"Alright, five more," Marcus encourages, as I lift up the barbell and let out a grunt.

You usually have to wait for that which is worth waiting for, especially when shooting a shot with a gorgeous National Periodic Table Day participant.

Elizabeth Maria Lucero continues to blow my mind, something completely out of this world. She is one of a kind.

She is thoughtful.

She is kind.

She is caring.

She is smart.

She is diligent.

She is selfless.

She is forgiving.

She is stubborn.

And most of all, she is a beautiful person.

I know at first I wanted to back out my play with her because of just how pure her soul is, not wanting to taint any of it with my past, either how many females I've been with or even the shit I have with PJ still.

Elizabeth scares me.

She scares me because what if she finds the true me?The one that I have buried down since I was eleven. I can already feel that she has dug it up, little by little. with her kind words and innocent gestures. She opens up parts of me I always lock down but doesn't make me feel weak or exposed. I can't explain it but I sure like the peace that girl brings me.

I know I should pump the brakes slightly but I can't get enough of not wanting to spend time with her.

Everyday is something new with Lizzie.

On Monday, she surprised me by eating so many baskets of fries with me. She was so worried we were going to get cut off and protected the basket from our waitress every time she visited the table.

But the best part was she.didn't want me to stop talking about my mom. I thought it was like word vomit about all the stories and memories. But she sat there listen and let me feel a sense of gratitude in those moments.

It really meant a lot to me that she allowed me to have the floor, which was the first time I've ever felt that. She definitely made sure Jordy got some fries, well, half a bag until she tucked the rest of the bag under her shirt.

Jordy reminded me that evening that Tuesday was Tater Tot Day. So, like a sap, I brought some cheesy tots because Alexis told me they were her favorite and a large mocha iced coffee, with extra chocolate.

Go figure.

Her face was as red as my jersey on red nights. She was so shocked, seeing me in the hospital waiting area with her teal haired girl and that scrawny Hollister boy. Because he looked at me the whole time, I had to make it known I wasn't playing games and mark my territory. So the added kiss cheek made him marinate in irritation for me.

Wednesday, I tried asking Fireball what Lizzie likes to eat for lunch and all I got was, 'Figure it out for yourself,' and a free meal out of me at Chipotle for her and Marcus' situationship date. I also had to show my STI papers -all negative - in order for me to have any further activities with Lizzie.

At the sight of the lunch I brought Lizzie, Maxine caved and I was able to eat lunch with my favorite nurse. Lizzie was all in her black school scrubs, tightly fitting in every right place. She was shocked once again, with a crinkled nose but sweet smile.

Her doe eyes lit up, she tossed her PB&J smucker sandwich, and protectively ate her Chipotle as I took some of her chicken. She kicked me out afterwards, for her little study group, even put a sign up on the library door that said 'nursing students only' because I was distracting.

So is she, so I hope I'm distracting her.

Last night, I nearly tripped over my own damn feet at her greeting me at the door with invisible pants, showing off those honey brown legs. I'm not sure what her obsession with wearing big shirts to act like she don't got no fucking pants on is.

Drives me fucking nuts. I lost fucking count with the damn spank bank but I'm a multi-billionnare.

Let's not forget that angelic moan escaping from her lips, wrapping around and biting down on the mozzarella sticks.

Elizabeth Maria Lucero is going to kill me. Death by blue balls for sure.

There's so many times I've just wanted her full soft lips on mine but I just know there is a special moment for that and I can't rush it, no matter how hard it is looking in those gingerbread eyes. Her eyes reflect the purest of her soul. There is not a spec of deceit or dishonesty in them.

I want her to be mine.

I wanted her to be mine that night at her job. Sure, I was with a one night stand at the time but she made me lose all interest and sense of desire for what numbed me for the longest time. Shit, I haven't had sex in what, almost three weeks, a record for me. I'm actually proud of myself and using different outlets to grieve.

"Two more, come on," Marcus taps my hand as I let out a breath, pushing up my new challenging weight limit.

"Whose idea was it for me to do two hundred and twenty-five?" I groan, lifting up again and feeling sweat trickle down my brow.

"Hollis," Marcus laughs and grunts one more time because Hollis works hard on his build but it's not a good thing. He's trying though.

"I heard my name," he says from above, looking down at me with a cocky grin.

"You...... are .... Insane." I lift the barbell up, with Marcus's help. My chest muscles ache as I sit up slowly, catching my breath.

