A week of celebrating hadn't stopped the way Joey was feeling. High on bliss because of the great direction his relationship was headed, Joey was beyond thrilled to see his girlfriend walk through the door of Just Add Cream. However, he was completely knocked off his cloud when two little words left Nevada's mouth.

"I'm leaving."

It took him a few seconds to understand her statement, despite it being something a two year old could comprehend.

"Leaving?"

"Yeah...Ethan called me and said he set up an East Coast tour for me. I'd be opening for Dua Lipa. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," she explained.

Not even for a second did Joey consider asking her to stay. As much as he wanted her to, he knew it was unfair to ask her to pass up on her dream, and he loved her too much to let her. In that moment, reflecting on his thought process, he realized something he hadn't known, but his heart didn't lie. He loved her.

Joey Harmon loved Nevada Jones...but Nevada Jones was leaving Joey Harmon.

"How long will you be gone?" he asked, wincing as he braced himself for more bad news.

"6 months."

And boom, another blow to his heart. They'd only been together for a month and a half. How could they last for a time period four times the length of their relationship?

"I love you," he confessed, feeling a need to say it while he still could.

"Joey...please don't-"

"I'm not saying it to make you stay," he clarified, looking at her. "I'm saying it because I mean it, and I wanted you to know...before I have to let you go."

Her beautiful brown eyes were watering up, much like his own, but he was doing a better job at holding it in.

"You want to let me go?" she questioned, sounding hurt.

"No," he sighed. "But think about it. Six months is a long time. It's the amount of time you'll be out living your dream, and after that...well, you'll be off living it every day after that. I don't want you to be tied down to some guy working at a coffee shop. I don't want to hold you back, Nevada. I love you too much to do that."

By now her face was covered in tears, as she violently shook her head.

"Joey, I'm going to come back to you," she argued. "There's no reason for us to break up."

"When do you leave?" he asked, deflecting from her previous statement.

She hesitated for a moment, and it hurt him to see her lip tremble when she said, "Tonight."

So, all they had was today. All he had left with this amazing girl was today.

"But, I don't want us to end!" she started crying, not caring that she was in front of so many people.

Pulling her into his arms, Joey led her into the break room, away from everyone's attention. He didn't miss the sympathetic look Macy threw his way as he walked by.

"Joey-" Nevada began, but he stopped her crying with a kiss.

A bittersweet kiss that said he loved her, but he was letting her go. A kiss that only made her cry more because she knew what he was doing. A kiss that begged for her to come back, to remember him, but that supported her to live her dream, free to change.

If you love something, set it free. If it returns, it's yours forever.

Forcing himself to pull away, he twirled one of her golden curls in his hand, savoring the memory of the girl they belonged to in his heart. Nevada Jones, was going to be a star, and he was going to make sure she gave it her all.

"Listen to me," he said, rubbing her cheeks as he looked into her brown eyes. "Live your dream, Nevada. Take whatever deals you want to. Travel however far, tour for however long. Don't let this boy in a coffee shop keep you from saying yes when the opportunities present themselves."

His words caused her to erupt in tears again, only now it seemed like she wasn't fighting him anymore, she was accepting his decision. Pulling him into one last kiss, she whispered four words into his ear before running out the cafe. His eyes followed her the whole time, even as she passed the windows from outside, and the only thing he heard play over and over again in his mind were what he'd hold onto.

"I love you, too."