�Mrs. Lane, that was delicious,� Aaron commented wiping his mouth off.
�Oh thank-you Aaron.�
Aaron smiled at her approval. �Brownie points,� Caden mouthed across the table with a smile.
�Well,� Mr. Lane stood up, �We�re headed to bed. You all be good. Caden, keep an eye on things.�
After their parents were gone Jess stood up, �I�m going to take a quick shower.�
As she stood up to leave Aaron grabbed her hand and she stopped and turned to him. �Aaron, I�m sorry but you can�t go with her,� Caden smiled.
�That doesn�t mean I can�t give her a quick kiss,� he smiled and quickly kissed her.
�Please god, spare me the torture,� Caden joked.
�Oh, shush,� Jess smiled.
�Go get your shower real quick ok,� Aaron said and Jess walked away.
�You listen to me boy, if you hurt my baby sister I�ll personally see to it��
�Hey, you don�t have to worry about it. I don�t see how I could ever hurt her.�
�You�d be surprised.�
�I�m serious Caden, I really think there�s something there. She�s like one in a trillion� like we could actually stay friends after we broke up just because I don�t think I could live without her with me in some way.�
�Aw, that�s so sweet,� Caden half mocked him.
�It�s true, there�s something special there.�
�Well, I�m glad to hear that.�
�Me too,� their mom walked in.
�Hey Mom,� Caden turned to her.
�Aaron, I�m glad you�re with my daughter. She�s needed someone like you for a long time, and don�t worry about her father. He likes you, it just kind of surprised him to find you like that with his baby girl.�
�Oh that was my fault mom,� Caden said laughing, �I was wrestling them and I threw them on the couch and sat on them so they couldn�t move. It was great.�
�Yeah, for you,� Aaron rubbed his back dramatically.
�Oh shush, you liked it,� Mrs. Lane laughed, �Don�t think I didn�t notice.�
Aaron covered his face. �Oh my god. Did that seriously just happen?�
�Oh and you can just call me Mom from now on,� she walked out of the room laughing.
�What was that?�
�You�ll get used to her,� Caden and Aaron just smiled at each other.
�Let�s see what�s on the tube,� Aaron suggested and they went to the living room.
�It�s Nick!� Aaron almost yelled.
Caden turned it up. �So, may I ask where A.J. is tonight?� the interviewer asked.
�He flew home to visit his wife this morning. He�ll be back tomorrow.�
�You can guess what he�s up to,� Howie winked.
�Howard,� Jen was standing next to him.
�Hey, it�s not like he�s lying,� Nick laughed.
�Nick!� Erica punched his shoulder, �Shut up, what he does with his wife is his business.�
�Aaron, are they ok?� Caden couldn�t stop laughing.
�Ow! Ow! Ow!� Nick tightened up as Erica playfully grabbed the back of his neck.
�Yeah, they�re fine.�
�Do you miss him?�
�Yeah, I miss all my family a lot. We all have such busy schedules sometimes we don�t see each other for almost a year.�
�Wow, I would sure miss Jess a lot. Sure I make fun of her but I�m really protective of her.�
�Yeah,� Aaron turned away to see Jess standing in the doorway in a tank top and boxers. �Hi.�
�Comfy Jess?� Caden gave her a hug and walked back to his room.
�Aaron what was wrong with Nick that night?� Jess asked sitting down next to him.
�His ex-girlfriend�s name is Jess. She hurt him really bad. I don�t really think I should go into detail but lets just put it this way, she cheated and I think I might know who with.�
�Oh, who?�
�Well, I�ve heard all these people saying that Lance Bass, you know the guy who used to be in *N-sync before they went their separate ways, well, people say he has a new girlfriend who happens to be called Jess and looks a lot like her.�
�Oh, that�s not good.�
�Yeah well I just hope Nick doesn�t hear,� Aaron turned back to the TV.
�This is my girl Erica,� Nick said happily, �We just want to congratulate my baby bro on his good work and Aaron, I have your awards for you. I love you.�
�I won?�
�Aaron Carter won Male Artist of the Year and 3 other awards for his sales and videos,� the announcer said waving the boys on.
�Where�s my cell?�
�I think you left it in the car. I�ll get it,� Jess ran out he front door.
�Yeah, he just heard it on the TV, so how was the show?� Jess walked in the door on the phone.
�Jess, let me talk.�
�That�s great. Well Aaron wants his phone back now.�
�Jessica,� Aaron took the phone from her, �Hello?�
�Hey bro, was that her?� Nick answered.
�That�s her alright,� Aaron smiled and put his arm around Jess.
�You ask her out?�
�Yup,� Aaron kissed Jess� cheek.
�Was that a kiss?�
�Yeah. Oh man Nick you should have been here earlier.�
�Do I even want to know?� Nick laughed.
�Her parents came home and we were in a bit of a situation.�
�Aaron! That fast?�
�No! That�s not what I meant. And it wasn�t my fault her brother threw me on top of her. It just got weird.�
�How weird?�
�Well� she� and I��
�Aaron stop that and talk to me.�
�Sorry. Well her parents walked in and we were kind of stuck in a jam.�
�What is that supposed to mean?�
�Aaron let me tell,� Jess took the phone from him. �Nick, we were wresting with my bro Caden and he threw Aaron on top of me and sat on us so we couldn�t really move and my hands were just in like the wrong spot and when I tried to move� you understand.�
�Are you serious?�
�Would I lie to you?�
�I guess not. Hey, I�m really sorry but I have to go.� Jess motioned for Aaron to share the earpiece with her,� Aaron, I love you. Be good and don�t get in too much trouble.�
�Ok Nick. I love you too. Say hi to Erica for me.�
�Ok man, bye. Nice talking to you Jess.�
They hung up the phone and Aaron gave Jess a hug. �Can�t keep your hands off her can you?� Caden walked back in.
Aaron slipped his hands in his pockets and kissed her forehead. �Very funny. Ok you two it�s time for bed I�m sorry but I have to get up in the morning.�
Jess and Aaron walked hand-in-hand down the hall and when they reached the end where their rooms were they stopped. �I�ll be across the hall if you need me,� Jess smiled. She kissed him and shoved him in Caden�s room and closed the door.
�Goodnight!� came his muffled response.