This moment seems so monumental that I actually kind of feel like I’m intruding. I start to back away, to head to the bungalow and wait out the rest of the Journey, I guess. All this time, Kavya had her own stresses to handle, and I can’t blame her for reacting the way she did. In her own way, she thought she was protecting me, even if she was misguided. I can’t blame her for that.

But of course, I take one step backward and my foot lands on a plastic bottle. I slip, and my body careens toward Kavya’s car. I land on it, hard, and the alarm blares to life.

HONK HONK HONK HONK

Way to ruin a beautiful moment.

“Suri’s sensitive,” Kavya says, a playful grin creeping up her tear-streaked face. She turns off the alarm, then leans against the hood of the car and pats the space next to her. I may know now that she wasn’t trying to completely mess up my life, but I’m not so sure I want to get all cozy with her just yet. I hesitate, and Kavya nods.

“Hey, that’s fine, I wouldn’t be too happy with me either,” she says. “I fucked up big-time. Like, I’m the dickbag here, and I owe you an epic apology. I did all that because I didn’t want the same sadness to happen to you that’s been hurting my mom. But I guess I oversimplified things. I’m sorry I ruined your Journey. Although, to be honest, you didn’t have to up and get in the tub with Bob. I just wanted you to remember they existed, not try to get down and dirty with—” She stops suddenly and grimaces. “Gah, this isn’t the best apology, is it? What I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry for my part in it. If I had never kept messaging Bob, if I’d never asked them to come here, Sean wouldn’t have seen you together. That’s totally my bad.”

I want to be mad at Kavya. It would be so much easier to blame Sean’s reaction on someone else. But Kavya’s right. I didn’t have to bring Drop to my house; I didn’t have to try to force some connection by scaling.

“Apology accepted,” I say. “I never thought this Journey could get so complicated. I was just supposed to keep my head down, help somebody, and get out of here. But somehow, a part of me got attached. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Then, like getting slapped by a humpback, it hits me. I have an opportunity to learn from one of the only people who’d understand.

I turn to Coraline. “Could we talk? I have so many questions.”