Lily shook her head. "Oh, please. Of course, he should pay you attention. You're so lovely, darling. You've really blossomed this summer. People can't help but pay you attention."
"Ha," I responded, flattered by her words. She had a way of making people feel special. "I'm glad I have you to talk to about this kind of stuff."
"I am too. But you know, you could talk to your mother."
"She wouldn't be interested in any of it, not really. She'd pretend to care, but she wouldn't."
"Oh, Belly. That's not true. She would care. She does care." Lily cradled my face in her hands. "Your mother is your biggest fan, next to me. She cares about everything you do. Don't shut her out."
I didn't want to delve into discussions about my mother any longer. Instead, I yearned to share more about Cam. "You'
