I just wanted out. I wanted out of the locker room out of the stadium. As soon as the game was over I skipped everything. I wanted to be there with Isabelle, because as much as I trust Erin, for reasons I really don't understand. I wanted to be there. Maybe it was guilt of me constantly trying to push the thought of Isabelle out my mind when Hannah wouldn't let me see her. I'm going to be a terrible dad as she grows up. Over protective, strict... it's almost like I need... need someone like Erin to even me out.

Adrenaline still pumping I parked in the driveway and practically jumped out. Racing up to the door, I paused a moment to catch my breath before ringing the door bell. Hearing the footsteps coming close to the door only made my heart beat faster. With every sound of the locks being opened I felt more light headed. What was I thinking doing this to myself, to Erin... surely I could have found someone else... but every single thought left my mind as the door opened and she stood there in an oversized Red Sox sweatshirt and athletic shorts. "Hey," she smiled stepping back to let me in. "Didn't expect you to be here so soon, the game only just..." I nodded running my hand through my hair, "I couldn't help.. this is the first time I've really left her alone besides with my mom," she nodded shutting the door and walking back towards a little sun room, where Isabelle had curled up in a window seat. "She fell asleep as soon as the game ended," Erin nudged me, "kept babbling about her dad," I smiled a little before my stomach started growling "well I should go find some food," she shook her head "oh stay," her hand had come to rest on my arm as she pointed behind her "I just finished my burger, and there is more than enough," I looked down at my still sweaty and dirty self "I'm pretty gross," "use my shower, and I have plenty of men's clothing hanging in my office," would I be reading too much into this by thinking she wants me to be here? "Besides she just started sleeping, no point in waking her up." Or does she really just care for Isabelle and I happen to be here. I nodded a little, accepting whatever Erin had intended before she showed me to the bathroom.

I was going to smell like a girl. There were at least thirty different bottles in that shower all in various shades with phrases such as "volumizing and lusciously moisturizing" even when I lived with... Hannah... she didn't have this many products. Then again maybe that was just the essence of Erin, over the top and excessive. Letting the showerhead rain down on me I stood there for a moment wondering how the hell do I keep myself composed. A large part of me dislikes Erin and yet all of me seems to essentially like her. I've rarely ever been this confused about someone or anything in general, there have always been straight paths laid out. Now there seems to be a path but with a thick fog covering it so for all I know it could be leading me straight off a cliff. "Jake?" I quickly snapped out of all the noise in my head "I'm setting clothes for you outside of the door!" "Thanks!" I shouted back vaguely confused with this overwhelming feeling of wanting Erin in the shower with me. I wanted her sweetness, her hidden kindness... hell I wanted her in general even with her annoying cell phone. Turning off the water I grabbed a towel off the rack catching a wiff of whatever she always smelled like, I couldn't figure it out.

"You look amazing," were her first words as I walked into her kitchen and I knew I was a goner. Her glossy hair casually framing her face leaving her still put together even in that over sized sweatshirt... if only I could get her in my number. Finally processing her words I glanced down at the shorts and Ralph Lauren pullover and got slightly confused, "this is what happens when you wear proper fitted clothing..." she walked over to me tugging at the pullover and forcing myself to maintain control as her hands ran lightly over my frame. Her light beach sort of scent was making matters worse as I wanted to bury my face into her neck and go into a daze, "Erin I..." her hands left my body as she glanced back to her buzzing phone, after typing furiously fast she turned back to me "you were saying?" But the moment was over... there's no way I can say what I was going to now...Her phone buzzed again, her eyes shut and she just sighed pushing the phone away "you know I never realized just how much I hate the constant notifications until you pointed it out..." I don't know why that really did something for me but in the moment that was the hottest thing she could have said so I leaned forward and kissed her.

"Jake what..." she pulled away shaking her head "Erin I like you," she laughed slightly stepping back, touching her fingers to her lips "well I got that Jake... but you have a daughter who needs you..." I grabbed her hand not wanting her to get any farther away "You're right she does, her mom ran out after cutting me off for a year and a half, I have no idea how I'm supposed raise her and be a good dad... but I know that I want to start something with you," she looked away "Jake..." "look if you don't want to just say so and I'll drop it," she looked back at me parting her lips to say something before dropping my hand and leaning against the countertop "I don't not want to... I just think..." she ran her hands through her hair "I don't know what I think," "then don't... just let us happen," she picked a piece of lint off the pullover before running a hand up my bicep "ok,"