"Gotta look good for my woman." Hollis kisses his bicep muscles, making Marcus suck his teeth. I wish Hollis didn't feel the need to feel pressure about his looks. But he is still working on it.

"Y'all see Maxine's highlight reel?" Jordy comes over, grinning.

"Yo, she is a ball hog," Xavier chimes in and Marcus chuckles.

"She learned from the best," he gloats.

Guarantee Maxine taught him that but you didn't hear that from me.

"Righttttt," Jordy sings and shows up his phone to Maxine destroying the court against UNC.

"What are y'all anyway?" Xavier looks right directly at Marcus.

He shrugs, looking unbothered but I know he is bothered. He just doesn't want to admit it, but he's been performing open heart surgery with Maxine the last couple of months. To be quite honest, it's been a success despite her Boston beatdown fits.

"She doesn't want a label." Marcus squirts water in his mouth.

"She's worse than a dude." Jordy cackles.

"She is famous for chuck and dump," Taylor adds, laughing.

"She is famous for a lot of things." Jordy wiggles his eyebrows, making Marcus suck his teeth.

"Alright, damn," Marcus cut through their harassment. I release my smile too but I know he does like her.

Why I have no clue, but I'll support him no matter what.

"She's been through a lot," I note, pulling my phone out of my shorts pocket as I glance at the time, knowing Lizzie is about to be out of her lab soon.

"True, and youuu, Cap, what's going on with you being treated by a lovely, big, boot.. I mean nurse friend," Xavier's smile wears off at my glare.

"Waitin' for the right time." I toss up my phone and catch it.

"WHAT?" They all say, eyes wide and jaws dropped to the floor, and I chuckle a bit, rubbing my jaw.

"What?" I swipe open my phone, debating to bother Doc McStuffins. That's one of my favorite random things, bugging her.

"You, Mister I fuck any bad bitch if they let me.. Open wide, add girls, subtract clothes, and divide legs shit, bus it down, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, King Kong.... Is now 'waiting for the right time'?" Taylor adds, mimicking my voice.

We all laugh and I shake my head at my idiotic fuck boy ways. I look down at the lock screen as an email notification from Under Armor appears. I swipe it immediately, figuring out what it could possibly be.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that," I say, reading the email.

Dear Jaylan,

We are excited to start the partnership with you for the Villanova game. We are deeply sorry about your ankle and we wish the best in a quick recovery. We hope you enjoy our token of appreciation for your hardwork and sportsmanship with some merchandise we have sent your way through the mail. All we ask of you is to wear them to your next game and we'll discuss profits soon.

Best of Luck,

Mason Cox

College Sports Brand representative

Under Armor, Eastern Division .

My heart flutters at the honest money that I have made for the first time in a very long time. I am actually proud of that. Aunt Lisa was so excited and told me if I don't give her a specially made sweatshirt for her then she won't talk to me again, then laughed and said, "Just kidding, but really." Uncle Steve said he wants a classic one too.

I can't wait to give them the world.

I click on Lizzie's name as Jordy, Taylor, and Xavier gloat about their night at CP Looney's last night meeting some really nice Law Student girls. I laugh, shaking my head at Jordy's attempt to use my lines on women. Before I could type a harassment to her, a message pops up quickly

Giggles 🧸: Don't forget your ankle exercises! My timer went off!

I chuckle, typing back hearing her preschool voice scolding me.

Me: Can we do it later?

Grey dots pop up and I smile, knowing she's probably crinkling her nose up as we speak.

Giggles 🧸: Jaylan I have to study! I wrote it on your calendar!

I laugh because it got washed in my pocket during laundry and now it's hanging to dry.

Me: Ok???? What time you get out of your lab

There were no grey dots but she left me on read. I laugh and look over at Hollis, who's lifting his shirt up at his glistening abs, probably for Alexis' eyes only tab or for his social media. I wish he didn't spend too much time on there. It can be poisonous for him.

"Yo, Hollis," I call out.

He turns around, nods his head and comes over. "What's up Cap?"

"Can you ask your girl when Lizzie gets out of her open lab?" I inquire and he arches his brow.

"Why don't you ask her?" He chuckles and I cackle a bit.

"She left me on read." I breathe out a chuckle, swinging my legs over on the side of the bench press.

All the guys laugh and I shake my head because Lizzie is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to her time. But she has every right to be because Nursing school is no joke. I remember when my mom would be up all night studying and asking me to cut her off at ten so she could read me a bedtime story.

