Page 70 of Between Here and There

“That love doesn’t have to hurt. That it doesn’t have to end in disaster,” Mom finishes, her voice steady again. They share a look—one of those wordless exchanges that only comes from years of being together. It’s subtle but unmistakable. And for the first time in a long time, I wonder if maybe I was wrong. Maybe what they have now is real. That it’s not just a fragile truce that will crash and burn eventually.

I rub the back of my neck, trying to process their words. “Emily and I…” I start, but I don’t know how to continue that. Emily and I arewhat,exactly?

“You don’t have to explain,” my mom says, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Whatever it is, whatever it becomes or doesn’t become—that’s up to you. But I want you to know that you deserve it, Josh. You deserve happiness, even if it scares you.”

Their words settle over me, heavy and strange. It’s like they’ve peeled back a layer I didn’t even know was there, exposing parts of myself I’ve spent years ignoring.

“How did you know it scares me?” I ask.

“Because real feelings scare the hell out of everyone,” my dad says, his bluntness cutting through the tension. “It’s part of being human.”

I manage a chuckle, a short, breathy sound that feels like a release. But the questions keep circling in my mind.

How do you commit to something that terrifies you? How do you hold on to someone when all you’ve ever known is how to let go?

How do you choose to stay when running away has always been easier?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Emily

Ispeed-walk along the sidewalks, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as if that could somehow hold me together. My eyes are stinging now, and every breath feels like it might shatter me. The tears are building, relentless, pressing against the edges of my control.

I keep my head down, hoping no one will notice me, hoping I can just make it to the treehouse before I break. As I round the corner, focused on my escape, I almost collide with Manang Linda.

“Sorry!” I blurt out, stepping back quickly.

“Emily?” she says, her brow furrowing with concern. “Are you okay?”

“Huh? I’m fine,” I reply too quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush. I’ve mastered the art of pretending to be fine when I’m not—it’s practically a survival skill by now. Except this time, it’s not working. My throat tightens, and I can feel the tears clawing their way to the surface.

“You don’t look fine,” she says gently, her sharp gaze studying my face. “Have you been crying?”

“No, no,” I stammer, shaking my head. “I just… I’m just gonna miss this place, you know? Heading back to New York tomorrow.” The lie rolls off my tongue easily, and it’s not even a complete lie. I will miss this place. But that’s not why my chest feels like it’s caving in right now.

She tilts her head, unconvinced. “Okay…” she says slowly. “But if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.”

Her words are like a crack in the dam, and before I know it, I’m leaning in, wrapping my arms around her in an impulsive hug.

“Thank you, Manang Linda,” I whisper, my voice shaky.

She pats my back with her familiar warmth, the same comforting touch I’ve known since childhood. “You’re welcome, Emily. Remember, it’s okay not to be fine sometimes. You don’t always have to hold it together.”

Her words linger like an echo as I pull away. I manage a small, trembling smile before brushing past her, desperate to reach the treehouse.

By the time I climb up and close the trapdoor behind me, the tears are already spilling over. They come fast and heavy, each one carrying the weight of everything I’ve been trying to hold back. I collapse onto the worn wooden floor, pulling my knees to my chest as the sobs wrack through me.

The treehouse, once my childhood sanctuary, now feels both too small and exactly what I need. The scent of the old wood fills the air, mingling with the salty tang of my tears. The walls seem to absorb the sounds of my crying, holding them as if to keep them safe.

I think I’ve fallen for the one person I swore I wouldn’t fall for. The one person Icouldn’tfall for. This was never supposed to happen. I let my guard down.Me,the one who prides herself on keeping it all together, on being untouchable. But with him, it was different. With Joshua, I didn’t feel the need to be perfect or polished. I showed him parts of me I’ve hidden for so long: my fears, my doubts, the parts I was too ashamed to even acknowledge. And for the first time, I felt cared for.

But care isn’t love.

And I’m not about to want something more than what he’s willing to give.

That’s why we made these rules. Why we agreed to this stupid arrangement in the first place. Because we both knew where it stopped. We knew the boundaries, the limits. And this is it.

But… God, I want him to stay in my life. Selfishly, desperately. I want to hold onto him.

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