Never Too Soon

Serious Damage

POV: Harper

"Harper," Lauren took a deep breath as she stood up. "I am madly in love with you."

"Y-you- what?" I asked in disbelief. Not once did I ever think I'd hear those words from her.

"I am in love with you. I love you." Lauren took my pants from me and helped me put them on before standing back up.

"I- um, I," I stuttered like an idiot.

"I don't want you to feel pressured into saying it back just because I said it. I completely understand if you don't even feel that way yet or if you never do." Lauren's smile faltered for a split second.

"Lauren, I- um. Does it make sense that I'm... scared? Like, I have... I have feelings, but the fear- I just can't explain it." I looked down at my hands and started to pick at the skin around my nail beds.

"It makes total sense, Harper. The last time a woman supposedly loved you she went against everything the word means. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I'm patient." She cupped my cheek with her warm palm, drawing my attention back up to her.

I nodded my head against her hand.

"Don't pick, baby." Lauren noticed my nervous tick and took my hands in hers. "Get in bed and I'll be right back. I've just got to go and get some water."

I slowly sat down on the bed and watched as she left the room.

I couldn't have made myself look like a bigger broken idiot than it did in that moment.

She loves me.

What if she is just saying that?

Lauren wouldn't do that and you know it.

Do I know it? It's only been just under three months. I don't even know anything about her aside from her career.

Then ask.

What if she becomes defensive and that is what sets her off?

You told her your story. She would tell you hers.

How do I know for sure? When I ask questions from women who love me they snap and hurt me.

Your mother did that. Not Lauren.

How do I know she won't?

You trust her.

Not enough. I don't know if I ever will.

Lauren is patient.

POV: Lauren

I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled as I trotted down the stairs.

"Woah mamí! ¿Estás bien?" (You good?) Max met me at the bottom of the stairs with some kind of alcohol in each his hands.

"I just told Harper that I loved her and her traumatized brain just blanked out and now all of the progress I have made with her is down the drain because the L word is a trigger for her when she hears it from a woman, and yeah. I fucked up." I quickly ranted to him.

"What did she say?" Max asked in a just as nervous tone.

"She asked if it made sense that she was scared, and of course I reassured her that it was okay. I expected it if anything. But I went shooting my mouth when she asked why I treated her the way I do after she showed me her scars and my mind went blank and the only thing I could think to do was to kiss them because it just made sense and now she's scared and I don't know what to do." I walked passed him and he nodded his head.