I sigh, softly thinking of those nights where I found her sleeping on the sofa at Uncle Steve's house, crashed with a pharmacology book. I would tuck her in at times and other times, with PJ, it was better having Uncle Steve and Aunt Lisa around.

My throat gets dry and I clear it, shoving down that memory.

"Lexi said about probably soon." He boyishly grins, lifting his phone up.

"Alright, listen up! Bright early practice and please, no parties past one," Coach T stresses as he gets up from the desk and Jordy cackles as if it's a joke. I shake my head, swiping my hand by my neck and mouthing 'not the time.'

"Chicken Arms, I should make you stay late," Coach T spews his love on Jordy.

He grins big, showing off his barely developing new muscles. We all crack up, shaking heads and gathering our stuff.

"You going to be alright," I look at Marcus, who's looking at his phone and grinning too.

Man, I swear this was Maxine's plan to get us all distracted before March Madness so she can bring home the championship for the women's basketball team... it might be working.

"Oh yeah." He smirks, pondering at whatever's on his phone.

I shake my head and get up from the bench stretching my arms. "You going to be home?"

Marcus looks up with wide eyes and slants them. "Yeah, why?"

I laugh, breathing out a chuckle because he's judging my actions protectively. Guess Maxine gave him a duty.

"Nothing. I was just going to invite Lizzie over." I sly grin.

"Right... Well I'll give you a nice remembrance dedication when we win without you at March Madness." Marcus says, patting my shoulder.

I chuckle, shaking my head at him. "Nah, we just kickin it. I was going to order some pizza."

"Count me in" Jordy says excitedly.

Marcus, Hollis, and I all look at Jordy who sheepishly grins at his self invitation.

"I'll see y'all later." I salute and head towards the showers.

Time to go see Nurse Lizzie.

🏀🏀🏀🏀

Thankfully, the security guard at the nursing building is a fan and wishes me well for a quick recovery. He tells me where the nursing clinical simulation lab is and honestly I feel like I get lost several times until I hear the giggle that always stirs within me, making my chest warm.

"Jessica," Lizzie whines, sounding hurt.

I furrow my eyebrows as I walk into a room to see Lizzie rubbing her head as her friend also rubs it as her stethoscope swings around her neck. I laugh, leaning on the door frame and watching the two do some kind of assessment on each other with a penlight. I smile, watching them practice the future profession they love.

"Okay, now follow my penlight but don't move your head," her friend instructs as she moves the pen light.

'Good now, touch your nose and pen with one finger, ready nose pen, nose pen, nose, pen nose pen... Okay, opposite nose and pen with one finger, ready nose pen, nose pen, nose pen, nose pen." Lizzie giggles as her friend crosses her eyes at her but lets out one of her little squeaks when her friend catches sight of me and whispers in her ear. Lizzie turns around with her famous crinkled nose and folded arms. I do it back and her friend laughs, clasping her hands to her chest.

"What's up, Nurse Lizzie," I tease and she presses her lips together, making me clench my jaw a bit and rubbing it.

"We were just wrapping up," her friend teases her.

"Lizzie, don't you want to celebrate Periodic Table Day with me?" I poke my lip out and her friend coos at the both of us.

"Jaylan," Lizzie says in a stressed voice and I laugh, walking over to them.

"What?" I sit on the table next to her with all her scattered nursing books.

"I'll leave you two alone," Jessica plays wing man and I laugh at the look Lizzie shoots at her.

Lizzie has her mouth gape open, perfect opportunity to stick my finger in there. She smacks my finger out her mouth.

One day I'm going to teach her how to close it like a good girl.

I laugh at her as she grumbles about how carefree I am and I'm hard headed. Aunt Lisa says the same.

"So, Doc McStuffins, what's the plan?" I tap her book.

"Studying." She hums with her nose turn up so I poke the tip with my finger.

"Wrong answer," I correct.

She stands up, trying to act tough only for me to tip my head back and cackle because she's just too beautiful to look mean.

"What unplanned, careless act do you have tonight?" She folds her arm with a smile.

Fuck it.

I pull her waist closer to me and she squeaks from the unexpected action. My hands grip her hips, making her blush and look down. With one finger tip, I lift her chin up to catch eye contact with her. She sinks her teeth in her lower lip, making me want to pull it back with mine.

"I just want to hang out with you," I say deeply and she shivers under my touch.

