“Oh, you stupid, stubborn boy,” Mom tsks at me as I walk into the kitchen, stealing some food from the fridge.

“I know you’re not talkin’ about me.”

“I most definitely am. Why are you so much like your father?” She crosses her arms, staring me down.

Taking a beer, I twist off the cap, then take a swig. “Dunno.”

“Kaitlyn gave me a recap of Saturday.”

“Okay, and…?” I shrug. I threw a bomb-ass party regardless of what happened afterward.

“She said you’re not talkin’ to Hadleigh now. May I ask why?”

“No, you may not. And how does Kaitlyn know that?”

She narrows her eyes. How could I forget that no one keeps their mouths shut around here?

“We all see the way that girl looks at you. Why are ya lettin’ her get away?”

“Mom…” I warn, not wanting to have this conversation. I came over to steal beer and talk to Dad, not chat about my personal life with my mother.

“Do I need to remind you about the time your dad almost lost me?”

“I’ve heard it a million times, so no.”

“Then don’t make the same mistake. And for the love of God, don’t wait until she’s engaged to realize your feelings. And no matter what, don’t write her a love letter that she’ll read on her wedding day. Not that I regret a damn thing because marrying your daddy is the best thing I’ve ever done, but he sure was a headache. Always gave me mixed signals and the constant back and forth. Hadleigh might not be as patient with you as I was with your dad.”

“Ma, it’s not even like that. She knows where I stand but hasn’t confessed or admitted her own feelings.”

“That can’t be true,” she says.

I shrug again. “Well, it is.”

“Perhaps she’s not good at expressing herself, or she’s confused by what she feels for you, but I assure you, they exist.”

“It’s too late,” I mutter, my words hitting me hard.

It’s too late.

All I needed was validation that she wanted more.

“I’m gonna run.” I chug the rest of my beer before tossing it into the trash can. “Tell Dad I need to talk when he has some free time.”

She walks over and gives me a hug. “Don’t give up on her just yet, okay? I have a gut feeling about you two.”

I don’t respond because there’s nothing else to say.

“Maybe like you, she’s not good with communication, so you need to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

“She screwed Kane,” I blurt out. “Not sure her message gets much louder than that.”