“Oh, sweetheart. I understand exactly. You fell because he sees you. Because he chooses you without conditions. Because for the first time, love doesn’t feel like sacrifice—it feels like safety.”
My throat tightens. “What if I already messed it up by walking away?”
Her arm tightens around me. “Then you be brave and go to him.”
I draw in a shaky breath. “I don’t know how to be brave. I only know how to be careful.”
Mom presses a kiss to my temple. “Careful keeps you breathing. But being brave will let you live.”
That does it. The tears spill freely now, no holding them back. “I never meant to love him,” I whisper again.
She squeezes my hands. “Most of the best love stories start that way.”
Something vibrates beneath me, and I jolt. My phone. It must have fallen out of my pocket and into the couch cushions. I lean over, dig between them, and pull it out. The screen lights up with a flood of unread messages from Miles.
Miles
Can we talk?
Miles
It’s important.
Tension coils in my stomach—but it’s the text from Lach that steals all the air from the room.
I open it.
Lach
Hey. Random, but thought you should know. Miles got a job offer. A big one. It’s in New Mexico. He leaves tomorrow.
My vision blurs. New Mexico isn’t across town. It isn’t we’ll figure it out. It’s leaving. My heart accelerates like it’s already chasing him. My fingers shake as I type.
Nora
What do you mean he got a job offer?
The typing dots appear. Disappear. Then?—
Lach
New Mexico. It sounded serious.
Nora
Is it temporary? Or permanent?
Lach
I don’t know. I’m just the messenger.
I look up, panic clawing its way up my throat. Mom’s eyes are already on me. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“Miles is leaving,” I say, the words breaking as they come out. “Tomorrow.”
Mom doesn’t hesitate. Her voice is calm. “Then go get him.”
And for the first time in my life, I do something brave. I grab my keys and run out the door.
