“It’s not… you know… love.” She shifted awkwardly in her seat. “We’re just getting to know each other as more than annoying teenagers.”

“Then don’t hide,” Ísa whispered gently. “Be who you are—don’t show him just the armored steel you show the world. Show him the sweet Catiebug who sits with Emmaline and Esme for hours, playing dolls or robots, and who delights Connor by watching the same movie over and over with him.

“Show him the Catie who saved up her pocket money to get my first published book bound in leather with my name embossed in gold.” Ísa’s eyes shimmered. “Show him the Catie who has a heart so soft that she donates ridiculous amounts of money to animal shelters.”

“How do you even know that?” Catie squeaked.

“I know things,” Ísa said, tapping at her temple. “Baby, you’re a gorgeous, sweet, strong woman who loves. You’re also the bravest person I know. Now you have to be braver than you’ve ever before been because this—what I see with you and Danny—I know you well enough to know you’ll kick yourself forever if you don’t try your hardest to see if you can make it work.”

“What if it fails?” Catie whispered. “It would really, really hurt, Ísa.” That was as far as she could go to admitting how much Danny already meant to her.

“I know.” Ísa’s voice was thick. “But regret hurts too. I can’t make that choice for you, but I want you to know that you’re stronger than you realize. We both have a bit of the Dragon in us after all.”

Catie held her sister’s words close to her heart as she went through the rest of her day. She knew she could be brave. She didn’t have any doubts about that part of herself. She’d come through the fires as a child and it had forever altered her. But emotional bravery of this kind… it was hard.

Then she got a text from Danny. A raccoon emoji. That was it.

Snorting out a laugh, she responded with a picture she had on her phone of her missing dangle, typing the word: Stolen across it in red text.

Five minutes later, he sent back a photo of the dangle with packing tape wrapped around it as if it were being held hostage.

Laughing, she felt her anxiety drop once more. He was thinking of her, and he obviously didn’t mind this kind of contact. So maybe… maybe they could make it work.

Three weeks later and Danny knew two things.

One: he was hopelessly head over heels for one Catie M. River.

Two: she didn’t feel the same.