“Hey!” she said, setting down her Kindle. “I was at a good part, Taylor Elizabeth!”

I rolled my eyes. “Ugh, don’t call me that, mom.”

She pushed her chair back. “It really warms my heart that you despise your name.”

I giggled as I turned back and picked up another plate to dry. “So, do you know what they’re talking about?”

My mother peeked out the window and smiled. “Probably the Kentucky trip.”

My phone beeped. I picked it up and smiled when I saw I had a text from Keith.

Keith: Got service for a bit. How are you baby?

Me: I’m good. How is the hiking going?

Keith: All I can think about is fucking you.

My jaw dropped. Keith had never talked to me like that before. I glanced over at my mother and quickly walked outside.

Me: Um…

Keith: I was thinking about you and had to go off and take care of myself as I looked at your picture, baby. I imagined I was fucking you against a tree. I hate being away from you.

I was instantly wet as I closed my eyes and pictured Keith doing just that. I opened my eyes and texted him back.

Me: Where are you now?

Keith: Standing on top of a mountain not moving because I have a signal.

Me: LOL! I miss you.

Keith: I miss you, too. I’d better go. Love you, Liza.

I didn’t hear Walker approaching, but I heard him laugh. I lifted my head quickly to see him, still with my father. Daddy turned and headed over to me; Walker followed.

“Liza, you feel like going on a road trip?” Daddy asked.

Looking down, I quickly typed a goodbye to Keith.

Me: Miss u. Love u.

I stood up and smiled. “Road trip? Where?”

Walker was looking down at the ground, kicking a rock around with his boot.

“Kentucky. It was just gonna be me and Walker, but I’d love to spend some father-daughter time with you.”

My heart just about burst with joy. “Yes! Daddy, I’d love to do that.”

Walker jerked his head up. I wasn’t sure whether or not he was displeased that my father had invited me along.

“All right, then. Go pack up, baby girl. We leave in the morning. Early.”

I clapped and skipped a little.

Walker cracked a smile and shook his head. I headed into the house and rushed past my mother.

“Where in the world are you going in such a rush?” she asked.

I called over my shoulder, “I’m going to Kentucky with Daddy!”

She laughed as I took the stairs two at a time. I pulled my suitcase from under the bed. I couldn’t believe I’d have a whole week with my father! And with Walker!

Wait. What? Damn it. I sat down on my bed, my head in my hands. I’d just been daydreaming of my boyfriend fucking me, and now I was excited about spending time with Walker. I moaned in frustration as I fell back on the bed. There was a faint knock at the door. I sat up to see my mother standing there. The smile on her face told me we were about to have a talk. I motioned for her to come in. “What’s up, Mom?”

She scrunched up her nose in that oh-so-cute way of hers and shrugged. “Just thought maybe we could have a heart-to-heart.”

“Sure. About what?”

She sat down on my left side and reached for my hand. “Where’s your ring?”

I looked down at my finger. “Oh, I took it off yesterday after Courtney asked if I wanted to help her plant some things in the garden.”

My mother nodded. She pulled my necklace out from under my shirt until she held the double heart ring. “Walker gave this to you before y’all left for school, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, he did.”

“You wear it around your neck every day, Liza.”

I narrowed one eye at my mother. “So?”

She dropped the ring and sighed. “I remember the first time I saw your father.”

The smile on her face made me smile. I pulled my knees up and got ready for a story. I loved when my mother talked about her and my father. Their love was so amazing.

“Was it love at first sight?” I asked as I wiggled my eyebrows.

She made a face and said, “Yes and no. I was attracted to him beyond belief. But he also annoyed the hell out of me.”

I giggled. “Daddy? Never!”

She nodded, walked over to my dresser, and leaned against it. “Oh, yes. Believe it. He was charming, but arrogant. All I really wanted to do was smack him upside his head. But something else started happening. When he was near me, it was as if all the air was being sucked out of the room. When he smiled at me…” She shook her head and laughed. “God, when he smiled at me, it felt as if all my troubles were gone.” She placed her fingers up to her lips. “His kiss…his kiss is like magic. It completely takes my breath away, yet fills my entire body with life. If that makes sense.”

I nodded quickly. My smile faded as I looked out the window and then back to my mother.

“Mom, how do you know if it’s…real?”

“What do you mean, Liza?”

I sucked in a deep breath. “How do you know if the love you feel for someone is real?” I felt tears building as I looked back out the window. “Keith wants to take me away from here. He wants me to give up everything I love and move to Dallas to make a life with him. I’m not sure I can do that.”

I swallowed as I felt my mother sit next to me and take my hand. “Liza, look at me.”

I met her gaze.

“How does Keith make you feel when he smiles at you? Or when he kisses you? When he tells you how beautiful you are?”

I thought back to the other day in the river with Walker. When he placed his hand on the side of my face and told me I was breathtaking, it had made my heart race. My stomach had felt like a million butterflies were dancing inside.

I felt a tear roll down my face. I knew why I was holding back with Keith. I didn’t feel the butterflies when he told me how pretty I was. His kiss didn’t fill my body with life, even though I did feel something.

My mother wiped my tear away. “Liza, if Keith makes you feel like your father makes me feel, then leaving to be with him should be the easiest decision of your life.”

I sucked in a breath.

She smiled and stood up. “Finish packing, sweetheart. Then let’s go for a walk.” I nodded as I looked down. My mother was about to round the corner when she stopped. I looked up when she said, “You might want to also ask yourself something else.”

I smiled and asked, “What’s that?”