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Livvy had made great strides in going out of doors ever since that first dinner party at the Moons’ house. Obviously, that had everything to do with her desire to happen upon August wherever she went. More often than not, that had worked out entirely in her favor.

Now, however, she was doing whatever she could to avoid him. Church had been a painful necessity—one she’d regretted attending instantly, just as she regretted her harshness with August.

Despite her questioning aloud if they were still friends, she still believed that they were, so why could she not have been honest with him, instead of forcing him to wonder why she was so unhappy?

Perhaps she’d wished for him to suffer just like she had suffered, to feel an ounce of the pain she had felt herself. But how was that in any way the right thing to do? How would that in any way solve matters?

In all reality, August had done nothing wrong. His sisters had been overly harsh, yes, and though he hadn’t defended Livvy, she couldn’t believe that he’d ever meant to intentionally injure her.

Which was why he deserved an apology.

As such, as Tuesday rolled around and Livvy’s pride had been swallowed up by her humility, she made ready to leave for the castle gardens in the late afternoon, intent on relieving herself of her regret once and for all. So long as August would accept her apology, that is.

Father caught her on her way out with another uncharacteristic smile. He’d been in a remarkably pleasant mood that week—whether that was due to the warmer weather or something else, she couldn’t be certain.

Perhaps today’s happy mood had been produced by his returning from work hours early once more.

“Goin’ out again?” he asked.

She nodded. “I thought I might as well while the weather cooperates.”

He beamed accordingly—especially when he eyed her hands and found no book or basket within them. “I be that glad to see ye doin’ better, Liv. Keep this up and ye’ll be just like the rest o’ we.”

Just like the rest of them. Normal, was what he was referring to.

Not odd.

His words echoed in her mind as she left her house and carried on up the cobblestones, slipping by a few gardeners with a simple wave as she continued her penitent walk.

Passing by the Giant’s Well—the water supply that provided for both the castle and the island—she soon reached the Giant’s Heart.

To the untrained eye, the heart was quite difficult to spot—small, dark, and hidden amidst the scattered cobblestones. But Livvy made it a point to find the heart-shaped stone each time she walked by it, so she always discovered it in a matter of seconds.

This time, however, instead of walking past the heart, she stopped on the pathway and peered down at the brown, perfectly shaped stone. Though trodden upon daily by guests, visitors, workers, and the Mount’s residents alike, the heart maintained its shape.

But then, for how long could it do so before it became so weathered, it no longer looked like a heart, after all?

Pushing aside the unsettling thought, Livvy stepped off the pathway to where a small alcove had been created for visitors to take rest as they continued their search of the heart. A massive granite boulder, taller than Livvy, jutted forth near the pathway, smaller rocks resting to the side of it.

Leaning against one of the lesser granite pieces, Livvy was better hidden by the pathway—and those traveling down from the castle—which allowed her a moment to gather her courage. If she was truly going to apologize to August, she’d better rehearse what she wished to say to him.

And yet, before she’d even thought of a single sentence, footsteps sounded from farther up the pathway, and her stomach clenched.

Somehow, she knew—she just knew—it was August.

Sure enough, in the next moment, he appeared around the rock, his eyes focused intently on the pathway, his brow furrowed.

He continued forward, having clearly not seen her, and for a fleeting moment, Livvy flirted with the idea of allowing him passage without speaking to him. After all, she’d be able to save her pride, then.

But what good would that do either of them?

Shaking her head at her cowardice, she stepped forward. “August?”

He started, looking up in surprise over his shoulder and stopping as he met Livvy’s gaze. “Livvy, I didn’t see ye there.”

They stood in awkward silence, the pathway empty other than the two of them.

Say somethin’, Livvy.