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She did not look at all phased.

“I mean, you two have been attached at the hip lately in a... non-friendly way.”

My cheeks heated immediately. “Mom!”

Archie laughed, but my mother only crossed her arms as I loaded the piping bags.

“What? A motherknowswhen her son is in love.”

I wasn’t sure how to proceed with her insinuation, but figured honesty was the best policy.

Even if it was uncomfortable.

“Yeah, well, it’s a bit more complicated than that.”

My mother grabbed the red piping bag to start working on a tray.

It reminded me of Mitchell, who’d just shoved his way into helping me just the other day, and I felt sick all over again.

What if I’d fucked up because I didn’t say anything?

Because I didn’t go after him?

What if he never wanted to see me again?

“Anything worthwhile isn’t easy.”

“Your mom is right, whatever happened, I’m sure it can be fixed,” Archie said.

I chewed my lips as I lined the cookies my mom passed down to me with blue lines.

“I just... should have told him the truth. But I didn’t.”

My mom settled her arm around me. “So tell him now. There’s no expiry on telling someone how you feel.”

I glanced up at her, feeling my heart catch in my throat as she rubbed my shoulders like she used to do when I was afraid. When I was a kid.

My voice shook as I fell apart undermy mom’s gaze.

“Even if it’s a guy?”

My mom pulled me in close, wrapping me in a tight embrace and I hugged her, my shoulders loosening and my head buried in her apron.

“Baby, I wouldn’t care if he was an alien from Mars. As long as he makesyouhappy, that’s all that matters.”

I could feel Archie’s hand on my back as he softly spoke too. “When it’s right, it’s right, no matter who it’s with.”

Something inside me clicked, knowing that I had their support. That I wasn’t doing this alone, and as scary as it was, I had back up.

I had people who understood me and supported me.

And that included Mitchell.

The man I loved.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said as she broke our hug to return to her piping.

“You don’t have to thank me, sweetheart,” she said, and with that I knew exactly what I needed to do.