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“I don’t blame you for wanting to downplay this, but you’ve never had a remotely romantic situation with someone before, and that’s bound to make you feel things.”
“I’m not sure I’d call it romantic.”
Ivy laughs. “You swam with a mainlander by the light of the moon. You don’t think that’s romantic?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it was,” I finally say. It was necessary and intense, terrifying and relieving. I don’t think it was romantic, but I get what Ivy is saying.
“Which brings me back to my last point. Say thank you, then never see him again. Get the closure you need so he is no longer a distraction. That’s the best you can hope for.”
Hope paves the way for wanting things that were never part of the plan.
“Okay. Never again,” I agree.
She studies my face, seemingly trying to figure out how serious I am, then nods as if she’s satisfied.
She changes the subject, talking about the tea shop and different brews she’s working on. Then, as we make our way back toward Main Street, she says, “Don’t hate me.”
“Oh no.”
“My parents want me to make a new blend… inspired by you and Landon… called Tandon.”
“Absolutely not,” I say, horrified.
“I told my parents you wouldn’t like it, but they insisted.”
“And what would you magic it with?”
“Excitement and peace,” she says. She lowers her voice and gets a mischievous look on her face. “But I’d add a drop of quiet defiance, just for you.”
“Excuse me, when have I ever been defiant?”
“You’re defiant every day when you quietly insist on walking the path your parents have laid out for you on your own terms. You’re defiant when you’re honest with Landon and when you go swimming in your nicest dresses.” She pauses. “And you’re definitely being defiant by making a boy named Wolfe a memory keeper.”
“I never said it was a memory keeper.” The spell I spoke earlier rushes back to my mind, and I blush.
“You may as well have,” Ivy says, rolling her eyes.
I don’t admit to it, but she knows me too well.
We walk back into the shop, and I take off my jacket and head over to the wooden island to finish Wolfe’s cologne.
Dad pokes his head into the back. “I thought that was you. Honey, we’re going to have to postpone our restock date—I forgot about the council dinner your mother has tonight. Can we do it tomorrow instead?”
Ivy and I exchange a quick glance before I answer, “Sure, Dad, that works.”
“Great,” he says, slipping back into the store and letting the door swing shut behind him.
“Tana, you can never see him again after tonight. Give him your gift, get your closure, and make sure he’s on the last ferry out.”
I nod. She’s right, so right it makes my chest ache.
“Never,” she says.
“I know.”
She looks at me, head tilted to the side. “Good,” she finally says. Then she gives me a quick hug and leaves.
fifteen
