“Wow,” Liem said from beside me, and Ari clutched her chest, eyes swimming with emotion.
I looked away quickly, leaning back against Adair’s chest.
“Looks great, Indigo,” he murmured into my ear. “I especially love the neon pink.”
My eyes shot to the vinyl banner which I knew Liem had designed in tasteful, warm tones that reminded me of a sunset, and Adair laughed behind me.
I smiled wryly as I glanced back at him, and his eyes were shining with mirth and love.
It was exactly what I’d needed to gather the courage to look up and read the words.
Gil’s Greenhouse
I brushed my hand over the worn leather of Gil’s tool belt, remembering his serious, light blue gaze, his muttered instructions and quiet nature, then took out my phone and took a picture of the banner.
Glancing at Liem, I smiled softly when our eyes met and nodded at him.
Miss Lenny eyed the sky suspiciously. “Let’s get this show on the road. I woke with an extra ache in my bones this morning. One thatshouldn’thave been there, mind you.”
Delly stood beside us, more subdued than I’d ever seen her. Bree and Vinh weren’t here today, but they had been for the first two attempts, along with Liem and Vinh’s parents, who I’d enjoyed meeting.
Ari stepped up to the ribbon that was pulled taut across the entrance of the greenhouse, which was already full of seedlings. Just as the first boom of thunder rolled across the sky, she cut the ribbon.
Director Links stepped up beside Ari for a photo op and an interview with the local news station. I caught Ari’s eyes, raising my eyebrows in silent question, and she gave me a small nod.
She was okay, and that was that.
The crowd of onlookers broke away, all going different directions, and Adair and I fell into step with Cody and Liem, who were heading toward the lot.
“Are you guys sticking around, or will you try to get back home before the storm?” Adair asked.
Cody and Liem shared a look before Cody said, “Staying here for the night, yeah?”
Liem smiled at him. “Yeah.” He glanced at us. “To keep Ari company. And maybe I’ll do a class tomorrow if the weather isn’t too terrible.”
“She’ll have company soon enough,” I said quietly. Now was as good a time as any, I supposed.
“Oh?” Liem asked, stopping beside an old truck in the visitor’s lot.
I glanced at it, gaze snagging on the Vespa in thetruck bed.
Dad’s Vespa.
The one that Adair had ridden to the pier to propose to me.
Adair’s hand found mine, interlacing our fingers.
I looked up at him, and he searched my eyes, a question written in his.
I squeezed his hand in answer.
“We’re leasing a place in the same building as Ari,” he explained, his shoulders straightening in pride as he slowly moved his gaze to Cody and Liem. “We’ll move in at the end of next week.”
So much change.
There was absolute silence before I finally lifted my gaze to Liem’s.
His lips were parted in shock, but as our eyes met, a huge smile bloomed on his face. “Ire?”
