Several teen mothers explained that they had reservations about dating someone so much older and were relieved when their boyfriends expressed serious affection. For example, Tracy remembered that, when they first started dating, she was afraid to tell 18-year-old Eddie that she was only 13. When she finally told him her age, he alleviated her fears by telling her, “Well, it doesn’t matter now because I’m already in love with you.” His expression of love confirmed that their relationship was legitimate. The same was true of Crystal and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Richard. When Richard learned that Crystal was only 14, his response was, “Okay, well, it doesn’t matter now.” His unspoken message, Crystal thought, was that it did not matter what her age was because their relationship had developed into something serious for she interpreted the “now” to mean “now that I’m in love with you.”