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“Do you think he would’ve sealed the bond otherwise?”
“He’s the only one who can answer that, but I’d say there’s a damn good chance.”
We both fell quiet, staring out at the sky together.
“Do you miss flying?” he asked me, after a few more minutes.
“More than I know how to explain.” My whisper was soft, but sure.
“I’m sorry,” Eli said.
“Me too.”
We both stood out there until the sun had risen over the horizon—then, we slipped back inside the apartment that didn’t feel like home anymore.
Graduation was that evening.
Randa had picked up my cap and gown, so when she pulled me out of the apartment, I went to the university with her.
No one said a thing about the giant blond guy tailing me, so I assumed someone had filled the school in on my dragon situation.
I stood in line when I was told to, walked when I was supposed to, and listened half-heartedly to the ridiculous speeches about reaching for the stars and achieving things we’d never dared dream.
I accepted my diploma when I was supposed to, shook hands with people who smelled wrong, and hugged other students I vaguely recognized. My family hadn’t come, because I hadn’t updated them about our bond breaking.
That was going to be a difficult conversation. Something to worry about later, though.
When the ceremony finally ended, I was exhausted, and ready to go home.
Instead, I let Vi and Randa drag me out to a nightclub.
The twins laughed about ridiculous things that had been said during the ceremony while Viola drove, with Eli following us in August’s car.
It was the first real moment of normalcy I’d had since heat started, but it didn’t feel normal.
It felt hollow.
And I had no idea what to do about that.
eighteen
ELODIE
The music was so loud, I had a headache before I even stepped into the club. The barrage of smells made my stomach hurt, too.
I pasted a smile on my face, though, and followed my friends to the bar.
When Vi bought three rounds of overpriced drinks, I drank them like I wasn’t shrinking inside.
Like I wasn’t longing for the cabin I’d left behind.
Like I didn’t miss August so much it hurt.
It was ridiculous for me to feel so attached to him. I knew it was.
But that didn’t change the way I felt.
I’d spent one month with him… and that month had changed everything for me.
