These are mirroring pain, suffering, home, tiredness, peace. I’d like to make one about love, too.

“Enough about me,” I say as he admires my drawings, hands on the edge of the table, muscles flexing. “When’s the meeting?”

“Huh?” He turns and looks at his watch. “In fifteen minutes.”

“What?” I choke on my own breath.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

ELIAS

“Thank you, Elias.” Henry Evans says, sitting up in his office chair and buttoning his jacket. Vanessa Scott does the same in the chair next to him. They look at each other, something passing between them as I sit there, doing my best not to show how nervous I am.

“Why can’t I be the one to deliver the news?” Henry stage whispers.

The woman shoots him a look. “Because you did it last time.” She gives me a funny smile. “Madden,” she starts, and I involuntarily straighten my back and hold my breath. “When can you start?”

My insides explode with happiness, and I don’t hear what happens next. I just nod and say yes from time to time. I’m imagining everyone’s reactions when I tell them the news.

Indigo will be the first to know since she’s downstairs in the waiting room. We’ll celebrate on our own before going to my parents’. I want to take her home first and—

“Does that work for you?” Henry asks.

I come back to earth. “Sure,” I reply calmly, arranging my suit. I feel like I’m about two seconds from fainting. My dream is actually coming true.

“Great. Britt will send the details to your email, and if something isn’t right with your place, you can tell us anytime,” Vanessa says, smiling up at me like I’m her biggest victory.

“My place?” I tentatively ask.

“Your office down the hall.”

Holy cow. My office down the hall? So close to them? Is this a dream? I need someone to pinch me because my entire body is buzzing.

We shake hands, say our goodbyes, and I leave the room, trying not to run or punch the air. Every semblance of dignity goes out of the window as soon as I see Indigo.

When she sees me approach, she jumps to her feet and asks, “You got it?”

I run the last few paces to her, shouting, “Got it!”

She lets out a scream of joy. I’ve never thought she’d be happy enough to express herself like this in front of other people. I pick her up and carry her like a princess to the car. She squeezes my neck with her slender arms.

“You fucking got it,” she says as I lower her into the passenger seat.

She grabs me by my cheeks and kisses me until I’m out of breath. I rub my nose to hers as we break apart.

“Can we go home now before I drag you into the backseat of the car?”