His phone buzzed. His mom.
Mom:How was the game?
Jake:We won. I tweaked my shoulder.
Mom:Is it serious?
Jake:No. Just sore.
Mom:And Lucy? How is she?
Jake stared at that message for a long time. Then he called his mom instead of texting.
She answered immediately. "Jake? What's wrong?"
And for the first time in six years, Jake let himself break down. He told her everything—about Lucy pushing him away, about her doubts, about his own fear that maybe she was right and they'd moved too fast.
His mom listened without interrupting. When he finished, she was quiet for a moment.
"Do you love her?"
Jake's breath caught. "It's only been a week."
"I didn't ask how long it's been. I asked if you love her."
"Yes," Jake said quietly. "I think I've loved her since the first time she handed me a pork bun and smiled like it mattered."
"Then tell her that. Don't let her push you away because she's scared. Fight for her. Show her she's worth choosing."
"What if she doesn't want to be chosen? What if she really thinks we're just convenient?"
"She doesn't think that. She's just terrified of wanting something for herself. Of choosing her own happiness over everyone else's expectations." His mom's voice was gentle. "Sound familiar?"
Jake laughed despite himself. "Yeah. It does."
"You two are more alike than you realize. You both spent years thinking you didn't deserve to choose your own path. You're both finally brave enough to try. Don't let fear win now."
After they hung up, Jake lay in bed and thought about Lucy. About the way she'd looked at him Monday night after their first date. About how she'd fallen asleep in his arms. About how she'd held his hand through dinner on Wednesday and told him she believed in him.
That was real. All of it.
Tomorrow, he'd tell her that. He'd fight for her, for them, for the life they were building.
But tonight, he'd give her the space she'd asked for.
Even though it was killing him.
Jake closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Through the wall, he heard Lucy moving around in her apartment. Pacing, probably. Maybe crying.
Every instinct told him to go to her. But he stayed in his bed, giving her what she'd asked for.
Space.
Even though what they both really needed was to stop being so scared of wanting each other.
Chapter 10
Sunday morning arrived without mercy.
