Mom rests a frail hand on my shoulder. “You know, Maddie just wants you to be happy. Have you ever actually asked her what she wants?”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “You sound like Aliyah.”
“She’s a smart girl. I’ve always liked her,” she muses, then her eyes soften. “Almost as much as I like Hunter.”
The sound of his name pierces straight through me. My body goes rigid, jaw locking tight.
“Have you seen Hunter since that night?” she asks gently.
“No,” I say flatly.
She hums, like that answer doesn’t surprise her. “Well, I know I’m probably the last person you want love advice from,” she says, voice quieter now, “but I need to tell you something. After I’m gone, I won’t be here to watch you fall in love, or to help you through heartbreak. I won’t be able to see you get married. I won’t be able to hold your future children.”
My throat burns. “Mom…”
She squeezes my hand, her grip weak but steady. “Now, I’m not saying Hunter is your soulmate. Maybe he isn’t. But I will say this—when I saw the two of you together, I saw a glimpse of your future. And for the first time in a long time, I felt at peace, knowing I’d be leaving you with someone so good.”
A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it. I swipe it away quickly, sniffing and rubbing at my damp eyes.
Fuck. What’s wrong with me? She’s sick, andI’mthe one crying here?
“I think you should talk to Maddie,” Mom says. “And this time, you should actually listen to her.”
As much as it pains me to admit it, she’s right. Maybe I’ve been projecting my own feelings about Stephen onto Maddie. She’s not a little kid anymore, and she should have a say in her own future.
Sighing, I push myself up from the couch and cross the room to Maddie’s door. The muffled talking has stopped, so she must’ve ended her call. I brace myself, inhale a shaky breath, and rap my knuckles softly against the wood.
Silence.
“Mads?” I call gently. “Please… can we talk?”
Nothing.
“I’m sorry for not listening to you before,” I murmur, swallowing the tightness in my throat. “Please don’t shut me out. I—I can’t lose you.”
For a long moment, there’s only the low drone of the TV behind me. Then—click. The lock turns.
The door opens just wide enough for her face to peek through, eyes red and puffy. Her dark blonde hair is pulled into an untidy bun with a pink scrunchie, loose strands falling in all directions. She studies me for a moment before finally stepping aside to let me in.
Her room is dim except for the glow of a lamp on her desk. Dirty clothes are scattered across the floor. I hover awkwardly until she sits on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees. Slowly, I lower myself beside her, the mattress dipping under our weight.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, my voice hoarse.
Her eyes dart to mine. “Me too.” She tucks her chin down. “I shouldn’t have lied to you. But… I knew you wouldn’t let me get to know Stephen otherwise.”
The words stab, but not in the way I expected. Instead of anger, all I feel is a deep, aching guilt.
“I don’t blame you,” I whisper. “I should’ve trusted you more. I just—” My voice falters. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know you were trying to protect me.” Her voice trembles. “But you don’t get to decide what’s best for me. I should get to choose if I want a relationship with Stephen. He’s not the evil monster you make him out to be.”
I swallow hard. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
She stares at the comforter, pulling at a loose thread. “Mase… I want you to go back to college and finish your degree. That’s what I want more than anything.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to abandon you—”
“You won’t be,” she cuts in, her voice firm. “You’ve sacrificed so much for me. You gave up your future just to take care of me and Mom. I’ll never stop loving you for that, but it’s time for you to focus on your own life.”
