Page 102 of More Than Friends

“Good. I don’t think so either. I think the timing for everything has worked out just the way it was supposed to.”

Her bottom lip juts out slightly, and a tiny crease appears between her eyebrows. “But I still want your mom to like me.” Her words come out a little shaky, and it feels like a punch to the gut.

“She will. I think she already does,” I assure her. “From what you’ve told me, she didn’t care about justmyheart, but yours too. I think she thought she was doing what was best for everyone. I’ll have to talk with her about staying out of it next time, but it worked out in the end. We were both finally able to say how we feel without the fear of being hurt, and that’s all that matters in the end.”

I wish my mom had talked things over with me before going straight to Charlotte, but I know she thought she was doing the right thing by intervening. If she hadn’t brought up her concerns to Charlotte, I’m not sure we’d be in this place now. As much as I hated Charlotte leaving the way that she did, now in hindsight, I think it was good for both of us to have a few days apart. After not seeing each other for a few days, we were able to see each other again and both be open and honest about how we were feeling.

Charlotte stares at me, the hint of a smile on her lips.

My heart squeezes because she’s just so damn beautiful.

“What?” I ask.

Her smile grows, and she attempts to hide it by pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“I just hope you’re right. I love you. I know you’re close with your parents, and I just can’t help but be worried that it’ll take some time for your mom to warm up to the idea of me…to the idea ofus.”

“I promise I’ll talk to her, but I also don’t want you worrying about her. We both know how we feel. No one else has to understand it but us.”

Charlotte gives me a smile before laying her head back down on my chest. She doesn’t argue, which I hope means she’s satisfied with my answer for the time being. Warmth spreads throughout my entire body to have her body pressed againstmine. I can’t wait for countless more nights spent just like this. The two of us in bed, talking about anything and everything.

“I miss Ava,” Charlotte announces, pulling me from my thoughts.

I can’t help but smile because I love how much Charlotte cares for Ava. It means the world to me how much she loves my daughter. “I miss her too. Think we should go pick her up in the middle of the night?”

This makes Charlotte laugh against my chest. “I’m trying to get on your mom’s good side.”

I play with her hair before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You already are, trust me. Even when you were gone, she spoke highly of you. She wouldn’t tell me anything happened between the two of you. She played coy about that. But she did compliment you countless times. I promise everything will be fine.”

“If you say so,” Charlotte responds before letting out a long sigh.

We lie in silence for I don’t know how long. I run my fingers through her hair while she absentmindedly traces circles on my bare chest. I didn’t know happiness like this even existed, but something as simple as lying in bed with her has made me feel a bliss I can’t even put into words.

Part of me is nervous I might wake up and find out all of this is just a dream. I have to remind myself it’s real. She’s here. She loves me. She’s in my arms, and we’re going to figure things out together.

I don’t want to rush things, but there is one more thing I want to talk about with Charlotte. The only thing that’d make this better is having the chance to put a label on the woman that I love.

I clear my throat, nervous to say my next words but choosing to say them anyway. “Tomorrow at the Pembroke party, I’mexcited you’ll be my date, but I’d also love to tell everyone in attendance that you’re my girlfriend.”

Charlotte spins to her stomach and looks at me with an excited spark in her eyes. Her mouth hangs open for a moment as she stares at me in disbelief. “Jude, is this you officially asking me to be your girlfriend?”

The excitement in her voice makes my heart soar. “Only if you say yes.”

“Have you ever even had a girlfriend?”

I give her a smirk. “Not really. I haven’t cared about someone enough before to make them mine. You’re my first…and my last.”

Her lips dance with the hint of a smile. The moonlight filtering through my bedroom windows illuminates the blues of her eyes, creating an almost twinkle in them as she stares at me. “God, why do you have to be so good with your words?”

“I’m just telling the truth. You’re it for me, Char. And if you want to wait to put a label on this, then that’s fine…I’ll wait. But I love you, and there’s nothing I’d love more than to show up at Pembroke tomorrow telling everyone you’re my girlfriend.”

The sides of her eyes crinkle as her smile grows. “I’d be honored to be your girlfriend, Jude Kensington.”

I pull her face to mine, my lips hovering over hers. “No, sweetheart, the honor is all mine.”

She closes the small distance between our mouths. Our lips connect in a kiss that is tender and tugs at my heartstrings.