My Chemistry Tutor

CHAPTER 24

LISA'S POV

I hear Jennie's mom enter the room and walk over to her.

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" her mom asks gently.

"I'm good, Mom. Don't worry about me," Jennie responds quickly, almost too quickly.

"It's my job as a mom to worry about you," her mom replies warmly.

I swallow hard. I wish my mom would be as caring. My mom probably hasn't even noticed that I didn't come home last night.

Honestly, I could be gone for a week and she still wouldn't come looking for me. The thought stings more than I'd like to admit.

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm feeling much better," Jennie assures her again.

"Okay, okay," her mom sighs. "So you're not very sick and I don't need to worry about you catching another cold. But," she pauses, lowering her voice with curiosity, "I am worried about your social life. How are things going with Lisa?"

My heart nearly stops at the sound of my name. Suddenly, I'm way more interested in this conversation than I should be.

"That sounds like you're more curious than worried," Jennie replies nervously, and I can practically hear the blush in her voice.

"Okay, okay, I know I'm nosy," her mom admits with a small laugh. "Now tell me, what's going on between you and Lisa? Have you told her how you felt yet?"

Wait. What?

Does her mom know about our feelings for each other? What the heck? Were we really that obvious?

"Umm... yeah," Jennie replies hesitantly.

"Oh my god, you did?!" her mom squeals in pure happiness.

"Tell me all about it! What happened? Does she feel the same way?"

"Mom, you know how incredibly weird it is to be having this talk with you, right?" Jennie mumbles nervously.

"Yes, I know, but I still want to hear it. I'm dying to know!" her mom begs like an excited teenager.

"Okay, okay," Jennie finally gives in. "Well, we talked and... it turns out that she kind of has feelings for me too."

Kind of? Excuse me? I fucking love this girl! How dare she water it down like that.

Guess I'll just have to prove to her later how much I actually love her.

"Oh sweetie, that's wonderful to hear," her mom gushes. "You've been talking so much about her, it's about time you told her how you feel."

My chest warms and I can't stop the grin spreading across my face. She talks about me to her parents? That's so cute.

"All right, all right," Jennie mutters, embarrassed. "I don't need you to go into detail about how I act."

"I'm just so happy for you, Jenjen. Lisa is a sweetheart, and I can tell she cares about you too," her mom adds.

Jennie's mom is so smart, it's scary how spot-on she is. She's one hundred percent right.

"Okay, I need to get back to work," her mom says after a pause. "Your dad and I will see you in a couple of hours. Maybe one of these days you can invite Lisa over again."

"Definitely," Jennie replies quickly.

I hear her mom's footsteps leaving the room and heading down the stairs.

Jennie finally opens the closet door to let me out.

"That was so cute," I tease, stepping out with a grin.

"Oh god, you weren't supposed to hear any of that. Ugh!" Jennie whines, covering her face with both hands.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, love. I love your family, and I guess they love me too," I say with the widest smile.

"They do love you," Jennie admits softly.

"Not as much as you love me though, right?" I tease, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer to me.

"You know I love you so much," Jennie replies, smiling cutely.

"I know," I whisper, "but I just wanted to hear you say it again. I love you too." I press a tender kiss to her forehead, unable to stop smiling.

She kisses my lips for a few sweet seconds, then we break apart and collapse side by side on her bed.

After a while of lying there, cuddled up against each other, Jennie murmurs, "Just a few more hours before you have to go to work."

I sigh, gazing at her tenderly. "I'm not going to work."

Her head snaps toward me. "Why not?"

"Because I quit," I reply calmly, like it's nothing.

"Wait, what? Since when?" she asks, her voice rising in worry.

"Since now. I'm going to call my boss and tell him I quit."

"Are you sure that's the right thing to do?" Jennie asks, uncertainty in her tone.

"No. But I'm tired of working so much. I have some money saved up, so I don't have to worry too much right now. I'll get another job later if I need to, but right now?" I pause, brushing her hair back gently.

"Right now I just don't want to leave this bed. I just want to stay here with you and not worry about anything else."

Jennie sighs, hugging me tightly, but then she whispers, "What about your mom though?"

"I don't know," I admit. "I'll call my social worker later and tell her I'm done staying with my mom. She can deal with her."

"I'm sorry that everything has come to this," Jennie says softly. "Everything is kind of shitty for you."

"No, not everything," I counter, kissing her cheek. "One good thing came out of all this chaos, I got to meet you."

Jennie's eyes soften, and when I kiss her, I add cheekily, "And you're starting to curse more. I find it hot."

Jennie giggles, her nose scrunching adorably. "Lately, everything I do is hot for you."

"I'm not denying that," I smirk. "You have no idea about the things I want to do to you." I lean closer, whispering it right in her ear before kissing her forehead again.

Her eyes widen in surprise, and she quickly looks away, trying to hide how flustered she is.

"But I'll show you another time," I tease. "Right now, I just want to cuddle." I wrap my arms around her and pull her snug against me.

"Thanks for agreeing to tutor me. It changed my life," I whisper honestly.

"It changed my life too," Jennie replies, scooting even closer until there's no space left between us. "It feels like nothing can go wrong now."

"I love you," I murmur.

And I mean it more than I've ever meant anything in my life.