Page 87 of Wallflower

I licked my lips. "Dare says we're just having fun. That it's not serious."

"Just like a man." Mom shook her head. "And you? What do you think?"

"Well, I know he's right. I do." I couldn't quite bring myself to tell her about the fake boyfriend thing. She probably wouldn't even believe me if I tried. I mean, who does that? "It's just confusing sometimes. My heart can't decide whether what we have is real or if it's all in my head."

She shrugged. "Only you can figure that out, Vi."

I knew that, but part of me had wanted her to tell me something else.

"But from where I stood, it looked pretty real," she finished.

I could feel the hope rising in my chest.

"It did?" I asked, and she nodded. "Just on my end or his, too?"

Mom smiled. "He looked even more smitten if I'm being honest."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," she said. "Can I tell you something that is purely meant to be helpful and in no way telling you what to do?"

"Sure," I said.

"Your dad and I loved each other basically from the moment we met."

"Ew," I pretended to gag but was smiling. I loved hearing how much my parents loved one another.

Mom shrugged. "It's true. We were soulmates."

"And you lived happily-ever-after with your one amazing daughter and a wonderful dog," I added.

She bit back a smile. "I told you we'd think on it, Vi. Not that we were getting one."

"I know, I know. Go on," I prompted. "You and Dad fell in love, and…"

"It took longer than it needed to for us to get together," she said.

My smile slipped a little. "Oh yeah? Why?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you," she said and made sure I was looking her in the eyes. "We were best friends who could talk about anything and everything—except how we really felt about each other."

I nodded for her to go on.

"Our friendship came first. Always. We were afraid of losing that, and that fear kept us from talking, telling the full truth. It's a tale as old as time."

"Who said I love you first?" I asked.

"I did." She smiled, and her gaze was faraway. "Though, of course, I didn't believe it when he said it back. He went through quite the romantic gesture to convince me—as if I could've said no to him a second time. The first time nearly killed me."

"But you and Dad were made for each other."

"Exactly," Mom said. "But our romantic relationship didn't start until our final year of high school, and we had a very unconventional beginning."

I opened my mouth to ask, but she laughed and shook her head.

"That's a story for another day."

"It sounds like a good one," I said.

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