Before walking into my mom's room, I subtly let go of Jake's hand, shoving them into my pockets. I heard him giggle behind me.

"What, am I a secret from her too?" He asked. I smirked back at him.

"No, it's just.. it's just better if we don't-"

"It's okay, Jaime. Whatever you're comfortable with." He sighed. But I could sense his disappointment.

Her eyes instantly lit up as I made my way passed the curtain, getting wider when Jake peeked around, keeping his distance.

"Jake!" She said, quickly shooting me a look. "It's been so long since I've seen you." She waved him over, letting him know it was okay to get closer.

"Don't worry, I don't bite." She held her arms out, welcoming him into a hug which he happily accepted, holding on until she let go first.

"I know." He laughed. "Sorry Jaime has kept me hidden away." I playfully nudged him, rolling my eyes.

"I have not." I muttered.

"So, how are you feeling today?" He asked, taking the seat next to her. I sat down close to him on the arm of the chair, my body tensing up as I felt him wrap his arm around me, trying my hardest to contain my smile.

"I'm okay today, thankfully." She said, her eyes moving down to his hand, now carefully placed above my waist. Her smile grew.

"How about you? I heard the big news. A record deal, that's amazing!" He nodded, flashing her a beaming grin.

"It really is, I don't know what they were hearing but-"

"Oh, don't be so modest. You guys are great. I could hear you from next door all the time. They'd be crazy not to sign you guys."

"Well, thank you." He said softly. "Yeah, we're.. we're really excited."

He reached up for my hand, gently intertwining our fingers. I felt my body get hot, wanting to pull away but not wanting to draw attention to it. So I left it alone.

"So, what does that mean now? What do you guys have to do?" She asked, propping herself up further in her bed.

"Well, at the end of the summer we.. we leave for tour." He said reluctantly, his grip on my hand getting tighter.

"I'm sure you're thrilled. I know Jaime will miss you guys though." She laughed, winking at me. I felt like my face was on fire.

"Mom.." I snapped. Jake peeked up at me, giving me a playful smile.

"Actually, I.. I invited her to come with us. But.. she hasn't really given me an answer yet." My stomach dropped. He was not doing this right now. "I know she's got a lot going on here, and I understand but.. I'd love to- we'd all love to have her with us. She's always been there, so.. it wouldn't feel right without her."

She smiled back up at me, flashing me those eager eyes that I haven't seen in years.

"Well, I'm sure something could be arranged." She said happily.

"M-maybe. We'll see." I added.

"Jaime, I should be able to come home in a few days, so I don't see why you wouldn't-"

"When did they tell you that? I.. I thought I asked you to keep me updated on everything."

"Oh, honey, you worry too much. I just found out today. If I didn't see you I would have called, don't worry." I felt my heart start beating faster as Jake's fingers gently glided across my palm.

The rest of the visit was filled with reminiscent stories of when we were kids, and how we always knew they'd be out there playing music for a living because.. what else would they do?

"You two were so sweet." She sighed, now looking over at me. "I'm glad that you two decided to.. reconnect." My heart jumped, knowing what she was implying.

"Me too." Jake laughed, peeking back up at me. "But.. I'll give you two some times alone before we head out." He got up from the chair, gently running his fingers across my arm before going out into the hallway.

I watched him walk out, unable to contain my smile as he peeked back at me in the doorway, giving me a flirtatious grin before turning the corner.

"So.. what's going on with him?" She finally asked. I could hear the smile in her voice, my eyes still glued to the doorway as if merely mesmerized by his memory.

"We're.. we're friends." I lied, feeling my cheeks burn.

"Just friends?" I shrugged, avoiding her eyes. "Has he not asked you yet?"

Technically he hadn't but.. there were other reasons too. But.. maybe if he did ask me.. the right way.. maybe I would consider it. Maybe. But.. I still had my doubts.

"N-no, but.. that's not the only reason." I muttered.

"Even after what we talked about?"

"Especially after what we talked about." She nodded.

"Okay, I just.. want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm okay." I sighed, smiling back at her.

"He's good to you?" I nodded, my smile growing.

"Yeah."

"And.. he makes you happy?" I bit down on my lip, nodding again.

"Mhm.."

"So then what else do you need?"

I knew that she was right, and in a perfect world I would have jumped at the opportunity to be his in every sense of the world, but.. there were too many other things to consider now.

"You just let me know when we can pick you up and-"

"We?" She laughed.

"I.. I'll pick you up." I stuttered, getting back up. She giggled to herself, reaching out for me. I leaned in, pulling her into as tight of a hug as I could manage.

"I just want you to be happy, Jaime." She whispered. I nodded, squeezing her even tighter.

"I know."

"Okay." As I backed away, she reached up, gently touching my cheek, holding her stare on me for a moment.

"You know, if it means anything to you.. I know your father would have loved him." She said, motioning out towards the hallway. I smirked back at her, feeling my face get hot again.

"Okay, Mom." I grinned, but deep down.. it meant everything to me.

"Okay. I love you, Sweetie."

"I love you too."

Like always, I hesitated before leaving, appreciating this moment for as long as possible before forcing myself out the door to find Jake down by the soda machine. I was instantly brought back to the day Josh came with me. I quickly shook the thought.

"Everything okay?" He asked, handing me a bottle. I looked down at it. Vanilla Coke. My favorite. He remembered.

"You still like that one right?" He asked. I nodded, peeking back up at him.

"Okay good." He sighed, reaching over for my other hand, intertwining our fingers. "I remember that one day you went food shopping with us, and I got it for you with my change from the recyclables. You said it was your favorite." I nodded again, my smile growing.

It was my favorite because he had gotten it for me.

As we made our way back to the car, he opened my door for me, leaning against the car as I hopped in, taking a big sip.

"So.. she's coming home soon." He laughed. "What does that mean for us now?" I knew what he meant. There was no way he could sleep over now that she'd be back. And.. staying in his room was even more out of the question.

"You're just gonna have to see me during normal hours now." I laughed, holding my stare on him.

"I don't care when I see you, Jaime, just as long as I see you." He reached over, gently caressing my face, pulling me into a long kiss. I grabbed onto his shirt, pulling him in closer, kissing him back.

"I've just.. gotten so used to seeing you every night." He sighed. "I don't want to go back." I understood. What I would give to wake up to him every morning.

"Maybe.. if you're quiet-"

"No, Jake." I laughed, shaking my head. I already knew where he was going with this. "It's bad enough you brought up me coming with you on tour to my mom.."

"Well, you just.. you made it seem like you had to stay home for her, and I figured.. if she was okay with it, maybe.."

"Maybe that would get me to cave, huh?" He nodded, staring back at me with dazed eyes.

"You're telling me you won't miss me?" He asked, his voice now quieter, softer, so much more sincere. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my eyes moving back down to his lips.

"I would miss you.. so much." I whispered, pulling him into another gentle kiss.

"You don't have to miss me, Jaime. I want you there.. every step of the way. You've been there since day one, and.. I don't want to do this without you."

"Jake.." I sighed, loving when he got like this. I wish he would always be like this.

"Sorry.. too serious." He giggled. "Okay.. I won't push it anymore. Tonight. Do you.. still want to go out? Or.."

"I'd.. rather we take advantage of what alone time we have left." I said. "So if you could get in the car.." He pulled me into one more quick kiss, flashing me a wide grin before shutting the door behind me, quickly making his way around to the passenger's side.

"You don't have to tell me twice."