She didn’t say we’d watch movies while I tell her all about the person who’s stolen my heart. She didn’t ask who could’ve possibly made me forget about Chase Harding. Is that her way of giving me privacy? Or is this her way of keeping it—the truth of me—at a distance?

I want to say something, but I can’t. I don’t know if Jasmine told her parents the real reason she wanted to spend the year with Declan. What if she didn’t? I can’t put my mom in the position of keeping this secret from her dad, and I’m sure as hell not gonna be the one who outs Jasmine either. What if—

“He feels the same way I do, in case you’re wondering,” Mama says softly to my back. “He and Sylvia both do.”

I turn slowly back around. “You knew.”

She shakes her head. “Not exactly. I knew there was something special between you. I saw the way you were together. I saw you turn into a happier, more confident person around her. You wear your love for each other plain as day. I just didn’t know what kind of love. Now I do.”

“But you talked about it with Declan. And he talked about it with Sylvia.”

“Sylvia was the one who first mentioned it, actually, after that weekend you spent at her house. She said she’d never seen Jasmine glow like that. And when Jasmine asked to spend the year here … there’s a reason they gave in easily. I thought maybe it was only on her side, especially after all those years of your crush on Chase, but I see the glow on you too.” She smiles. “It’s beautiful. You’re lucky to have each other.”

“We don’t yet,” I tell her. “But we will. I hope. I don’t know as what. But we’ll figure it out.”

“Yes, you will. Deep breaths, Larotchka. You will get through this.”

I give her a kiss on the cheek, and then I’m off from one scary conversation to the next.