“But you let Isla steal my room,” I argue weakly. “If you liked having me around, you wouldn’t have caved so quickly.”
Mom stands, her hands clenching into fists. “I will get you your room back.”
“Mom,” I sigh. “I’m still going to New York in the fall with Wilder and Cash.”
Dad whips his head back. “What do you meanand Cash?”
“Oh no.” Jill gives Jason an alarming look.
“What am I missing?” I ask, unfazed.
“We knew you and Wilder were together,” Jason begins.
“But we didn’t know all three of you were—”
“No, no, no,” I quickly interject. “I’m only dating Wilder. Cash is just… well… I guess he’s just Wilder’s friend. Maybe mine, too. I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. Can you be friends with your ex-boyfriend?”
My parents look like deer caught in headlights.
I take a deep breath. “Anyway, I would like my room back until August. Then, Isla can use it for whatever she wants.” I pause before adding, “If that works for the two of you.”
“You’re really leaving?” Mom whispers.
“I’ll be a train ride away,” I tell her.
“What about school?” Dad asks pointedly.
“I will be doing online courses,” I tell him. “And hopefully finding a job.”
Jill rounds the table and reaches for me, pulling me out of my chair and into her arms.
My mother is many things. Dog walker. Adage butcherer. Pushover.
But she loves me and I’ve never ever doubted that for a second.
Not once.
“I’m not ready for you to go,” she murmurs as she squeezes me tight.
I wrap my arms around her. “We will video chat every single day,” I promise.
She pulls back to look at me. “You’ll come home for all holidays?”
“Most,” I propose.
Mom nods, satisfied. “We’ll visit you.” She turns to look at Dad. “Right?”
“We will visit,” he agrees.
“You really want to leave us here all alone with Isla?” Mom laughs.
“I have faith you two will figure it out,” I say.
“We’ll get you your room back,” Dad returns. “And it will be here for you if you ever need to come home. Okay?”
Now, it’s my eyes that are filling with tears.
“Okay.”
