“Jessa, may I speak with you?” she asks, giving me a curt smile.

“Sure,” she says and kisses me on the cheek before hopping off the bed and walking over to her mom. Mrs. Harrison shuts the door behind them and I take the time to unpack my bag.

A few minutes later, Jessa comes back in the room, clearly distraught.

“What did she want?” She walks up to me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“She doesn’t think I should stay with you.” She buries her head in my chest and I place my hand on her head, holding her.

“That’s okay, we don’t need to sleep in the same bed,” I inform her, but meanwhile it feels like I’ve just been stabbed by a knife. Is it even possible for me to sleep without her next to me?

“I don’t know why she’s acting like this. I think maybe it’s because I’m finally back home. She’s being protective,” she informs me.

“Hey, I have no problem with her protecting you. I just need to convince your parents that we’re on the same team.” I bring her face up to mine and bend down to kiss her.

Jessa helps me unpack my bag, saying she’ll finish with hers later when she’s alone in her room, pining over me. I smile and take her hand, leading her out of the safe confines of my room. I guess I know one thing I have to do this week and that’s talk to Mr. Harrison, explaining my intentions.

We wander into the intimidating great room, with its lofty ceiling and large brick fireplace that travels from ceiling to floor. Even more unnerving, however, is the man who is currently sitting in the room, sipping a dark liquor and reading a magazine.

Jessa’s father looks up at us and I can’t ignore the falter of his smile when he sees our hands clasped together. “Hi, Dad,” Jessa says, directing us to the couch. “What are you reading?”

“Sports Illustrated,” he says and gives her a small smile before returning his attention to the magazine.

This is my chance, I think to myself. Sports are definitely my thing. “Do you think the Rockies will make it all the way this year? I heard Jack Colton from ESPN predicts they might have a chance if the trade goes through,” I inform him, making it known that I’m an avid sports fan.

He picks his head up and glares my way for a second. I continue holding my breath with the anticipation of his response. “Even without the trade, they’ll win. But we aren’t fair-weather fans in this family, Grant. Win or lose, the Rockies are our team.” I’m thankful he said something, but also feel like there’s some hidden message in that comment.

“I love Ryan Yolks!” Jessa spouts and her dad and I chuckle.

“You like Yolks, huh?” I ask her and she beams over to me, grabbing my hand. “What was his batting average last year?”

“It doesn’t matter, but I imagine with an ass like that, he hits a lot of home runs.” She cozies up to my shoulder. “Not as many as you though,” she whispers in my ear, and I shift uncomfortably, not ignorant to her dad’s prying eyes.

“Jessa’s never been one for sports,” her dad chimes in.

“I gathered that. When she comes to my basketball games, she plays with her phone every second I’m not on the court,” I tell him and Jessa giggles.

“I’m only there to watch you. You should be happy I don’t care about those other frat boys,” she jokingly remarks and her dad quickly picks up his head. His eyes bore into me, but I’m not sure what I did.

“You’re in a fraternity?” he hisses. Jessa quickly squeezes my hand harder.

“Yes, he is, Dad,” she answers for me and I detect the newfound worry on her face.

“Hmm…” He stands up and walks out of the room.

“What was that about, Jessa?” I ask her.

She starts nibbling on her bottom lip, which usually drives me crazy, but now I just want her to tell me what the hell is going on. “My ex was in a fraternity,” she reveals and my mouth drops. Holy shit, this just got a whole lot more complicated.

“You never mentioned that,” I say.

“What did it matter?” she asks, starting to take a more defensive stance.

“It didn’t until I came here. Of course your parents hate me. I probably remind them of him,” I say to her, still not able to say that asshole’s name.

“They need to let it go.” She stands up, walking to the mantel above the fireplace.

“Jessa,” I sigh, getting up to join her. “You have to see…” I stop mid-sentence when my eyes land on the perfectly placed picture frames. “Who is this?” I pick up a picture of a girl with dark hair and piercing hazel eyes.

“Me,” she shyly admits. “I may have…re-invented myself when I came to Western.” She stares directly at me, as if anticipating my response.

“You look…different,” I mumble and she glares over at me.

“Better? More attractive?” she sarcastically jabs and I wish I could take back my previous statement.

“No, God no!” I shriek.

“What then Grant?” Her eyes narrow at me, and I know I’ve pissed her off.

“You look beautiful in this picture,” I tell her, holding it up in the air. “But I like you like this.” I place my hand along her cheek.

“Really?” she questions. I wish I could reassure her somehow, but she’ll have to believe it herself.

“Yes, Jessa. It’s not your hair, your tattoos, or your piercings. You have such a big heart and you love so easily. I’m envious. I didn’t fall in love with the way you look; I fell in love with this part of you.” I move my hand over her heart.

“You do?” She looks down at my hand and then back to my face. Her hopeful eyes make me realize she still doubts me.

“Jessa,” I sigh, taking her hands in mine. “Of course I love you,” I say again and she unexpectedly jumps into my arms.

“I love you, too,” she whispers in my ear and kisses my neck.

The urge to take her right here in front of the fireplace is tempting. I wish I could lay her down on this floor and trace my fingers down her body with my lips following close behind. The thought of entering her with her softly telling me she loves me as I stare into her alluring eyes is more than I can bear at the moment.

“Do you really mean it?” She tips her head back to look in my eyes. The insecurity I see leaves a pit in my stomach. I’m either doing a crappy job of showing her how much she means to me, or that jackass did a bigger number on her than I originally thought.

“Yes, Jessa. So much…it hurts,” I answer.

“It’s not supposed to hurt, Grant,” she says, placing her hands on either side of my face. “It’s supposed to make you feel whole.”

“That’s why it hurts. You do make me feel whole and unbroken, but it’s the thought of my demons breaking it apart that hurts so fucking bad.”

“Don’t think like that. It’s not going to happen with us. You’re stuck with me,” she says with a smile, displaying her perfect teeth. I can’t hold off any longer. I need to feel her lips on mine and her tongue in my mouth.

I lick her bottom lip, begging her to let me enter, and she opens up for me like always. With my hands on her ass holding her against me, I delve my tongue into her mouth and she instantly responds. Her hands move to the back of my head and I know she wants me to continue. The craving for her escalates within me and suddenly my mind is only consumed with her soft lips, her moist tongue, and her firm ass. I start trailing my lips down her jaw to her neck and she moans lightly, holding my head against curve of her neck. “Don’t ever leave me, Jessa,” I murmur.

“Never,” she responds, gripping me tighter. “I’m yours…always.” I pull her firmly against me, and she whimpers when she feels how much I want her.

“Excuse me.” Mrs. Harrison’s voice abruptly reminds me where I am and I drop Jessa automatically. Luckily, she lands on her feet before wiping her mouth and looking in her mom’s direction.

“Sorry, Mom. We got a little carried away,” she apologizes. Jessa appears unfazed that her mom just caught us making out in their living room. Casually, she walks over to her mom, while I discretely attempt to adjust myself to conceal my erection.