“Aaron. Psst, Aaron, are you awake?”

“Jess are you okay?”

“Yeah, Angel and Mark are still downstairs talking and I was lonely.”

“Come here. Just try not to fall asleep, I’m not sure how my Mom would react to finding us together in the morning.” Aaron lifted his covers and scooted over.

“She might do the same thing mine did but for a different reason.” Jess pulled the covers and Aaron’s arm around her.

“I missed this.”

“I missed this too.”

They held each other in silence until they heard Angel make her way up the stairs. “You better go baby.” Aaron kissed the back of her neck without even realizing it. “Oh, I’m so sorry baby, I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay Aaron. I mean… it was actually kind of comforting.”

“How’s that?”

“I don’t know, but it just felt… right.”

Angel knocked on Aaron’s door and stepped in. “Be glad Mom didn’t catch you two. She won’t let Mark near my room. Aaron you know she’d kill you if she saw this.”

Jess blushed and sat up. “I’m sorry, I…”

“Don’t be embarrassed Jess. It’s okay.”

“Angel could you give us a minute? Just occupy Mom and Dad.”

“Okay, but you owe me.” Angel stepped out of the room and Jess turned around to look at Aaron.

“You didn’t get scared.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

“Maybe you got rid of him last night.”

“Seriously?”

“I don’t know. Do you want to try again?” Jess turned her back to Aaron and he slowly sat up and put an arm around her waist. He carefully lifted his other hand to her shoulder, then her neck. As he lifted her hair he leaned in to kiss her.

“I love you Jessica.” His lips lingered on her soft skin.

“Aaron,” his only response was to kiss her again, “If you expect me to leave tonight you might want to stop there.”

Aaron kissed her one more time and sat back. When Jess turned around to say goodbye tears were streaming down his face. “Good night Jessie. I love you.”

“I love you too Carter.” She kissed him and walked to the door. “I love you too.”

Aaron listened to her walk down the hall and put his face in his hands. “Thank you God. Thank you.”