“Nicki?”

“Yeah?”

“Is it too soon to tell you I love you?”

“Not if it’s true.”

“It’s true.”

“I love you, too, Jess.”

And just like that, we’re officially a couple.

Well, not officially.

But within seconds we’re officially naked again.

11.

10:30 a.m.

THE DOOR SUDDENLY opens!

I lift my head and gasp, fearing the worst. But thank God it’s the maid, not Michael and Alison, who would certainly be surprised to find us in bed, in this particular position, naked. The maid—bless her heart—went straight to the bathroom, pretending not to see us, which Jess, being young, thinks is hilarious.

“We’ve got to be more careful!” I scold. “What if it had been your brother?”

“My brother Michael would handle it a lot better than your fiancée Michael.”

“Not funny, Jess. Seriously. It could have been your mom.”

“So?”

“Are you prepared for them to know what we’ve done?”

She looks at me. “Aren’t you?”

“No. Not yet, I mean.”

“Why not?”

“Think about it.”

“The timing? Sooner or later they’ll have to face the fact we’re in love.”

“Let’s make it later.”

“Why? Because you’re already having second thoughts?”

I sigh. “A little while ago, in the moment, you said you loved me and I said I loved you too. I don’t regret saying that, because I’ve always had feelings for you as a friend. This part is obviously new to me, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m eager to explore where it could go, and have no reason to believe it wouldn’t be perfect, but I guess what I’m saying—”

“You’re not really in love with me.”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all! Let me try again: emotions are already running high with Michael and me. If he found out about us it would put him over the top. Why are you shaking your head?”

“Because you’re making it sound like your biggest fear is Michael’s state of mind, and that’s simply not true. You’re afraid they’re gonna find out we’ve been having sex and they’re gonna do the math and realize you’re an adult and I’m a minor and…what’s wrong?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“What? Of course not! How can you even think that?

Looking into her face I see nothing but innocence. But now I find myself wondering how well I really know her. Despite the fact she wanted me first, the power in our relationship has shifted dramatically: she literally has the power to destroy me. So I say, “Did you mean it earlier when you said you love me?”

“You know I did, Nicki. And the reason you know is because after thinking about it you can look back and see I’ve loved you for months. From the day we met I opened up to you and told you things about me that no one else knows. The real question is where are you in this relationship?”

“I already told you. I love you too.”

“Yes. You did say that.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“It’s certainly what I wanted to hear. But now that I think about it, your pronouncement came awfully quick.”

“I wouldn’t mislead you, Jess.”

After a moment of silence, she says: “Prove it.”

“Prove I love you? How?”

“Tell Mom.”

“When?”

“Today.”

I take a deep breath. “Okay.”

She does a double-take. “You will?”

“Yes. If you’ll promise to say we’ve only kissed, and that we’ve decided to wait till you’re sixteen before exploring anything sexual. Can you do that?”

She feigns shock. “You want me to lie for you?”

I laugh. “We wouldn’t see much of each other if I’m in prison.”

“You wouldn’t go to prison.