“It’s fine. Much better, in fact. The good news is that when we do get that boat repaired, I’ll be able to pull my weight. Not that you couldn’t handle it on your own.”

She laughed. “I’m strong, but I know my limits. I can’t get a boat to the shore on my own.” She pulled her legs up to her chest. “I should go. I won’t see you tomorrow, because of the festival. Do you think you’ll be all right until the day after?”

He wanted to tell her no. He wanted her to stay. He wanted to tell her that going even a few hours without seeing her was too long. He wanted her to slip away from the festival and spend that time with him instead. But he nodded because what he wanted was irrelevant. “Of course.”

He was waiting for her to leave, but she didn’t move. “Jaren, I...” She ran her hands over her braid, clearly anxious about something.

“What is it?”

“I like you. More than I should. I shouldn’t even say that. I’m not a good Endlan.”

He couldn’t stand to see her look so ashamed, not when she’d done nothing wrong. He leaned forward and held out his hand. This time, she took it without hesitating. “I don’t know what makes a good Endlan, Leelo. But I do know you’re a good person.”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

He wouldn’t contradict her. Maybe he didn’t understand, but he knew without a doubt that she was good. “Leelo.”

She slowly dragged her eyes up to his.

“I like you, too.” One side of his mouth tugged up in a grin. “A lot.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“You girls both look beautiful.”

Leelo smiled at her mother, who watched as she and Sage fluttered around the house in preparation for the solstice festival. Despite her concerns for Jaren, Leelo had somehow gotten caught up in the excitement once it was time to get ready. Even Sage seemed eager, to Leelo’s surprise.

“Is my hair all right?” Leelo asked, twisting to get a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

“It’s perfect.” Her mother tugged on one of the long blond waves that she’d woven through with daisies from the Forest. She’d presented Leelo with her new dress that morning, made of fine white cotton embroidered with bright flowers and trimmed in the most delicate handmade lace. Sage was wearing a similar dress in her namesake color.

“You’ve matured over the last few months, you know. Both of you.”

Sage wrapped her arm around Leelo’s waist and squeezed. “Imagine what we’ll be like when the year is over.”

Fiona sighed. “I wish I could freeze time and keep you as you are now.”