“No, I haven’t.” I shake my head even though she can’t see it. “After he found out, the fear kicked in a little harder. There’s more pressure because I can’t fail him either. He asked me to let her go if I can’t be what she needs.”
“You are exactly what she needs, honey. You always have been.”
My voice catches in my throat. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because your heart is so pure and so big. You just have to let your guard down and let her in.” She lets out a soft laugh. “It’s Willow. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
My breath hitches. “Neither have I.”
“Then you need to tell her the truth.”
“I’m afraid to,” I admit, my words shaking as tears threaten to spill down my cheeks. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Yes, you can. You just have to believe in yourself like the rest of us do. I know you’re afraid, but do it anyway.” Her voice is firm and fierce. “Do it scared.”
“What if she’s done with me? What if I can’t fix this?”
“You won’t know until you’re honest with her. You have to let her tell you that herself,” she says, her voice firm. “You can’t decide that for her.”
“I need to talk to Noah.”
“Yes, you do,” she says softly, assurance in her tone. “It will be fine. He’s one of your best friends. He’s just doing what he’s supposed to do as her older brother. Be honest with yourself, with him, and with Willow. I promise it will all work out.”
My eyebrows cinch together. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I believe it will, Jace,” she says softly. “You just have to believe it too.”
My throat constricts and my heart clenches inside my chest. My mom always knows the right things to say and I’m such an asshole for trying to push her away too. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for disappearing.”
“I forgive you, but don’t you dare do it again.” Her voice has taken on a firm but teasing tone. “I won’t be as understanding and will be on the first flight back to the Hollow.”
A chuckle rumbles in my chest. “I promise I won’t.”
“Good,” she says with a quiet laugh. “I love you, honey. So damn much. And so does your father.”
“I love you guys too.”
“I never stopped trying to call you. I never gave up on you, so you can’t give up either.”
My eyes burn once again. “I know.” The silence settles between us as her words seep deep into my brain. “Hey, Mom?” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“Always, honey,” she says with a tenderness that warms my chest. “I will always be here.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more,” she says back. “Talk to Noah, make things right with him, then go get your girl.”
I pull in a slow breath, trying to steady my heart as it beats a little faster and a little harder.
“Okay.”
I don’t know if I’m too late. I don’t know how things will go with Noah, but I do know one thing.
I can’t let Willow go without telling her the truth.
