At Havenfield, Sophie got two big hugs from her parents, who told her how glad they were that Gisela had been caught—and how thankful they were that Keefe was okay.
But they could tell she was wiped out, so Edaline offered her a quick dinner and they both hugged her goodnight.
She rushed through a shower and climbed into bed, letting Iggy curl up on her pillow beside her.
She was really tempted to transmit to Keefe to check in, but figured he was either talking with Fitz, which she didn't want to interrupt, or sleeping, which she didn't want to disturb.
She also didn't want to think about the difficult days ahead, between Gisela's Tribunal and all of the unknowns surrounding what the rest of the Neverseen may still be planning.
So instead, she curled up and listened to the familiar sound of Iggy's loud snores as she replayed every word she and Keefe had shared in the clearing, remembering the kiss they'd shared there, and the brief one they'd just had in the Healing Center. Eventually, she fell asleep thinking of all the things she still needed to say to him.
When she woke the next morning, she leapt out of bed and raced to her closet.
She wished she had more red tunics. She'd really have to rectify that, though she felt silly when she imagined explaining to Edaline why she was shopping for more red clothing.
In lieu of red, Sophie put on a soft sleeveless tunic in a really pretty lavender color before picking out black leggings and simple flats to go on her feet.
She tried not to think too hard about the fact that she was suddenly concerned about her appearance when Keefe never really seemed to care that she rarely put forth that much effort.
Oh well. Maybe Biana was rubbing off on her a little.
She stepped in front of her mirror to brush her hair and maybe apply a little bit of lip gloss.
"Oh wow," Vertina told her. "You actually don't have circles under your eyes for once!"
Sophie rolled her eyes but didn't address it. Instead, she let Vertina walk her through a simple hairstyle—mostly just to keep the spectral mirror from going back to criticizing—then bounded down the stairs.
Grady and Edaline were finishing up breakfast and offered Sophie a sweetberry swirl.
"You look very pretty today in that lavender," Edaline noted.
"You...do look nice," Grady agreed suspiciously. "Anything special going on today?"
That was one minefield Sophie was not ready to step into.
She didn't really want to tell them about Keefe until she and Keefe had a chance to talk about it.
Thankfully, she was spared the need to answer by the sound of the chimes announcing Keefe's arrival.
Grady's eyes narrowed as he looked at Sophie again.
Edaline gave her a knowing little wink.
She tried to pretend she didn't notice either as she offered Keefe a pastry.
"Nah, Elwin wouldn't let me leave until I ate something. But he says I'm perfectly fine, and Fitz said my mind seems to be coping just fine too."
"Good," Grady said. "Then you can help me out in the pastures today."
Sophie looked imploringly at Edaline.
"Grady, I think these two deserve a break after everything they've been through the last couple of days. Why don't you two go do something fun today?" She smiled at Sophie. "Just let me know if you decide to leave Havenfield, okay?"
Sophie agreed, and she and Keefe stepped outside.
"So, is there any update on your mom?" Sophie asked tentatively.
Keefe shook his head. "Fitz said he'd go home and find out what was going on, and he'd check in with us later. He said Alden was pushing the Council to give me some time before I have to see her and use my ability to wake her." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "And he said he'd let them know that I'd rather they be the ones to tell my dad that we caught her. I'm still not ready to deal with him."
They were out of view of the house, now, and he reached out and took her hand as they walked.
"I don't blame you," Sophie said quietly.
Keefe squeezed her hand. "You know, Foster, I actually need to talk to Grady today. I probably should go back and help him with some of the chores. Make him feel like I'm really vital to the well-being of the animals they're rehabilitating so that he won't kill me for dating his daughter."
Sophie's heart swelled at the word 'dating'. "You want to talk to Grady...about us?" She asked him.
"Don't you think I should?"
"I guess...but don't you think we should talk a little first?"
He squeezed her hand again. "I guess we sort of did skip that part. And, hey! My mom isn't much of a factor anymore, so there's one complication down! And my new abilities may be a bit of an issue for me as I get used to them, but...they won't be a complication for us either."
"A lot has changed in less than forty-eight hours," Sophie agreed. "But mostly I meant that I didn't want to tell Grady about us until I know how we're labeling us."
"I mean...I guess that's up to you," Keefe said quietly. "I'll gladly stick any label on this relationship. And I'll proudly tell anyone who will listen."
"So if I were to call you my boyfriend...?"
"I've already told you...this is what I've wanted from the day we first met. I do think we should give Fitz some time, so as much as I want to make banners that say "Team Foster-Keefe is Finally Official!" and hang them all over Foxfire, I'll refrain from making it that public. But we don't have to hide it either. Fitz said as much, after I explained everything to him."
"Is he okay?"
Keefe sighed. "He will be. He's not angry with either of us, at least. He's just...sad. And surprised but...also not surprised, if that makes sense."
"I think it does."
Keefe was quiet for a moment. They had come to the Grove, but hadn't reached the clearing. Instead, he led her to the tree he'd been sleeping in and they stood under the shade it provided.
"I have this dream," he told her with a smile, "to kiss you under the Panakes. But I figured I better not attempt it when I haven't talked to Grady yet. Too much chance he'd see us, and I really want to talk to him about it first."
She grinned. "You're probably right."
He leaned in. "I guess kissing you here for now will have to do. Then after I talk to Grady later, I want to kiss my girlfriend under the Panakes."
And with that, he pulled her in close and kissed her.
No one interrupted this time. The kiss stretched on until Keefe finally pulled away, looking at her with a rather dazed look in his eyes. "Feels too good to be true," he murmured.
"But it is true," she assured him.
He smiled at her. "Did I tell you how nice you look today?" He asked. He brought a hand up and skated it along the braid Vertina had helped her weave into the front of her hair. "Trying to impress me?" He teased.
Sophie leaned up on her toes to give him a quick kiss. She remembered the day he'd come to see her and done this very same thing and implied that she was trying to impress Fitz. But today, she could give a different answer. "Maybe a little bit. But don't let it go to your head."
"Of course not," Keefe agreed. "You know how humble I am."
Sophie wasn't sure whether she should laugh or roll her eyes.
"So," Keefe said as he sat down in the grass, resting his back against the tree trunk and gesturing for her to join him, "I guess we still have some things to talk about?"
Sophie nodded. "I do have some things I want to tell you."
Keefe took her hand. "I hope you're going to explain just how the Great Foster Oblivion ended," he said with a sweet smile, "but first...I think we need to talk a little more about Fitz."
"What about him?"
"It's not a big deal, but I do think we need to address it." He squeezed her hand. "You still have feelings for him."