Page 67 of Never Say Never

I chance a glance at her. Her eyes are on me, and it’s obvious that she can read me like a book.

“Well…” My mom grins, then her eyebrows raise as if she’s waiting for me to spill the beans. “Whoever he is, he must be special for you to light up like that. It’s nice to see. You deserve to be happy, honey, and from the look on your face, it seems like you are.”

I can feel a smile spreading across my face, and I hope it’s not as obvious as it feels. I swallow, looking down at my feet, then I decide to rip off the Band-Aid. “It’s Tucker.”

I steel myself for her response, for the disappointment in her eyes. So, for a full twenty seconds I keep walking, looking straight ahead while I wait for her to tell me that it would be ridiculous to date the man who was practically a brother to me growing up. We keep walking, the silence stretching out between us.

But when my mom stops and looks at me, there is no judgment in her eyes.

“Are you and Tucker together?”

“It’s new, but yes.”

She exhales, considering this. “I can’t say that I’m surprised. I’ve seen the way the two of you look at each other.”

I laugh, releasing the breath I’ve been holding. “I’ve been so afraid to tell you. I didn’t know how you would react.”

“How did you think I would react? You know I love Tucker like he’s my own.”

“That’s part of the problem. We’ve always been so close; I think sometimes people forget that Tucker and I are not actually related.”

“Who would think that?”

“Uncle Mark.”

I fill her in on everything, starting with the kiss when we were 16 years old. I tell her about Uncle Mark making Tucker agree to stay away from me, I tell her about Tuck’s tattoo, the photo, and almost everything that has happened over the past few months.

I obviously leave out our pact.

By the time I’ve finished filling her in, the expression on her face has softened. “Oh, Daisy,” my mom says, pulling me into a hug. “You have been smiling a lot lately. I am so happy you and Tucker found your way back to each other. But I would like to have a word with Mark.”

“No, please don’t,” I shake my head. “Tucker and I plan on handling it, but I appreciate it.”

“He needs to learn. It’s not right how he treats Tucker. He’s grown up to be a good man who has done very well for himself, despite his dad’s constant criticism.”

“That’s what I don’t understand, Mom. Tucker can’t seem to ever do anything right in Uncle Mark’s eyes, but to everyone else in Reed Point he’s practically a legend.” I inhale a sharp breath. “When will Uncle Mark see him for the man that he really is?”

“Your dad and I have always wanted to give him a piece of our mind for that. He has never gotten over the fact that Tucker didn’t follow in his footsteps. But…my god,that boy was born to coach football.”

She looks at me with an abundance of love in her eyes– it’s the same way she’s looked at me since I was a little girl, and I feel incredibly lucky to have two parents who have always loved and supported me and my decisions.

“So, are things serious between you and Tucker?”

“I think so,” I shrug. “It feels like he could be ready for a relationship, he told me he wants to try. But it’s funny how life works considering I’m leaving on my trip soon.”

“Oh, honey… If he cares about you and you care about him, he’ll be here waiting for you when you get home.”

“Thank you,” I say with a soft smile.

“For what, honey?”

“For always being there for me.”

My mom takes me by the shoulders and pulls me into her arms. Her voice is quiet when she squeezes me a little tighter and says, “I love you, baby. Always have, always will.”

“I love you, too.”

My heart clenches and I’m hopeful that Tucker’s parents will be as accepting of our relationship as my mom is.

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