"Listen, Jess," Nick started what he hoped was a well formed apology. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to form anything else before being cut off by Jess's hand in his face.

"Don't even think about talking first," Jess dropped her hand and rested it and her other hand on her waist. Nick could tell she was trying to pull off a sassy pose. Cute, yes. Sassy…not quite. Nick's silence seemed permission enough for her to keep talking.

"I have been planning what I was going to say to you all day...so I'm going to say it," Jess, while still sounding angry, was also faltering slightly. It was almost as if she was loosing some of her nerve.

"Jess," Nick started.

"No, I'm going to say it," Jess' face was turning red as she stared him down. "I have noticed lately that you've been much…surly-er…and grumpy and not in a 'I'm-Nick-Miller-and-that's-just-the-way-I-am' way, but in a 'Something-bad-is-going-on-in-my-life-and-I'm-going-to-take-it-out-on-everyone-else' way. I've tried to keep my wits about me and deal with it, but lately, it's like no matter what happens, you jump down people's throats!" Jess was on a roll now, hardly noticing that Nick had slumped himself against the wall.

"Jess," Nick tried to speak again, softer this time; almost pleading.

"Hey! I'm still talking, Mr. Interrupter," She was now using her pointer finger to punctuate each sentence. "But the thing is that all your spazziness and Hulk-like tendencies are almost always directed towards me! And I don't know why! I have tried to place blame on your work, your love life, your…dirty laundry – I mean, come on! You never wash your towel - but all I can see that it boils down to is me. You have something wrong with me and I'd like to know what it is!"

She was breathing heavily, as if she had just run that 6K marathon all over again. As her breathing calmed, Nick became acutely that he had yet to say anything. What could he say? In a romance novel, now would be the time that he would admit his undying love for her, but seriously, how could he do it in the hallway in their loft? He had beer stains on his shirt while she looked, well, amazing. She had chosen to wear the same dress that she wore on Thanksgiving. The same night when, in the back of his head, he thought he might feel something more than typical roommate feelings for this crazy woman.

He hated that dress. She looked too good in it; especially for a breakfast date with some dumb accountant…or Paul Genslinger…or anyone else but him. So what exactly could he say to her right now?

"Jess, I really don't know what to say. I wish I had a straight answer to give to you right now, but I don't." He really didn't.

"Ah, Typical Turtle Face!" Jess whipped around and marched into the living room. Nick took this as an invitation to follow (slowly and carefully) behind her. She turned on him again once they had relocated.

"Typical Turtle Face?" Nick could feel his own anger starting to rise. As playground-esque as this insult was, Nick was allowing it to bother him. "Sorry, I have nothing nice to say about Trevor! Sorry I had nothing to say about this boring-ass, jeans-ironer who clearly has no business being with you! I can't believe that you actually went on a breakfast date with this guy!"

"But I didn't," huffed Jess angrily. "I didn't go out with Trevor today – I canceled!"
She had caught him so off guard with this statement that he actually lowered his arms. The next time he spoke, he spoke softly,

"You…didn't go out with him?" Nick couldn't help but stand up straighter. Something inside him felt a bit lighter, happier even.

"No I didn't! And do you wanna know why?" Nick's blank stare was enough to have her continue. "Because of you, Nick! Because of you!"

"…Because of…me?..." Nick was quiet, but his excitement could hardly be contained. He chanced a step closer to Jess and when he did, he noticed she was forming tears in her eyes. If he was a more sensitive guy he would have reached out to wipe away her tears, but he was Turtle Face and that particular action remained in his head.

"Yes, because of you." Again, she was looking him right in the eyes as she spoke. "I knew last night that something wasn't fitting with Trevor. And not just Trevor, with pretty much every guy I've dated over the past few months. Paul, Russell, that random hot dog vendor I went out with because he said I reminded him of Katy Perry and I was drunk so I agreed to a date…none of these guys have clicked, Nick."

Nick felt like he couldn't move, when all he wanted was to brush some rogue hairs from her teary face. All he did, however, was stand there, looking at her as she continued.

"I canceled the date with Trevor and went to Cece's. I asked her why none of these men have been working out for me and she helped me realize that I've been messing things up because I know I'm not supposed to be with any of them…I'm supposed to be with you…" Jess searched his face, looking for some sort of reaction, but all Nick could do was stand there searching her face in return. Before Nick could anything, Jess began to speak again; this time softly and with a tone of vulnerability.

"Nick, I love you. I do and I don't think I can stand lying about it anymore. I have tried to maintain our normal routine, but it kills me inside and every night I keep thinking about going across the hall to your bedroom and telling you but then I remember how unbelievably awkward I am and how I'd totally mess things up – "

Nick couldn't stand it anymore. He closed what was left of the distance between them and met his lips with hers. They explored each other's mouths for what seemed like an hour before Jess broke away.

"Nick," she began before Nick rested his forehead on hers.

"Jess, I love you too. I think I always have…I just never realized…I need you, Jess."

And with that, the time for talking was over.