Page 218 of Time Stops With You

I pour out a glass of water and take a sip. “Mom. I know you’re just trying to protect me. I know your advice is coming from a good place and you’re probably right about everything. If I listen to you, I’ll probably be safe and protected from all the pain I’m about to face.” I set the cup down firmly. “But Iwantto do this. Even if it makes me pathetic, even if it hurts more later, this is what I’ve decided to do.”

Her eyes turn red with unshed tears. “I’m just afraid you’ll regret it.”

I take her hand and squeeze. “I’ve thought deeply about it, mom. This path leads to the least amount of regret.”

A door opens in the hallway.

It’s followed by the quiet patter of footsteps.

Josiah approaches the kitchen, his gaze fixed on me. “You’re back.”

“Yeah, I’m back. How are you?” I glance between him and mom.

Josiah shrugs.

Guess they haven’t made up then.

Mom quickly wipes away her tears and turns away to head back to the living room. She picks up the shopping bags and her eyes fix on the brand name. “Oh my goodness. Is this real?”

“It is.” I smile at her and then head to my room to start packing.

Josiah’s footsteps thud behind me. My little brother slips into my room and shuts the door softly.

I glance at him as I pull out my suitcase.

“Did Cullen tell you?” Josiah asks softly. “That he’s leaving soon?”

The shirt I was reaching for slips out of my hand. Nervously, I continue packing. “I’m sorry about your AI video. No matter how angry mom was, deleting it wasn’t cool. You worked hard on it.”

He shrugs. “It’s fine. I took it out of the trash.”

“Really? You got it back?”

He nods.

“Then… why are you still acting weird around mom?”

“Because…” He glances away.

“Because what?”

“It feels awkward having her here,” he admits, his head hanging.

“Why is it awkward? She’s our mom.”

“We kind of have our own thing.” He gestures between us. “But now that mom’s around, she’s telling us what to do, nagging about the way we do things, and acting like we weren’t living properly before.”

“I don’t think she means to do that.”

“You always take up for her.”

“I’m not trying to take up for her.” I fold a skirt and put it in the bag. “If you think about it, mom probably has a hard time adjusting to us too.”

Josiah lifts his head, listening carefully.

“I bet she sees that we have a schedule and she isn’t sure how to fit into our lives. At least she’s trying to be a part of it, even if it feels like she’s just making a mess and disrupting everything.”

Josiah rubs his head the way Cullen would rub his beanie.

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