"Well, I made cookies, and a face mask for today, and I want to watch flubbe-'' she stammers and looks away, so I tilt her chin back so our eyes are looking at each other.

"Can we celebrate together?" A rosy color spreads across her cheeks at my request.

"You have a sticker freeze, I hope you know." She giggles.

"A sticker freeze," I sound appalled and tickle her sides at that damn fine print she hadn't told me about. She giggles uncontrollably, making my chest warm.

"Yeah..." She sinks her teeth in her lip again then pulls away softly to pack up her things.

"What kind of pizza you like?"

"Mmmm sausage." She hums, putting her stuff away, bending over, and showing her full globe of an ass. "But I'll also eat pepperoni, or any kind of meat."

Fuck me.

I'm almost as rich as Jeff Bezos in the spank bank.

"Alright, cool cool," I croak out, willing myself not to get stiff in her lab room.

She goes to put her book bag on her shoulder but I take it from her. Mom always said to carry a bag for a woman, especially a hard working woman. She flashes me a smile and pushes some strands out of her face.

"I have to take a shower, I'm yucky." She frowns and I laugh, bumping my arm into hers because I'm all over that idea.

"I don't think so, but you can take one at my house," I suggest, not trying to sound perverted at all but it just comes out that way.

She gasps at the thought and I crack up as she furrows her eyebrows. Unexpectedly, she grabs my hand to hold roughly, well... rough for her but gently.

"You are worse than Maxine." She shakes her head. She's not wrong there, our libdos are so fucking high, we get a contact high.

"What? It's a suggestion," I tease.

"A naughty one," she reminds me, pointing at her small finger at my chest where the tattoo is. I chuckle as she continues about how I have to make it to twenty stickers and not how it's not as easy as I think.

Not even two steps out of the automatic doors, I catch sight of a gold spec on my windshield. The lightness Lizzie fills me with seeps out.

Fucking shit.

"Fuck," I whisper, as Lizzie babbles about how long it might take to wash her hair.

Like I promised I would, I told PJ I was done being his sales pusher. Unfortunately, saying no to him is never the right answer.

"Lizzie, hold on for sec. Stay here," I urge her and she looks at me weird. I walk out, looking both ways and going over to my car. The gold bullet by my windshield makes my fingers tremble. I look around and I see PJ's car drive off, making a slight thunder in my chest.

He is not going to go down with the word no.

I gotta tell Uncle Steve and Aunt Lisa.

Thankfully, cameras are here at the Nursing School building because there is some real expensive shit, probably equivalent to Xfinity Center in there. I start my car up with my remote to not give off any ideas to Lizzie and run both hands down my face while my back still faces her. When I turn around to walk back inside, I see her giving a bag of cookies to the security guard.

A sense of relief flows through my body because she wasn't paying attention. "Lizzie, you ready?"

She hums and comes over to me happily, brightening my heart although it's racing inside. She leans on my arm and we walk out the building to my car. She playfully pulls my arm and all the tension washes out of me as we walk to my car. I open the door for her and she gets in. I look around again again to make sure the coast is clear and get in my car.

A sense of discomfort settles in my chest at the idea PJ ever sees Lizzie. He wouldn't hesitate to use her against me, to get whatever he wants, and that's the last thing I want.

Lizzie's sweet voice soothes me out of my concerns but my heart is still beating fast by the minute.

"If I take a shower at your house, can we stop at mine? I need to get my things," Lizzie says, immediately clasping our hands together without me initiating it. I smile, playfully touching under her chin like I'm grabbing it and she puts it down, furrowing her eyebrows. I release a chuckle and we head to her place.

Silence fills the car but laughter from students around us makes it less tense. I swallow hard, thinking of how I'm going to handle PJ because the last time I tried to break things off with him. He made an anonymous report about Marcus and I smoking weed in our dorm. I can't let him jeopardize my future any more.

"Jaylan, are you okay? Your respirations are like twenty two." Her eyes shift towards me as I feel her tender gaze on me.

"No, not really," I chuckle and clear my throat cause I can't hide anything from a nurse, especially this small one right next to me.

"What's wrong? Is it your ankle?" She genuinely frets and I thumb her knuckle.

"Just saw my dad," I note, palming the wheel to turn down her road.

"Do you see him all the time?" she softly says, each word coming out gently like she's trying to not upset me.

"No," I softly say and she unexpectedly touches my face with her soft hands.

