“What are you doing, Jamie?” Kasey asks, watching as I push the moisture meter into the soil of a potted plant on the counter.

“It’s starting to get pretty cold out, which means the plants need less water, so. I’m making sure that none of these are drowning.”

“This shit is too complicated,” Kasey sighs. “No wonder I couldn’t keep that succulent you gave me alive.”

“Those things are supposed to be unkillable, you know. I think you actually murdered that poor succulent. Oh, god - which means that I murdered it by giving it to you.” I press my hands to my face, then point an accusing finger at her. “I’m going to plant hell, because of you.”

“Can we please get back to talking about the locket?”

“I think that Aiden will be ready soon.” I set the plant aside, then reach for another. “He wants to practice some more, just to be safe, since we only have one conduit left. But yeah, soon!”

“Really?” Kasey beams at me. “Fuck yes! I’ll go tell Will. We’re getting so close!”

“How is this going to work, though, Kase-face? We put all the tokens on the map, and then - what happens?”

Kasey shrugs.

“I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out, if it’s not apparent. I mean, we robbed a fucking museum and came away clean, so.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” I dust off my hands and pull my phone out of my pocket. “I set a news alert for Nicholas Coburn. I got a notification this morning, almost had a fucking meltdown, and then - here, look.”

I show Kasey the article I have pulled up. It’s about a new chief curator being brought into the Bratton Collection. The last paragraph thanks Nicholas Coburn for his years of service, and wishes him well in his retirement.

“Wow, he really did retire.” Kasey lets out a low whistle. “Damn. I always thought I’d force some prejudiced old historians out of the field over the course of my career. I thought it would be because I dunked too hard on one of their articles, or something.” She grins widely. “But this is good, too.”

“I feel a tiny bit bad,” I admit.

“Of course you feel bad, Jamie,” Kasey laughs. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. But it’s not like we got him fired. He’s retiring.”

“That’s true… well, I hope his replacement treats the security guards better.” I pick up the moisture meter again, draw another plant towards me. “When are you gonna give Will the update?”

“Right now, I think,” Kasey says. “Looks like you’ve got a customer, anyways.”

When I look up, Kasey is gone, and someone is pushing open the shop door.

“Hello,” I call. “How can I help - oh, hey, Gabby!”

“Hi.” Gabby steps inside, letting in a gust of cool air. Her hair is in a sleek ponytail, her hands in the pockets of her shiny fall jacket.

She strolls over to the counter, stopping to admire some of the flowers on the way.

“Kent’s in the back, he’s wrapping up a call with a client.”

“Oh, then I won’t interrupt.” Gabby’s phone buzzes, and she pulls it out of her pocket. “Mind if I wait with you?”

“Not at all.”

She smiles, then unlocks her phone and starts speed-reading an email.

“So, what have you and Aiden been up to?” she asks, scrolling as she speaks. “He’s been in a good mood, recently.”

It dawns on me that we’ve never directly told Kent or Gabby about us. We were keeping it quiet in the beginning, but - I really don’t think Aiden will mind if I share it.

“We’re going on a date tonight,” I tell Gabby.

She’s already typing something on her phone, and she doesn’t even glance up. “A date, hmm? That’s nice.”

“We got together around the end of summer, actually.”

Gabby stops and looks up from the email she’d been responding to.

“Wait a minute. Do you seriously mean to tell me that you and Aiden haven’t been dating this whole time? It’s only been since the end of summer?”

“You knew?” I shake my head, feeling stupid. “What am I saying? Of course you knew. You’re Gabby. Does Kent know, too?”

“Do I know what?” Kent asks, stepping out of the back room with an inventory book in his hand.

“That Aiden and Jamie are dating,” Gabby answers for me, wrapping up her email and tucking her phone back into her pocket.

“Oh," Kent says. “Yeah, I knew.”

“What-? Did Aiden tell you, or did Gabby?”

“No one told me. I live with Aiden. I noticed that he started smiling a lot right around the same time that you started sleeping over a lot, Jamie. Sorry to break it to you, but you guys aren’t slick.”

“We weren’t trying to be slick! It’s just - Aiden and I have a really wild history, and this is a tiny town, so everybody knows about it. We didn’t want everyone giving us their opinions.”

“You know what I think,” Kent begins, “You two, as a couple-”

“No, Kent! This is exactly what we were trying to avoid!”

“Are very sweet together.”

“Oh.” I blink at him, then break into a smile. “Thanks.”

“Did we take away the excitement of telling someone?” Gabby plucks the inventory book from Kent’s hand and sets it down on the counter. “Here, tell us again, and we’ll be shocked.”

