going to put any more thought into it,” he pressed. “You’ve just made up your mind, and that’s it—everything’s settled?”
Sophie nodded again. “If you understood why—”
“WELL, I DON’T!” Fitz interrupted. “Because you won’t tell me! And apparently I’m not even supposed to be guessing—and I’m just supposed to be super okay with this too! Like it isn’t going to also ruin everything for me.”
And that was it.
Right there.
That was the cold, hard reality they’d both been trying to pretend away.
There was something eerily calming about having it “out there.”
Like some giant toxic cloud had been lifted off of them, clearing Sophie’s head enough for her to say, “So… I guess that leaves us nowhere, doesn’t it?”
And for one second, she held her breath, hoping she was wrong.
But Fitz sighed and said, “I think it does.”
And his eyes were heartbreakingly sad as he held his home crystal up to the moonlight and slowly glittered away.
FORTY-FIVE
SOPHIE?” EDALINE ASKED, SLOWLY sitting down beside her on the cold, damp grass. “What’s wrong?”
Sophie wanted so badly to assure her that everything was fine.
But she didn’t know how to be brave at the moment.
She’d sunk to her knees after Fitz had left and had been there ever since, watching the fluttering Panakes blossoms fall all around her, wondering how long she’d have to sit there until she was completely buried by flowers.
As far as life goals went, complete petal submersion seemed like her best option—and it was definitely better than admitting to herself that some small part of her had stayed, hoping that Fitz would come back.
She wouldn’t have needed some big, dramatic apology—though she wouldn’t have minded a little begging.
But she would’ve been good with a simple We’ve both had tough days—can we start over tomorrow?
Instead… they really were broken up—which felt so strange, since they’d barely been together.
She’d still been getting used to thinking of him as her boyfriend.
They hadn’t even kissed!
And now…
Now there would be so many ugly, painful, awkward, messy moments and conversations ahead.
She might even lose a few friends.
And she just couldn’t deal with any of it.
“You don’t have to tell me what happened,” Edaline promised as she wrapped an arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “But I would love it if you’d be willing to answer one question for me, okay? Just so I have some idea of which direction to focus my worrying.”
Sophie’s stomach twisted at the last word, and she realized how knotted up her insides were. It felt like everything was one big tangle and she’d never unravel it all.
She didn’t want Edaline feeling the same.
So she forced herself to nod, and Edaline pulled her a little bit closer and whispered, “Did something happen with Fitz? Or Councillor Oralie?”
The correct answer was both.
And Sophie’s lips started to form the word, but…
She couldn’t give Edaline the truth.
And she wondered if maybe that was the real reason that Mr. Forkle hadn’t wanted her to look into her biological parents.
He’d known the burden that would come with it.
The role she’d have to play.
The lies she’d have to tell, over and over.
And she hated that in a strange way, her breakup was a good thing.
It meant she could tell Edaline, “Fitz,” and have a perfect excuse for the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
One ugly truth to cover everything she was hiding.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” Edaline said, shifting to pull Sophie into a full hug.
And as Sophie sobbed against Edaline’s shoulder, some tiny piece of her crumpled heart smoothed itself out again.
Because as much as she hated The Liar Who Didn’t Deserve to Be Mentioned, she also knew—with absolute certainty—that she didn’t need her.
That mother had given her life.
This mother gave her love.
So did her father.
And her human parents had once done the same.
And that was all that mattered.
She was officially done with her biological parents.
In fact, she hoped she never found out who her father was.
“Do you want to sleep out here again?” Edaline asked, snapping her fingers to conjure up a giant pile of pillows and blankets when Sophie nodded. In record time, Edaline had set up a huge bed for Sophie to crawl into, and even conjured up Ella while Sophie settled under the covers.
“Will you stay with me?” Sophie whispered as Edaline kissed her good night. And she didn’t care if the request sounded silly or childish.
She wanted her mom.
And Edaline didn’t hesitate to lie down beside her, pulling an extra blanket over them both.
Wynn and Luna snuggled in around their feet, and Calla’s songs filled the air