"I'm sorry Jaylan," her voice continues to wreck me.

I softly kiss her fingers, making her giggle and breaking down a wall I never thought would ever break down.

"It will be alright, I assure her."

At least I hope.

🏀🏀🏀🏀

Lizzie's sweet, uncontrollable giggles fill the whole house as we roll pizza dough in the kitchen. Of course, this ball of sunshine thought it would be a good idea to make pizza and instead of ordering it. I thought we would never get here between her drowning herself in the shower, then trying to find the right flour in Target but getting distracted at the bathing suits for Spring Break....

She isn't the only one distracted.

Which, hey, I'm all for after March Madness. I can't think of a better end to my final season than me, on a beach, next to Lizzie wearing any of the choices her hands ran over. I'm really glad she got the lavender one piece with cut out right by her stomach. I ask her to try it on and lose a sticker for that.

We finally made it back because Jordy called, crying that he was hungry like he ain't eaten for a thousand years. But it worked because Lizzie quickly got all that she needed for this 'unplanned nonsense,' as she likes to call it. Yet, who's smiling the whole time during our drive here? She even grabbed the sugar mask because she wanted a perfect Pinterest photo so she can get more pins.

Apparently, she got over four hundred pins on the candy necklace photo. I mean, what can I say? We look good. I'm glad I could be of service.

I grin as I roll the dough roughly, making her crinkle her nose and smacking my hand down.

"Jaylan!" Lizzie wails as I cackle, throwing my head back as she tries to make the circle of our pizza dough perfect.

"You have to roll it this way." She points the baking roller thing at me.

I grab it from her and playfully roll it on her fresh wet hair.

"So petty." Marcus chuckles, scrolling through his phone.

"You're going to lose a sticker!" She furrows her eyebrows and pulls her head away.

Marcus cackles, tossing a piece of cookie in his mouth "Get 'em, Lizzie."

"I'm not scared," I tease.

"Thanks for the cookies Lizzie, they were bangin.'" Marcus hops off the bar stool.

"Make sure you save some for Stephen," she adds and Marcus grumbles, leaving the kitchen. Lizzie sends me a narrow-eyed look and I chuckle.

No feeling compares to a good old fashioned teasing of a girl you like. Name calling, touching, and just fun shit are a thrill. It's a feeling I haven't had in awhile, with any girl except well Gabrielle. We would do shit like this but I never had this strong of feelings like I do with Lizzie. Lizzie feels good to me and I hope she feels the same about me.

"Lizzie, you good? Do I need to beat him up for you?" Jordy puffs up his chest, sounding heroic, and I press my lips because he knows I'll take him down in a heartbeat.

"I'm fine. He's just going to end up getting a small slice," she says with her angry toddler scowl. I can't help myself, so I poke it with my finger and earn a playful slap on the back of my hand and flour covering my tattoos.

"Fine by me," Jordy says, opening the tomato sauce jar for her.

That was my job Dum Dum, read the room.

"What do you want on your pizza?" I say, going to the refrigerator but she ignores me filming her perfect shape pizza probably for pinterest.

"Do you have peperōnē?" she emphasizes the e hard, turning around looking at me with a sparkle in her eyes but when she said it sounds funny. So, being an ass.....

"Pepperoni?" I correct, arching my brow and she grunts. I laugh and toss it over her head, perfectly landing it on the counter.

"Jaylan, I don't know about this sleepover," she softly teases, shaking her head.

I grab the sprinkled mozzarella cheese, ignoring her and sprinkling a handful in my mouth. Sneaking up behind her, I watch as she neatly spreads the tomato sauce in the perfect spiral shape. Stepping close so her back hits my chest, I reach over and sprinkle cheese above her head. She pushes her ass backwards, right on the cobra, making me straighten up. With a slight turn of her head, she looks back at me with this warning look that makes me calm down on the harassment before I do something I'll regret.

Fuck it.

I grab her waist, standing behind her as she spreads out my cheese pieces into a perfectly even layer. She shivers under my touch as her hand now trembles the spoon. I chuckle, wrapping my free hand around her wrist to steady it but sprinkling more cheese above her head. Her shoulders relax and I can feel her smiling at the position we're in.

"So, what's this face mask that has gold in it?" Jordy walks in, holding a glass mason jar but I cut my eyes at him and he freezes seeing our little moment in here.