I’m all ready to explain that I wasn’t trying to shock them, that it just felt like time to share this, that it’s almost a relief learning that they knew already, but - I’m lowkey curious about what Gabby might look like shocked. I’ve never seen her wear that look before.

“Okay, yeah. Hey, guys. Big news. Aiden and I are dating.”

“What!” Kent yells, and Gabby gasps, throwing her hands over her mouth. “Can you believe this, Gabby?”

“I - I-” Her eyes roll back, and she very convincingly pretends to faint. Kent catches her immediately, fanning her face.

“Quick, Jamie! We need some help over here! Which of these plants can act as smelling salts?”

“Oh my god,” I laugh, flapping a hand at them. “Stop it, that’s more than en-!”

I break off as the door swings open. Aiden steps inside, then stops, taking in the scene before him: Kent holding up a supposedly half-conscious Gabby, and me standing there holding the moisture meter, reaching for Kent's arm.

“Um,” he says.

“Oh, Aiden!” Gabby springs back to life, straightening up and smoothing out her hair. “Excellent, you’re here. Jamie just told us that you two are dating, and we’re absolutely staggered.”

Aiden glances at me, smiling, then looks back to Kent and Gabby.

“Weird, I thought you two had already figured it out.”

“Nope!” Kent answers, reaching for his jacket. “We’re floored.”

“Astounded,” Gabby puts in, retrieving her purse from the counter. They keep it going the whole way to the door, holding hands.

“Stupefied.”

“Stunned.”

“Astonished.”

“Flabbergasted.”

Aiden steps aside to let them out, and we watch as they head off together down the sidewalk.

“Did you know that we’re not slick, apparently?” I tell him, and he grins, joining me at the counter.

“Were we trying to be slick?”

“No, but we also weren’t trying to be obvious. How did we successfully break into a museum without getting caught, and yet-?”

“I don’t know.” Aiden leans across the counter and presses a soft kiss to my lips. "No idea."

“Probably stuff like this, right?” I murmur, against his mouth.

“Maybe, but that’s no reason to stop.”

Smiling to myself, I pull back and sink the meter into another pot. “How did it go with Noah?”

“Not as bad as I expected.” Aiden watches me work, his chin resting on his palm. “I think he’s in a better place about the Ralph stuff than he was before. I told him when Mellie and Raj were both there, and that helped, too. You should have seen it. He was standing between the two of them, and it was like they closed ranks around him. I think he knows he’s safe.”

“Wow.” I look up at Aiden, surprised. “That’s - different. I mean, Raj basically had to drag him back into the house, last time.”

“I know. But yeah, he seemed alright. About this, at least.”

“That’s good news. I would have come with you to tell him, but - I think he’s annoyed at me.” I nibble my lip, trying not to sound upset. “He hasn’t responded to any of my texts, and I had to call him twice to get him to answer last night. I guess I’m bugging him.”

“I wouldn’t say he’s annoyed at you,” Aiden answers, frowning. “He didn’t seem like it, when I went over there. Maybe he just needs some time to think? Raj said he’s been going on really long walks, recently. Alone.”

I stare at Aiden, taken aback. “Really?”

“Yeah. I told Raj that’s normal. Noah used to do stuff like that in high school, too, when he had a lot to think about. He’d go on long drives by himself, come back way more calmed down. He doesn’t have a car now, so - I guess he’s walking, instead?”

“Huh.” I tap my fingers on the counter, absorbing that.

“Look,” Aiden says, “There’s an easy way to figure out if he’s annoyed at you or just busy in his own head. Talk to him about something unrelated, and see how he responds. That’s the method I used in high school.”

I think it over, then pick up my phone again. I pull up a link that I was planning to send Noah, anyways.

“Okay… I’m texting him a video called my lightweight ass on the way to go do something stupid after two drinks, and I’m writing - this is Raj. Mkay. There we go. Sent.”

“Outstanding,” Aiden chuckles. “Now that that’s done, are we still on for our date?”

“Yep, as soon as Destinee gets here to take over.” I reach over and comb a stray strand of chestnut hair out of his face. “I get to plan the next one, though, okay?”

“Sure.” Aiden takes my hand in his, smoothing his thumb over my fingers. “Although - I don’t have a whole plan, this time. I was just gonna - take you to dinner, then see if you wanted to go home and watch a movie?"

“Sounds like a plan to me.” I stand on my toes, leaning across the counter to nuzzle my nose against his. “A perfect plan, in fact.”

Aiden drags his palm along my jaw, then gently guides my face to his for a kiss.

“Oh. My. Fucking. God.”

Aiden and I both jump, then twist to face the door. Destinee is standing there, her mouth hanging open, her eyes perfectly round.

“Oh-” I step back, my face burning. “Hey, Des! We were just - um-”

She holds up a hand, cutting my fumfering explanation short, and turns to Aiden. “What am I seeing right now?”

