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“Thirsty?” my mom asked.

I looked at the two water bottles in my hands. Which I realized was very suspicious. “I’m super parched,” I said and lightly coughed.

“Here. This will help.” My mom poured me a cup of tea and set it down on the other side of the kitchen island from her.

I really wanted to get to my room. Axel was waiting for me. But I couldn’t exactly say that. So I sat down and took a sip of my tea. It was cold. And I wondered how long my mom had been sitting here in the dark.

“Were you waiting for me?” I asked.

She shook her head and looked down at her cold tea. “No, I couldn’t sleep.”

“Is everything okay?”

She didn’t respond. She seemed lost in thought.

“Are you and Dad fighting?”

She finally lifted her gaze back to mine. “You know when I told you that love hurts?”

I nodded.

“I am so mad at your father. We tell each other everything. And I can’t believe he meddled like this and kept it from me.”

“I don’t want you guys to fight.”

She smiled. “I know he did it out of love. It’s hard to stay mad at him knowing that. But...”

“He’s the worst.”

My mom laughed. “But also the best.”

I nodded.

“Besides, fighting isn’t so bad because making up is so great.” She gave me a knowing look.

Even though I absolutely did not know. But I got the hint. “Ew! Mom!”

She laughed. “I think the two of us can have conversations like this now.”

“Can we maybe not though?”

She blew on her tea like she thought it was still hot. “I was hoping to catch you. To see if maybe you changed your mind. I figured your dad could use a bit of a warning before he saw in the morning.” Her eyes fell to my left hand. “But I guess you haven’t?”

There was no point in lying. “I want to say yes. Whenever he asks me again, I will. But it just feels too soon. And I can’t help but think about how it would make Jacob feel. I never wanted to hurt him.”

“Jacob is the most resilient young man I know. And I know your feelings for him were real. At least near the end. But, sweetie. It’s always been you and Axel. Since you first learned to speak. You’re allowed to be selfish when it comes to love. You have to be. And I just wanted you to know that even though your father will act upset if you get engaged at 17, it’s only because he means well. We will both support whatever decision you make.”

“How long did you know Dad when he proposed?”

“Only a couple of months. I think I might have died if I’d had to wait 17 years.”

I laughed. But then I pressed my lips together. “It’s always been the four of us. I don’t want anything to change.”

“Sweetie.” She reached out and grabbed my hand. “Yes, it’s always been the four of you. But you and Axel were always a duo in that four. Acknowledging your feelings doesn’t change that. Sophie already knew how you felt about Axel. And I think Jacob probably did too. The only difference is now you don’t have to hurt anymore.”

I felt tears welling in my eyes. She was right. I was so tired of hurting. And maybe love did hurt sometimes. But it didn’t have to right now. “I love him so much.”

My mom rounded the corner and pulled me into a hug. “I know, sweetie.” She held me tight and I heard her sniffle.