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“Oh” A teaht of it that way before? And, more to the point, could I be that with Derrick? Tea without him?”

“Yeah, it did” She squeezed me closer “But at the end of the day, I wanted to be on his team, with all that meant, even if it was hard”

“Because it orth it?” I’d heard her say sih times, but this time I really let those words settle deep in ht the sacrifices she’d made orth it was uided in that belief, settling for less than she should have I hadn’t seen the teae I’d always focused on who she ithout him, but maybe a better inquiry ho she ith him

“I think it was” She nodded, her gaze going distant as she glanced over at the kids “But that’s a question only I can answer for myself I can’t say if it’s worth it for you”

“You can’t?” I wrinkled hter as the kids tossed a big beach ball “You’re not here to tell h for Derrick’s sake?”

“Nope” She shook her head “You’ve got to make that choice for your own sake, no one else’s”

Choice There was that word again and I hated it, hated that Derrick had leftit through asto choose to be here I made a frustrated noise

“I know you think he’s good for me The mature and responsible option, unlike my career aspirations” My voice was bitter asmy brain

“He is good for you, but not if being with him makes you miserable”

“Huh” Did iteveryone around me of that, apparently But inside, I wasn’t so sure I didn’t want to be miserable and I didn’t think Derrick wanted me miserable either But what if , not whether or not to choose to love Derrick? I’d been struggling because I couldn’t seem to control my emotions about Derrick But I could control

Mom brushed my hair off esturewith you at family caifts are”