“Jamie and I are together,” Aiden tells her, and her purse slides off of her shoulder. She catches it with her elbow, but doesn’t take her eyes off of us.

“What? Oh my god, I knew you guys were friends now, but - holy shit. Wait, but - in high school - you two - holy shit! And - Aiden - you - you’re-?”

Aiden turns to grin at me. “Hey, someone is surprised. Maybe we are a little slick, after all?”

Destinee has a lot of follow-up questions, and by the time Aiden and I step outside, I’ve forgotten about the text I sent Noah. It comes as a surprise when I check my phone and see that he’s already responded.

Noah ⚡ 6:08 PM: Lmaooooooo that is definitely Raj, my mans will have one drink and forget how to walk

Noah ⚡ 6:08 PM: Also Raj says to say that at least his tab is never more than like $6

Noah ⚡ 6:09 PM: Definitely not the brag he thinks it is

So Noah isn’t annoyed with me, then. Just not looking to talk about serious stuff.

That’s okay. I’m not going to push him on it any harder than I have. Aiden has taught me a lot about patience, and I haven’t forgotten what Ms. Callahan said, either. All seeds need time to hide in the soil before they can grow.

But… sometimes they need a little help, don’t they? Some care and attention? Every plant is different. They all need different things. Noah clearly needs something different than what I’ve been offering.

And Aiden just gave me an idea.

~~~~

Noah comes outside barefoot, his phone in his hand, and spots me leaning against my car.

“Seriously, Jamie? I thought you were joking. What are you doing here? You have any idea what time it is? You're lucky I was already up.”

“I know, it’s late. Means the roads are empty, though.” I nod at my car. “I thought you might want to go for a drive.”

Noah’s eyebrows furrow. “To where?”

I shrug. “Nowhere.”

Noah blows out a frustrated breath. “Goddamnit, dude, I told you, I don’t want to-”

“Not to talk,” I interrupt. “Just a drive, that’s it.”

Noah tilts his head to the side, surprised. He stares at me for a moment, then turns and starts back up the driveway. Without a word, he slips back into the house.

I want to groan in frustration, but I tell myself that it’s fine. I’m not gonna push him, I just came to make the offer.

I get back in the car and sit there, biting the inside of my cheek.

“Fucking fine,” I mutter to myself. “Fine.”

I move to put the key in the ignition, then stop, catching something from the corner of my eye. I turn to see Noah coming back out of the house, pulling on his bomber jacket as he walks. He’s no longer barefoot, but wearing his boots.

I let out a relieved breath, then get out of the car and hold up the keys.

“You wanna drive, or should I?”

Noah leans his elbows on the roof. “Can this thing go more than two miles an hour? Can it go at all, honestly?”

“Rule number one of my car is: do not insult the car.” I point a warning finger in Noah’s direction. “This car is the first big thing I ever bought myself, and I love it deeply. Secondly, I think it can go more than two miles an hour, but it really depends on a number of factors, including just like, the mood the car is in that day, so, um. We’ll see.”

Noah lets out a snort of laughter, then straightens up. “Move, Keane. I’m driving.”

~~~~

We roll all the windows down. The back window on the passenger’s side has to be manually crushed into submission, since the button hasn’t worked in years. Noah seems like he’s about to comment, but he obeys the rule of my car and bites it back.

We pull out onto the dark, empty street.

Noah coaxes my car up to its maximum speed, which isn’t all that fast, but fast enough. He rests one elbow on the window, leaves a hand on the wheel, sits back. Wind rushes through the car, and he takes deep long breaths of it, his grey eyes staring straight ahead.

I offer him the aux cable, but he doesn’t take it. The roar of the wind is the only sound as we drive.

I have to actively fight my natural instinct to start up a conversation, so I turn away from him. I look out of the window, watch as sleeping Ketterbridge passes us by.

Noah takes us to the place where the Fling Thing is held every year. He drives us halfway up the mountainside, then pulls over and gets out. I get out and join him. We stand at the guard rail and look down from the mountain, our breaths frosting on the cold air.

There’s actually a nice overhead view of Ketterbridge from where we’re at. It’s too dark to make out any details, but anywhere there’s a lamp left on or headlights gliding down a road, we can see it. A fluid constellation of lights.

Noah stands there for a few minutes, just looking. Then he gets back in the car, and I do, too.

We don’t exchange a single word the entire time, not even when I drop him back at the house. But when I get home and check my phone, there’s a text waiting for me.

Noah ⚡ 3:01 AM: Thanks, Jamie. It helped.

Exhausted but smiling, I go to my room, pull off my shoes, and collapse face-first into bed.