Indigo interrupts me with a shake of her head. She opens her mouth a few times as if trying to get the words out, but every time she comes up empty. She’s looking down at it like it’s the most beautiful thing someone has ever done for her. I doubt that.

“You can see it grow and I’ll be here to teach you everything about it.”

Her hands shake as she places them in the back pockets of her jeans. It wasn’t my intention to make her emotional. All I wanted was to make it better. Don’t really know why. Don’t care either. You don’t need a reason to help someone or be good to them.

“If you want me to, of course,” I add when she still doesn’t say anything.

She nods in agreement, her eyes glistening.

I turn my head and act like I didn’t see it. “Well, if you need—”

She cuts me off by throwing her arms around me.

I do the same, inhaling her strong scent as her body heat sends warm waves through me.

She smells nice. Can’t really tell what perfume she’s wearing. While it won’t make you sneeze, it’s strong enough to ensure that once you become aware of it, you can’t ignore it.

“Thank you,” Indigo says, and when she takes a step back, there’s no trace of tears.

I don’t know how she can do that. My eyes go puffy and my cheeks turn red whenever I cry. She looks like she just stepped out of a magazine.

“Don’t thank me too much or I’ll get used to it,” I laugh. I hate that she still can’t make eye contact with me. Am I making her uncomfortable? She seemed to be getting used to me lately. Not sure about now, though. “Did you say you like dogs?” I ask, changing the subject.

Indigo studies my face for a few seconds before nodding.

That’s a good thing. I love dogs. I always have. Knowing she’s an animal lover makes me feel a bit better about tomorrow. Maybe once I come back, her mood will lighten.

“I’m going out of town tomorrow,” I blurt. I don’t know why I say it so suddenly. It just slips out of my mouth.

“Oh.”

It’s my turn to nod. I kick a rock and bury my hands in the pockets of my jeans.

The creak of a door gets our attention.

Enya is standing on the porch. “How do you like it?” she smiles. “I wonder what name we could give this one.”

We all burst out laughing, Indigo’s mood changing in an instant. I’m pretty sure we all know that Olivia is going to choose it.

CHAPTER TWENTY

ELIAS

Avocado throws himself at me, and I grab him just in time.