“Elle…Look, honey, I’m only asking you this because I care about you. I’m not going out of my way to make you feel awkward.” She smiled reassuringly. “I’m just a little confused about you and Noah, is all. What you’re going to do when he goes to college, I mean.”

“Oh!” That was all? “Oh, well, we’re just going to…you know, make the most of summer. And it’s not like he’ll never be home from college. And we can video chat. We’ll make it work.”

I trailed off at the look June was giving me. It was the kind of look people like parents and teachers give you that says, Oh, you’re so young, you just don’t know. It wasn’t the kind of look I was used to getting from June, and I bristled.

“Really? You think that’s the best option?” She spoke kindly, not in a condescending way, which was some comfort.

“W-well—I mean, yeah….It’s…Long-distance relationships can work out. And I know we’ve only been together a few months, but it’s different for Noah and me. We’ve always known each other.”

“Do you remember when you were really little? And you used to dress up as a princess and say when you grew up you’d live in a castle with your Prince Charming?”

I buried my face in my hands for a second, laughing in embarrassment. “Oh, gosh, I’d forgotten about that.”

“Honey, I’m a mom. It’s my job to remind you all about the embarrassing things you did when you were a kid.”

I laughed again, and sat on the end of my bed so I was facing June. She put a hand on my knee.

“Don’t get me wrong, Elle. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. I know you’re both in love. But right now, it’s easy. When Noah leaves for college, it’s going to take a lot more work. I want you both to go into that with your eyes open.”

“Have you had this talk with Noah as well?” I couldn’t help asking.

She nodded. “I’m not trying to be the bad guy here and say it won’t work out, or that you shouldn’t try. That’s not what I’m doing. I’d just hate to see you get hurt. I want to make sure you’ve both really thought about this. Relationships aren’t like the fairy tales, Elle. It takes work.”

I didn’t know what to say. I knew she wanted a different answer than the one I was going to give her.

“Just a mom’s perspective on things,” she said, holding her hands up in defense. Then she pushed herself off the bed. “I’ll let you get some rest. You’re probably asleep on your feet.”