“Why?” My mom seemed genuinely surprised.“And how does one ‘sort of’ end things?”
I shrugged, running a hand through my hair before sitting in the chair next to my mom. “She tried to call things off at first, but after I tried to convince her not to, she said she needed to think about us. But I haven’t heard from her since. She has some things from her past that have made it difficult for her to trust that I wouldn’t hurt her,” I explained.
“Oh?” Mom raised an eyebrow.
“Her parents’ divorce was brutal, and it convinced her that real love doesn’t exist, and that a relationship isn’t worth risking her heart on. Elsie thinks she’s destined to end up like them.”
My mom hummed, fiddling with her fingers while she considered my words.“It sounds like you need to give her a reason to put her heart on the line.”
“I thought I had.”
Mom waved a hand. “It’s going to take more than a couple dates, Jamie. Why did you let her walk away?”
Her question caught me off guard. “She wanted time…I wasn’t about to force a relationship on her—”
“That girl wanted you,” she interrupted. “I saw it plain as day on her face. Why did you let her walk away? Why didn’t you fight harder?”
This time her question had my stomach dropping. I hadwantedto fight harder, to grab her hands and try to make her see reason. But I didn’t know how at that moment and, if I was being honest, I was hurt that she was so willing to give up what we had, even if I understood why she did.
“She’s scared, and rightfully so, but I didn’t raise my son to be a quitter.”
I opened my mouth to object, but nothing came out.
“Go get her,” she demanded.
“What?”
“Jamie, you are a bright man, but sometimes you are duller than a box of rocks.” She rubbed a hand over her face before looking me square in the eyes. “Go get Elsie. Tell her how you feel and don’t let her go. Perhaps she’s the type of girl who needs someone to fight for her, to prove thatshe’sworth the risk before risking her own heart.”
The words hit me like a bag of bricks. Her ex hadn’t fought for her and let her walk away, but hadn’t I done the same thing by letting her leave that tent?
“Mom—”
“Don’tMomme,” she snapped. “I’ve already discussed this with Maya and Emma, and we all agree that you’re being a fool. I’m kicking you out of here until you convince that lovely girl that you belong together.”
Of course, she had been talking to my sister and cousin about this. I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. “Mom—”
“Go.” She pointed at the door. “Get going.” She shook the box of cookies, threatening to chuck it at me.
“Don’t come back until you’ve kissed that girl senseless and convinced her you’re meant to be together.”
Elsie
Itossed and turned all night long. Not only had Maya’s incessant text messages telling me to make up—and make out—with Jameson plagued me for hours, but…I missed him. I hated not waking up to a good morning text from him, or wondering what sweet date he’d take me on next, or when we’d fall asleep cuddling on the couch again.
I missed the way he looked at me, the way he held my hand and called me sunshine.I missed the way he saw through my insecurities to the person underneath and didn’t shy away but, instead, helped me battle them. He accepted all of me and didn’t force me to hide pieces of myself.
Maya had suggested that I show up at his house and make a big dramatic gesture, like bringing him a box of donuts that spelled ‘I’m sorry’ like Mia did with the pizza she sent to Michael inThe Princess Diaries.But I wasn’t really the big gesture type of girl.
I thought about texting him, like the coward I was, but apologizing in a text wasn’t my style, either. At the very least, he deserved a face-to-face conversation.And so, I somehow convinced myself to climb in my car and drive to his house. What I didnotconvince myself of was getting out and knocking on his door.
Soft rain pinged against my car as I rested my forehead on the steering wheel for several moments, fighting the urge to bang my head against it. Was I a fool to come here? What if, during my week of thinking, he had decided I wasn’t what he wanted after all? I bit my lip against the tears that threatened to fall.
A tap came against the window, and I let out a little scream, jumping so high I bonked my head on the ceiling.
“Elsie?” a muffled voice came through the glass, and my heart gave a little flop. “What are you doing here?”
Rubbing my head, I turned to face Jameson, who was standing on the outside of my car. His arm was propped on the top as he bent down to peer in the window. Word vomit immediately spewed from my mouth, and I spoke so fast, it came out a jumbled mess that didn’t make sense.
