A/N: Okay, so maybe this isn't a story line that's worth a multi-chapter fic, but who's really caring anyways, huh? Still, I'd love for some feedback from any readers out there!
Disclaimer: Ha. Don't own 'em. I wish, though...
Three Little Words
Chapter One
I shift my position on the couch, snuggling even closer to Jack. I feel him move his arm around my shoulders, gently rubbing his fingertips against my arm. It takes me a few seconds to realize that I'm not imagining his gaze on the top of my head. Then I look up at him.
"What?"
"You're usually not this content to do nothing," Jack says, giving me his most mildly suggestive grin.
"It was a long day." He is the one who needs all the coffee because he doesn't get enough sleep, after all.
"But we worked through lunch." Now his grin is severely suggestive.
I turn myself completely around to face him. "Excellent argument." The kiss is slow and sensual, and is the type of moment I want to never end. But Jack does end it - he pulls his lips away from mine and looks at me.
"I love you," he says, and I don't know what to say back. So I say nothing. When I try to kiss him, he pulls away. "But you don't feel the same way."
I trail my hand down the side of his face. "You know I do."
"No, I think you do. How could I possibly know it if you've never said it?" He spoke a truth I had never seen before.
"Jack..." I move away from him. We were straying dangerously far off-topic. With our original, non-verbal conversation, the conclusion was likely sex; with the new road he'd taken, I could only guess what was going to happen.
"I love you, Angela," he says again. "I need you, too. If you don't love me, then let me know, please. Just give me some notice before you walk away."
"I'm not going to walk away."
"Doesn't mean you love me."
"But I do," I protest truthfully. When I reach out and grab one of his hands in both of mine, he looks skeptical, but doesn't pull it away.
"Then say it."
"What?"
"Say that you love me."
"I just told you I did."
"But you didn't say it." In a twisted way, I understand exactly what he means. He won't believe it until the exact words roll off my tongue. But they're not there, and I don't know why.
"I still meant it."
"Then why can't you say it?" Jack's asking the million dollar question. "Three little words, baby, that's all it is. I've seen you work wonders with your words before, so why can't you pull off this eight-letter sentence now?"
"Is it really that important?"
Jack nods, never breaking eye contact. "To me, it is."
"But you know it, Jack. Why do you need to hear it?"
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he says, and I look away. "If you can't say truthfully that you love me, I'd kind of like to know soon."
I don't reply as I sort through my thoughts. As much as I know I love him, I can't tell him. Because once somebody knows you love them, they know how to hurt you. And then they can leave you. It's easier without love getting involved.
"Angela?"
I meet his eyes, but still, I can't bring myself to say what he wants to hear. "It's getting late. I should probably get going," I say, standing up.
Jack remains silent as I leave.
