Page 127 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls
“You care about them. That sounds necessary to me.” Her girlfriend had taken the liberty of splitting the box flaps open, stroking the spines of titles with tapered fingers. The tenderness there deadened any dissent on Celene’s part.
Celene let the silence go on longer. Watching Skye. Smirking at the little Blue Jays on her ankle socks, the knapsack hanging next to her canvas tote. Her hopes got the better of her; maybe Skye would spend the night.
“A lot happened today,” Skye said, tone ambiguous. “But I want to apologize. For how I used our reality word.”
Celene had accepted the text apology, but she sat on her bed, all ears.
Skye picked up the sound bowl’s mallet, realized what she’d done, then set it back with a resounding clink. She grasped her charms, going on. “We don’tuse‘Dragonfruit,’ we share it. I wanted us to slow everything down, especially because the moment was so heavy. I respect your space, but you’ve been dealing with your family by yourself for too long.” She bit at her bottom lip. “I’d messed up, seeing you shut down, but in time, I’ll get better. Those days of standing up to them alone are over, if you’ll let me help.”
God. Why hadn’t Celene agreed to renovate the Vale house sooner? She melted, dipped in the warmth of being seen in her true light.
“I shouldn’t have shut you out. I panicked.” From outside, the chopping beat of a helicopter stole some seconds away, enough for Celene to finish, “All my exes loved my family. And theyarewelcoming, but it always left me feeling invalidated. That’s small of me, I know.”
Skye let that hang for a minute. Like she’d been processing. “My parents are the coolest people I know, and no matter what, Cosmo rejected our crunchy, free childhood. Same upbringing, opposite responses.”
The fear Celene and Nadine spoke of returned, except it didn’t upset her stomach anymore. “Thank you for telling me that. Sorry, I’m not used to being helped, even when I want it.”
Back by the boxes, Skye withdrew a red hardbound book. It gleamed within her hands. “I couldn’t wait to see you. Not after you texted me that you missed me today.”
Celene answered with a delay, recalling that novel’s bleak, dystopian plot. “Mm. When did I say that?”
“This evening. You said…” From her pocket, she fished her phone out, reading, “‘Mandatory family dinner on Sunday. God, I’m so drained.’” Skye bumped Celene’s hip as she sat down, going on. “‘I’m conflicted and it’s so fucking annoying. I meditate, I jog, and peace has been elusive since I kissed you goodbye.’” Dropping her phone to the bed, she concluded, smiling widely, “Celene, you missed me.”
Skye rescued her. Intentionally.
That explained the tears. The words trembled out in a way that made Celene cringe as she whispered, “I’m scared to depend on you.”
“You’ve accomplished so much in a week. It’s okay to want to see me.” Skye’s smile hadn’t fizzled out like she feared.
“Are you really going to miss out on your parents tomorrow?”
“My family doesn’t need me right now. But I think you do.” She kissed Celene once on the cheek, lips healing against her skin. “Depending on someone doesn’t make you dependent. Needing someone doesn’t make you needy. You’re safe with me, I promise.”
That calmness, that sage demeanor. Celene hoped to meet the rest of the Florentines, to get a sense of who created this. Or maybe nature taught Skye. “How long are you staying with me?”
She’d expected a day. Hell, even just the night.
Until Skye, a woman taxed with all the obligations and projects in the world, fell softly onto her back. Gliding fingertips along Celene’s aster tattoo, she replied, “As long as you want.”
32
Celene’s world.
“Show me the rituals of your world,” Skye had told Celene early that next morning. They’d outfitted themselves for a jog around Riverside Park. Saying this, she’d loosened her hair from its nightly silk wrap, the picture of excitement. “Don’t change anything about today. You have some work to do this afternoon, right? Don’t even postpone that; I’d love to just float around, existing near you.”
“Like a butterfly on the wall?” Celene asked, washing primer and moisturizer from her hands. No way she’d call her girlfriend an ordinary fly.
“Exactly like that.” Skye openly hesitated before crossing the threshold into the bathroom. New guest nerves, though they weren’t necessary. After grinning at Celene’s consent, she combed her hair into a ponytail.
Pretty, however, Skye’s hair did whatever it wanted once they stepped out in the heat, and Celene loved that, too. “Fine, but I doubt I’ll be able to concentrate.”
“It’s like I’m on vacation.” Skye met Celene’s gaze in the mirror. “Funny how you go to Yielding for time away from it all, and I come here.”
They kept the evening clear for the Vale family meetup at Donovan and Briana’s, where who the hell knew what would go down.
Byron’s gift of the house still left Celene disoriented, confused about a decision that wouldn’t have happened without her putting in all that effort. She originally wasn’t considered because of her singleness; she had toearna place as a valued member of the family.
Plus, there was a new factor: Skye. She chose to be by her side, exuding calm Celene wished she could inject into her veins. The Vales knew they’d show up tonight as a couple, which hopefully wouldn’t cause a distraction.
