though. They could talk as much as they wanted, but no matter what they said I loved Ian, and Ian loved me. That's all I needed to know.

Ian cleared out space in his closet and drawers for me. He even helped me organize my clothes. Something that I didn't even do at home. I would have to get used to living with Ian. Sure we spent time together, but never more than an an hour or two. The most hours we spent were when were asleep or on a trip together. The first few days were a bit awkward. Ian spent a lot of his day, researching and writing. When he was working, he didn't like to be bothered. I learned that quickly.

One morning, I was jogging on his treadmill in the basement, while listening to music on the speaker. Hercules was sitting on the ground in front of me. I stopped running as soon as the music turned off.

"Ryder I was calling you," Ian huffed in exasperation. "Could you keep the music down? I'm trying to work upstairs."

I muttered a quick sorry, as he stomped upstairs. He could be so grumpy. Later that day, he yelled at me for having the TV too loud. It was like every thing I did was pissing him off. I had to walk on egg shells around him. No wonder Alan was gone from the house so often.

The next day, I sat on Ian's bed and stared up at the ceiling, contemplating if it had been a good idea moving in with him in the first place. Everything I did was a nuisance. Our age difference was more apparent than it had ever been.

"Ryder," Ian said snapping me out of my daydream. "Are you mad at me?"

"I mean you've been kind of a dick today, but I'm not that mad," I replied, causing Ian to grin.

"Sorry," Ian huffed. "I know. I'm a bit of a control freak. Now you see why I lived alone for so long."

I scoffed. "Yeah. That's pretty clear."

Ian took my hand in his, kissing it. "Forgive me?"

I took my hand back, smirking deviously. "You're going to have to do more than that."

I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him towards me, crushing my lips against his. I pulled him onto his bed with me as we made out on top of his comforter, our hands all over each other. Ian pulled away from me at the sound of the doorbell.

"I'll get it," I offered. "You stay right here."

"You top one time and now you're in complete control of me," Ian retorted as I shuffled down the stairs. I glanced through the peep hole to see my mother standing there with her boyfriend. Well this was unexpected.

She wanted to talk. That's what she said. She wanted to discuss my relationship with Ian over dinner with her boyfriend. Maybe Ian was right. Maybe she had needed a taste of my absence to realize that she had been in the wrong. Ian, however, wasn't so willing to have a conversation.

"She wants to talk to the both of us," Ian asked. "Really? Every conversation I've had with her has ended in me storming off, irate."

"I know," I replied. "But she promises she'll be open-minded, Ian. Could you do this for me?"

Ian groaned, standing up from his bed. "Only for you though."

"Thanks," I said as I walked downstairs. This was going to be weird. I was invited over for dinner at what used to be my home just five days ago. The weird thing was that I felt like a stranger at my own house. It was like I never lived here.

My mother even had the fancy silverware out. We never ate with that usually. It was only when we had company over. I sat down beside Ian at the dinner table, across from my mother. I was curious to see how open minded she was going to be.

Dinner was quiet. That was probably because no one knew what to talk about. We sat around the table, chewing on my mom's pot roast. Ian gave a compliment, and we had a bit of small talk. Dessert was when the conversation shifted onto Ian and I.

"So," My mother began as she slid a plate of apple strudel to Ian. "Let's talk about this. Let's talk about this relationship of yours if that's what it is."

I rested my hand on Ian's knee underneath the table. "That's exactly what it is. Ian and I are in a relationship - A serious one."

"And how long has then been going on for?" My mother continued. I felt like I was in some sort of interrogation. I wasn't quite sure how to answer that question since Ian and I were together last summer, broke up, and then got back together. I don't think telling her that would help my case at all.

"Must not have been that long since you were just Alan," she retorted her eyes fixed on Ian's. "You seem to move on pretty quickly, Ian."

I squeezed Ian's knee as he cleared his throat. He crossed his legs, taking a deep breath before he spoke. "That's true. But Ryder and I were on a break from last year. Alan didn't really mean anything to me. But Ryder does. He's all I think about. He matters a lot to me and he's the only reason why I'm here right now. I care about him just as much as you do. I think it's important that he maintains a relationship with you, but not at the cost of having to deny his sexuality."

My mother chewed on her lower lip. "This isn't about Ryder's sexuality. I've come to terms with that. What I do care about is that he is dating a man who is significantly older than him. One who clearly has issues maintaining a long-term relationship. I just want to make sure that you aren't messing around with my son's head."

Well this was getting intense. I sighed as Ian sat up in his chair. "With all do respect, Erin, you don't know anything about me. Yes, there is an age gap between Ryder and I, but we both care about each other a lot. And I'd like to think that love has no boundaries. And whatever happens between Ryder and I, happens. if he decides he doesn't want to be with me anymore, then so be it. But's frankly, that's none of your business. And I really would appreciate it, if you stopped questioning my intentions as if I'm some sort of sexual predator. Ryder is a adult. He is 22 years old and he is fully capable of making his own decisions in life. I understand you're need to want to protect him, but at the same time, you have to let Ryder make up his own mind."

I spoke up, agreeing with Ian. He had made a lot of excellent points. By the end of our dinner, I think my mother finally understood where I was coming from. She didn't give her complete blessing, but I was allowed to come back home. So I guess that meant she was okay with everything.