Page 30 of Skyblossom
“Thanks,” I said quietly. “For, you know… looking out for me in every way you can.”
“It hasn’t always been good.”
“No. But you’ve always been good. And I’m grateful.”
After a quiet minute, she sighed. “I could use a brownie with ice cream.”
“Okay,” I said, standing up. “Let’s get you a brownie with ice cream. And coffee to go with?”
“And coffee to go with.”
“Sounds good. C’mon, you.”
We walked together, out of the observatory, and off to whatever it was that was coming next.
Chapter 13
STARTING OVER…?
CADENCE
I got perfect grades on everything. I didn’t feel a single bit of what I was supposed to.
My last practical for the semester was exhausting, a high-stakes enchantment casting exam, and I did get hit in the stomach by an enchanted bowling ball, but it didn’t hurt as muchas the emotional punch to the gut had hurt, so really, my gut wasfine.
I was a little hunched over the table in the galeria when Rosie found me, though. Maybe my gut was still hurting, just a bit.
“God, I’ve missed summer,” Rosie said, stretching her arms over her head, and I saw the look of panic on her features when she realized, her skin going glassy white for an instant. “I mean—summer vacation. I’ve missed June and July and August. And a bit of May.”
“I’ve missed Summer too,” I said, looking down at where Knot curled up around my wrist. He’d been clingy ever since Summer and I had broken up. Sensing my distress and just trying to do anything he could to make me feel better.
“You have not. You hate hot weather and you just want to study.”
“Mm.”
“Oh, you mean—sorry.” She took my teacup, looking down at the dregs on the bottom. “Do you want more tea?”
“I’m all right…” I said, voice hoarse and small and dry, and she nodded, taking the cup.
“More tea. Coming right up. Do you want cookies with it?”
“I don’t need cookies.” Saints, why was I crying? My voice was shaky and weak. I buried my face in my hands. I’d already cried enough about Summer. Days now where the only things I’d been doing were exams, studying, and crying.
A minute later, Rosie came back with a tray of two cups of tea, and a plate of small cookies. I sniffled, wiped my face, and I took the tea, sipping it.
“Thank you.”
“Of course, sweetheart. Anytime. What are friends for?”
“Handling their friends being sad miserable sacks barely good for the materials they carry, crying over a girl she knew shewas going to leave anyway?” My voice got thicker with tears as I went until I sounded thin and hysterical at the end, and she got up, moved her chair around to my side, and she hugged me. I buried my face against her shoulder and cried, and she stroked my back reassuringly.
“There, there,” she whispered. “It’s okay. It’s okay to be a sad sack.”
“I just miss her,” I mumbled against her shoulder. “I’m genuinely never finding someone as good as she was.”
She sighed. “You know, Cades… I think true love is relative.”
I sniffled. “I-I know. I’ll find someone I care about… at some point, I guess… but—”