"It's not gold Jordy, it's glitter representing the element on the periodic table." Lizzie giggles as I accidentally get cheese on her nose. She reaches up, grabbing the bag from me. I laugh softly and touch her waist, standing by her again.

I reach for the pepperoni, opening the bag and throwing Jordy the clearest, 'Out' look I've got. He gets the hint, throwing me a sheepish smile. "Let me know when the pizza's done. I'm going to play fortnite... In my room."

"Okay, we'll come get you." She giggles as if he is our kid... but legit, he is a kid.

"So, let's see where we left off yesterday. You made me eat broccoli, used me on pinterest, we had a candle light dinner, oooooh, what was spontaneous." I grin and she innocently smiles and starts placing the pepperoni on our pizza. Of course, she puts each one perfectly, making sure she equally spaces them out.

"We made candy necklaces, and you let me bite it," I tease her more and poke her waist. She leaps and giggles, turning at me with a crinkled nose. I place her on the counter with one move and she sinks her teeth in her lip.

"What else should I know about my Periodic Table Day celebrator?" I lean forward, making our eyes connect and she hides her hands up in front of hers. I pull them down, licking my lower lip. Her cheeks get very rosy and I pull the pizza, walk to the oven, and put the pizza in. I turn around as she sets a timer on her phone. I walk back to her and she looks up, curling her upper lip and trying to hide her smile.

"You figure it out?"

"Mmmm, I like science," she begins and I laugh, knowing I know that.

"No really?" I gasp, holding my hand over my heart.

She slips down off the counter and takes the face mask jar and curls her finger for me to come here.

Who is this Lizzie?

I chuckle at the flirtatious gesture and we walk into the living room, where she opens the main level bathroom. I walk and shut the door. She pulls up her hair into a messy bun and then opens up the mason jar, with brown and gold specs of glitter.

"What"s in there?"

"Mmmm, brown sugar, honey, umm... a little bit of glitter." She pinches her finger, knowing that's a big lie.

I shouldn't like the sound of brown sugar and honey together but that's right where my mind goes.

With one grasp on her waist, I lift her up on the counter and she squeaks a bit from my strong action.

"You going to do me first?" I bat my eyelashes playfully and she giggles. She places the jar in her lap in between those honey complexion thighs. I want to be there, but I palm both my hands on the counters outside of her hips, and lower myself so we are at eye level. The specs of gold in her gingerbread eyes meet mine.

"What is your favorite memory of your mom?" Lizzie softly says as she rubs a big glob of sticky stuff on my forehead.

I shut my eyes, thinking about how my mom and I would go to the park with my t-ball stand as she tried to pitch for me and practice.

"Probably her terribly throwing a baseball." I chuckle, thinking about her pitching to the left really bad. Her throwing was why I needed the stand.

"You played baseball?" she marvels and I nod, still with my eyes shut.

"I did, until I was eleven," I softly say and she clears her throat softly.

"Is that when you started basketball?" She massages my left cheek gently, like she's trying to paint my face perfectly.

"Yeah, and I just stuck with it," I say softly, keeping my eyes shut on the memory of telling my baseball coach I didn't want to play anymore.

"Do you still like it?" she softly says, swiping a bit of the gritty substance on my left cheek, rubbing it back to my ear.

"Not really," I say as my chest caves a bit, knowing I haven't picked up a bat in almost ten years. She pats over my right cheek, followed by what feels like her rubbing a mudpie onto that side.

"I've never played. We should go to the batting cages." Her innocent voice was like heaven making my heart twinge. The sight of Lizzie wearing a big ass baseball helmet makes me release a chuckle from my grieving heart.

"We could go, but you have to pencil me in," I tease and she grunts playfully, knowing that requires adding more nonsense on that big ass planner she has.

"All done." she says sweetly. "Don't touch it!"

"Alright my turn," I say, grabbing the jar playfully from her lap.

"Now, don't go overboard, we have to save some for Jordy," she sternly, well nicely, says.

"Alright, why do you like sugar so much?" I place some brown sugar on her nose, which she crinkles.

"It's just good," she deflects with a smile.

"Tell me more," I say, acting like a psychiatrist and she giggles.

"Mmm, my Papà would give us candy everytime he returned home from work , all kinds actually." She shuts her eyes, smiling as I wipe some onto her forehead.

"Oh yeah? What was your favorite?" I hold her head down for her to hold still and she giggles.

"Jaylan." she giggles, then thinks for a moment. "Paleta Payaso."

