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“What about you, Vega?” Mr. Watson asks.
That’s too easy. “I’m grateful for apple pie and Indigo Watson.”
thirteen
INDIGO
The ferry homeis a quiet trip. I lean my back against Vega, whose arms wrap around me as we silently watch the sunset at the edge of the waters. The sky is a bright red, and I recall the old adage my dad used to say to me.Red sky morning, sailor’s warning; red sky night, sailor’s delight.
I’ve missed home. On Octopus Island, the stars aren’t visible. There’s too many lights everywhere. But on Magia? Almost every star in the sky can be seen, especially in the Illusionary Jungle. I’m glad to be back, truly, but the reality dawns on me that our week of holidating is over. We can’t remain lovers, so are we friends? Does she just become my boss now? I thought I was getting her out of my system, but now that feels like the furthest thing from the truth. I’m addicted to her.
Images of every scenario possible flash through my mind. The two of us dating, only to be caught and forced to break up. Dean Bariel finding out and firing me—firing Vega. There are a hundred terrible ways this could all play out.
Exiting the ferry, we head towards the parking garage in tense silence. Once you give so much of yourself to someone, it’s hard to reel it back in.
I pop open my trunk, and Vega places my suitcase inside.
I face away from V. I can’t look her in the eyes right now. “I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” I say, not wanting to let the emotions out. If I say anything more, I might tumble down like a house of cards.
She grabs me by the hips and gracefully spins me around, pulling me close. Our lips collide, and I allow my muscles to relax, my body melting into hers.
Vega takes her mouth off mine, but keeps her hands on my waist.
“We’re not done,” she says quietly. It’s not a warning, but a promise.
“Vega, the university’s policy—”
“I know the policy, Indigo. I’m not saying we should break the rules, I’m just reminding you that we agreed to holidate, which is not dating. We’re simply each other’s plus ones for this holiday season.”
My forehead creases as I try to wrap my brain around her implications. “So, what now? Gratefulness week is over.”
“And it’s going to be December,” she interrupts me. “Christmas and Jul and Winter Solstice—all of the best holidays—are coming. I went on a whole trip for your holidate, allow me one holidate of my own.”
“You want one date?”
“Holidate,” she corrects me. “I want one final hoorah. You said you needed to get me out of your system. Let me coarse through it properly, first.”
“Okay,” I agree, because she’s right. This week didnotget her out of my system, but maybe we just weren’t trying hard enough. I’m deluding myself into thinking one last date, or fuck, might just do the trick. My mind spins through everything that could go wrong again, but I shove that feeling back down. “When?”
“Saturday?” she suggests, and I nod.
“Saturday.”
We have to unloop our familiar’s, who are wrapped around one another, refusing to separate, before saying goodbye. Her tusks brush against my skin as she kisses my forehead and then turns back to her car.
* * *
Unlocking the front door, Momiji and I enter the house, my suitcase heavy in my arms, but not as heavy as my heart feels. I fumble with my keys, almost dropping my bag, but use my magic to stop it from hitting the floor. My body is exhausted; this past week was a mess. Between my mother’s mood swings and the lack of permanence between Vega and I, I think this little vacation only made me feel worse about everything. And I can’t forget about Iris. I still feel like we haven’t resolved anything either.
Slouching on the couch, I get out my phone to text the Unholy Trilogy.
Indigo
Just got home!
I turn on the TV as I wait for their reply. Momiji flies over to me, his white fluffy body in contrast with the dark purple of the sofa, and we snuggle up to one another.
Ping.
