Chapter ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT

Jessica froze. What did she just hear? She pulled her lips away from his and lifted her head. She could see his face since her legs were curled around his waist and he was lifting her.   "I love you," he said again when he noticed the shock on her face. She was surprised he said it. She wanted to be the first to say it but he beat her to it.   "Why now?" she murmured as he smiled at her.   "What?"   "I mean I wanted to say it first," she said in a whining tone.   "You did?"   "Yes but now everything is ruined because you just had to say it first" she continued whining.   "You can still say it and I will pretend like you said it first"   She dropped her head to his shoulders and whined. A laugh was threatening to escape his lips. Why was she being so emotional about everything today? He knew better than to ask her that.   "Jessica?" he said and she suddenly raised her head from his shoulders. She bent her head and began to kiss him.   Her action took Xavier by surprise but he did not co