Page 87 of The Kiss Countdown

She reaches for the remote, but I stop her before she can turn the volume back up. The team with the almost-ruined cupcakes in the first round won, and now they’re celebrating under an explosion of confetti and money.

“How do you and Daddy do it?” I ask.

“Do what?”

“Live and love so freely, knowing your time together may be limited.” I hate to acknowledge out loud the reality of my mom’s health, but I have to know.

“When it comes down to it, your dad taught me that our love has to be bigger than our fears.” She smiles like a woman waking up on her wedding day. “I never thought I’d get married and have a beautiful family, but your dad is stubborn. He wouldn’t let me push him away, and here we are thirty years later. And make no mistake, as hard as some of them have been, they’ve all been good. Tomorrow isn’t promised for any of us, Amerie. My health just serves as a daily reminder.”

“I’ve been scared of losing you,” I say quietly, and it takes everything in me to admit it. Growing up, I alwaysthought it would hurt Mom to know how much anxiety I had each time she was stuck in bed due to pain or had to go to the hospital for a blood transfusion. My parents always seemed so brave through it all, but now I realize it wasn’t bravery but simply a will to continue living no matter what curveballs life threw.

For a year—longer, if I’m honest—I haven’t been living. Not fully.

And not until Vincent.

I take a deep breath. “I have something to tell you. I didn’t lose my apartment last week. I actually moved out two months ago...”

Once I’m done speaking, Mom looks at me for a full minute. “You mean to tell me you andan astronautwere engaged?” She holds up a hand as I open my mouth. “Excuse me,fakeengaged. And you let him get away?”

I certainly don’t need to wonder how she feels about the situation. It’s obvious she’s questioning where my common sense disappeared to.

“I had to let him go. Our deal was always temporary.” In the past week, I’ve repeated those words in my head so many times, hoping my heart would finally agree that I made the right decision. “And our lives are on two different trajectories. I’m still trying to get my life in order, and he’s got a career headed for the stars. Literally. I had to let him go.” I sigh.

“You already said that,” Mom says softly. She opens her frail arms, and like I did so many times when I was younger, I burrow into her side, careful not to put too much weight on her. “And maybe you really believe it. But do you want to know what I believe? I believe you’ll get this business you’ve started back on track, and it will thrive because you’re too talented to let it fail. You get that from me, youknow? I also believe that once you decide the fear of losing someone you love is too high a cost, you’ll find the greatest love of all.”

“Okay,” Gina says. “So you’re going to go with the gold frame for your booth?”

“Yes. And look at this.” I swipe through my phone’s gallery to show her a screenshot of my slogan.Unforgettable moments in time for unforgettable memories.“It took me forever to come up with that.”

“Mimi, I love it. Here, have some roses. Roses, roses, roses.” She mimics like she’s tossing them at me and I smile. She has been doing the most to talk with her hands and show off her engagement ring.

It’s so good to see her finally getting what she deserves.

I take a sip of my coffee, then let out a shaky exhale.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I can move tables so it doesn’t look like we’re together.”

“No, I have to face them myself. I can do this.”

I don’t care what anyone else says—I have the best mom in the whole world. She’s beautiful inside and out, and with her pep talk, I had the guts to not only book a Bridal Extravaganza booth but also reach out to Mrs. Rogers. If I really want my business to thrive, I need to take chances and face everything that comes my way.

By now, I’m sure Vincent has come clean and admitted the truth of our relationship. Self-preservation tells me to leave the family alone, but an illogical part of me has been screaming over all the other voices in my head that I need to complete this job. Or at least I need to try.

No one ever kicked me out of the group chat, so I sent a message asking to meet in person and talk. Instantly,Camille was the one to reply with a yes and suggested we meet for coffee. It’s the smallest of wins so far, and I’m praying luck will carry me through our meeting.

I asked Gina, my favorite and only hype girl, to meet me at Moon Bean to mentally prepare. Without her here, I’d be wondering if there were some undetected gas leak at my parents’ house that made me lose my mind. Because is this really the best course of action?This?To approach the people I knowingly lied to and ask for my job back? Maybe I should call the gas company and have them come out to the house.

No, I’m not freaking out. I’m here. I’m doing this.

“I’ll let you know how everything goes,” I tell Gina.

“Okay. Call me later.”

After she leaves, I use a napkin from the dispenser in the middle of the table to wipe away any microscopic crumbs. Can’t have them think I don’t think they’re worthy of a clean table. Maybe I should get one of those cardboard carafes of coffee. I realize how rude it looks for me to be sitting here with a cup and nothing to offer them.

Before I can get up, the bell above the door rings and it’s too late. Camille and Mrs. Rogers have arrived. Both ladies are in black scrubs with white jackets, and I realize they must have come over their lunch break. I should have at least thought of some scones or something.

Camille at least offers a small smile, but Mrs. Rogers’s face gives away nothing.

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