“Mom,” I whisper, hope warring with pain in my chest. “He hurt me so badly.” She wraps her arms around me. “I know, sweetheart. I know he did. And I know I’ve spent your life telling you to be cautious with men—with giving them your body and your heart—because I didn’t want you to go through the same pain I did with your dad. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to experience great love, and you’ll never know if Cole could be that for you if you don’t take a chance. From what you’ve told me, he didn’t have much love growing up, so maybe he doesn’t know how to express that part of himself.
...more
