“No,” I answer, feeling dread pool in my core. “I messed up, Wren. I ignored your advice and pushed him away evenwhen I want him so bad it hurts. I thought I was protecting myself, but now I know I was wrong.”
Wren sighs, her eyes still watching Henry and Milo. “If you really think you messed up, then fix it. That man has been looking at you like you’re the only woman in the room since the day he got here and he’s not going anywhere unless you tell him to. Emma, don’t tell me you want him. Tell Henry.”
I nod, already knowing what I have to do.
Milo must hear my voice because he turns his head. “Mama!” he shouts before scrambling to his feet. He was still getting used to the cast weighing down one side of his body, so he stumbles slightly, using Henry’s shoulder for stability.
When he reaches me, I scoop him up and squeeze him tightly before pulling back. When I look up, Henry is watching me with his hands tucked in his pockets.
“Hey,” he says quietly. “I was hoping you’d come tonight. Do you have a few minutes to talk before you leave?”
I nod, Milo squirming against my side. “Yeah. I’d like that. Are you done for the night?”
Henry shifts his weight from side to side, deciding what to say next. “Yeah. You missed my closing remarks. They were actually pretty good.”
“Oh yeah?” I smile.
He smirks and tilts his head to my best friend, who’s still standing beside me. “Yeah. Wren said they were pretty good for a washed-up author.”
“You did not,” I gasp, snapping my head to Wren.
“I was testing him to see if he could take a joke,” she defends with a slight eye roll. “But anyways, I’m going to take Milo out for ice cream. Let me know when you’re done, and you can come meet us.”
I mouth a silentthank youto Wren, sliding Milo out of my arms and into hers. At first, he resists, but once he hears the wordice cream, he melts into Wren’s arms. I shake my headand smile to myself. Wren gives me one last tight smile for encouragement before heading toward the door.
Once Wren and Milo disappear through the library doors and the last few parents shuffle through the exit, Henry and I are alone.
The air feels heavier between us. There are so many unanswered questions and words left unspoken. I want to reach out and touch him, but instead, I stuff my hands into my pockets, mirroring his stance.
He breaks the silence first, raking a hand through his hair. “Emma, I wanted to talk to you before I—before I go.”
The words pierce my thin veil of composure. “You’re leaving?”
He nods, his jaw tightening. “Yes,” he answers. “I don’t want to?—"
“Then don’t,” I say, my voice steady and firm.
“Emma, let me explain first. I don’t want to make this harder than it already is.”
I bite my lip, hesitating to give him the space to be the one to run away. But when I look into his eyes, I see a quiet plea, begging me to let him get whatever he needs to say out. I ignore the twisting feeling in my gut and nod.
“You made a lot of great points the last time we spoke, and it made me do a lot of self-reflection. When I came to Honey Grove, I was expecting a quiet summer of writing, but I got so much more. I met you, and you are like this light I didn’t even know I needed. But I’ve been clinging to that light and using it as my escape. That’s not fair,Pajarito. To you or me.”
My mouth goes dry when I think about never again hearing the sweet nickname he gifted me this summer. I look at him and see the conflict in his face. It’s hard to ignore how he’s wrestling himself to say what he needs to.
“I’ve been stuck,” he continues. “Afraid to face the mess I left behind in the city. I’ve been hiding from what I want frommy career and life. Staying here, it feels safe. And I’ve been playing it safe for way too long. I need to grow, and I can’t do that here. Not right now.”
“Henry, please don’t do this,” I say, shaking my head. “Let me just?—"
He cuts me off again, the pain seeping through each word. I can tell he doesn’t want to do this. “I’m going to miss you, Emma. And I’m going to miss Milo. I might even miss this town. But I think it’s time for both of us to do the things we’ve been too scared to do.”
“No.”
Henry’s face twists into confusion. “No?”
“Henry, I understand why you feel like you need to leave, and I’m glad you’ve been able to come to terms with what you need to do. But if you’re leaving because you think you need to figure your stuff out alone, you should know—I’m not afraid of the mess anymore. I’ve had time to miss you, and the thought of losing you for good because I’m too afraid to give this thing a real chance—well, I would hate myself for losing my one shot of happiness in so long.”
His lips part, ready to stop me, but I press on. “I’ve spent so much time being afraid to want more. But I’m done letting myself turn away when things get hard. I know you have to go back to New York, and long-distance is going to be hard, but I don’t want to let go of this, Henry. I refuse to let you go without a fight.”
