set my feet on the floor. "That's cool, but if we're spending the day watching a chick show, I'm gonna need coffee and food." Standing, I purposely slide between her and the ottoman, blocking her view of the television until her eyes leave the screen and meet mine.
"Good morning," I say, kissing her forehead and running my hand over her loose waves.
She catches my hand and holds it between us. "Good afternoon."
Yeah, it's eleven, I suppose that's afternoon. I scoot out of her way, and she maintains hold of my hand until our arms stretch the distance between us.
"Hey, Coop?" I look back, finding her entire beautiful and damaged face watching me. She pauses, and my brows rise. "I think I might love you."
My fucking smile is an entity of its own. "Think, huh?" I move backward until I'm standing behind her and the couch, and I kiss the top of her head. "You'll let me know when you know for sure, right?"
She groans and steals her hand from mine. "I changed my mind." I can feel her eyes roll, and I can't even see her face.
"No, you haven't. You think you love me." I call over my shoulder while walking into the kitchen. What I really long to do is a touchdown dance. "There's no use in pretending differently. We're in this for the long haul, my Little Aggie."
Later that evening, while Jess showers, I pull my cell out and make two calls. The first is to Mom. She and Chase sent multiple texts during the day, but we were deep into Hart of Dixie, and I didn't want to alert Jess to their questions. Instead, I sent one reply to each while using the restroom, promising we were fine, and I'd fill them in soon.
"Carter Cooper, what is going on with you? Is Jess all right?" Of course, she doesn't just answer with a typical hello.
"Yeah, Mom, she's okay. It's been"—I draw a deep breath, unsure how much to share— "There was a fight with her dad last night. He came home wasted, and she called me crying."
She inhales sharply. "Oh, honey."
"I couldn't let her stay there. She wasn’t safe."
"Of course not. What can I do to help? Does she need time off? I assume you're okay with her staying there, but she's welcome here if needed."
I chuckle. I don’t talk about sex with my parents, but there's no way they don't know that ship is well-traveled. "Why in the hell would I mind my girlfriend living with me?"
Her nervous twitter of laughter proves she's uncomfortable with the implied topic of discussion. "I like her, Carter, and you're not exactly one for relationships. If you're going to screw this up—"
Wow. She's worried about Jess, not me. Good. Jess needs more people worrying about her. "I think I love her, Mom," I confess. I've never said those words about a girl out loud, and certainly not in discussion with one of my parents.
Rubbing my palm over the top of my head, I release a deep exhale and continue. "Honestly, I'm sure I'm in love with her, but we’re new, and maybe this is just hardcore attraction and not a deeper connection, but—"
"But, you look at her like she's your whole world." Mom sniffs on the other end of the line, and I'm reminded who I'm talking to. One-half of the sappiest lovers around. The other half being Dad. "And she talks about you like you're the same for her. You're a beautiful match, my son. You'll see. Plus, who says how long it takes for love to grow? Emotions have no science."
"She has a year left of school," I argue, but the argument is tired. Is it an obstacle or an excuse?
Mom’s tongue clicks off the roof of her mouth. "Your father and I endured long distance."
He was from America, and she was from the Philippines when they met in Europe. They endured many issues before they could be together, and look at them.
Massaging the back of my neck, I lower my voice. "Her father hit her last night"—she is appropriately shaken, but I continue— "He wasn't in his right mind, and that is the only reason he is in one piece right now, but Mom, she's hurting." My palm goes from my neck to the tight pain in my chest. "Her mother abandoned her and her father … well, he needs more help than I think she can provide."