Why does that sound so fucking hot.

"What is it?"

"It's like a marshmallow lollipop covered in a chocolate shell and decorated with gummy candies so you get ALL your texture cravings satisfied," she says with the biggest smile and I arch my brow.

"But you won't eat peeps?" I slyly grin.

She furrows her eyebrows and I cackle when she tries to dismiss the best candy out there, "It's different."

"Right," I tease and move over to her cheeks, which are so soft. Unlike me, she doesn't need this shit but I'm glad we're doing this.

Silence fills between us as she lets a soft sigh. Her face slowly softens, the corners of her mouth turning down. When she speaks again, her voice is softer, almost like she's remembering a bittersweet memory. "It made me feel special when he did those things."

I pick up on her use of 'did,' but redirect to what I've already assumed, but want to hear it from her. "So, your love language is receiving gifts?"

"Yeah," she whispers softly as her shoulders slump forwards.

"Was there a day he didn't give you candy?"

"No, he always did but for reasons that aren't really that good," she answers softly, and a million questions float through my mind, mixed with anger and sadness myself but not knowing if I want her to go there

After a few silent moments, I push past my reactions and ask softly, "What reasons?"

"To keep my brother, sister and I from not telling Mamà that he was smoking," She says, letting it finally out with a deep exhale that dips her chest down.

Man, Mom hated when PJ would smoke in the house. I'm not a saint when it comes to weed but I will not touch a fucking cigarette. I hate that shit.

"Did he smoke a lot?"

All she does it hum, answering yes. The way her lower lip trembles, just once, I'm guessing she doesn't want to tell me just yet.

"I'm sorry," I say softly, making a tear escape from her eye but I catch it with my thumb. The sight of it still stabs into me.

"I'm sorry," I say again, trying to provoke something to not ruin her night. "It's okay, we are all going through something,"

She sniffles a bit and opens her eyes, which are light. They lock onto mine and she whispers, "Your love language... it's acts of service."

Her words are cryptic but I know what she means. My love language is giving. It's how I want to show the people I care about them.

A tightness squeezes my throat, so I swallow lightly but nod. Her eyes shift, filling back up with sadness, but they also flicker with a teasing look. "Who takes care of you?"

I chuckle and lean my weight into my hands. My knuckles barely brush over the outside of her thighs but I keep my eyes on hers. "Someone who let me participate in Periodic Table Day."

Our eyes study each other back and forth at each other and hers warm the longer I look into them. I lick my lower lip, my heart picking up as I lean over, slowly closing the gap between us. My heart starts beating hard, harder than this morning's workout, but I'm all in. Her eyes flutter closes but the slight uplift of her lips tells me all that -

Beep Beep Beep.

Fuck.

She looks down and softly giggles at her phone that's ringing because our pizza is done. She slowly slips down as our bodies press against each other, which rushes a groan up through my chest.

"Can we take a photo first?" She says with doe eyes and I chuckle, meeting her eyes again.

"Of course, Pinterest Princess." I sneak her phone.

She sinks her teeth in and she opens the bathroom door.

"What about our pizza?"

"Oh that was my timer for bedtime," she says nonchalantly

Of course.

I shake my head as she goes to the living room and lays down, patting her hand right next to her. She fixes her hair as I squat down and sit with ease, laying right down.

"Turn your body to the side," she instructs, as she lays down, fixing herself comfortably next to me. She holds up her phone in front of us.

"What am I supposed to do?" I chuckle as she opens the camera screen.

"Just watch," she grits through her teeth, more like sounds cute.

I cackle and she puckers her lips and as I roll over, making her squeal and get away from me.

"Jaylan this is serious," she wails.

I laugh in her ear and she shrugs up her shoulder.

"Focus," she scolds me and puckers her lips again. I just look at her and she takes the photo. She hums tapping her chin.

"We look cute," I say, pointing to the candid photo.

"I do," she playfully says, getting up.

If the guys knew I did this shit... which they will. I probably won't hear the end of it but fuck it. It's worth every second of it. She gets up playfully, with a bounce on her heels and scurries in the kitchen as her timer goes off for real this time for the pizza. She opens the oven door, revealing a perfectly golden brown pizza.

Jordy's about to destroy this.

"We time everything for a reason, Jaylan." She giggles, knowing there's so much truth behind that.

At this point, I'm not waiting for April thirteenth, National Kissing Day.

I looked it up.

Edited and added spice by: still_just_me