Page 64 of Until the Stars Fall

“Speaking of Beck,” Zola said, “explain to us again why you broke up with him? Because you thought you were dangerous?”

“He was trying to help me with my magic, keep it from bursting out like it did in San Francisco.”

“What happened in San Francisco?”

“Hannah, don’t divert her.” Zola turned her eyes on me. “Tell us about you and Beck.”

“But this whole time he’s had this thing about dying in space.”

Both women spoke at once. “What?”

“It’s just a feeling,” I reassured them. “Not something he divined. But how could he let me do magic? On a spaceship? I’m like—” I sputtered. “Magical dynamite. But he has this crazy idea that I’m the girl he’s dreamed about for years, who he’s fated to be with. I can’t let him—”

“Hold up.” Zola put her hand on my arm. “You’re the dream girl?”

“That’s what he thinks, but I—”

“No, no, don’t glaze over this,” she insisted. “Beck told you that you are the dream girl?”

“Yeah.” I gestured at Hannah, to remind her of what she told me. “He said he realized it when he saw my picture at the house.”

“Ohhhh,” Hannah said. “That selfie I asked you to send a couple of years ago? I figured he just thought you were hot.” Her eyes practically turned into hearts. “Gemma, you’re his dream girl! You know he has a gift for divination, right?”

I nodded weakly as Zola jumped in.

“I remember him being quite taken with it, but he never said why. Well, what did Beck say about you wanting to have your magic taken away?”

“He didn’t want me to, but he said he’d rather be with me, without my magic, than not be with me at all. I know he means it now, but he would’ve come to resent me.” Why was I talking about having my magic taken away as some hypothetical? “I know he would.”

Both women shook their heads vehemently, and Hannah actually laughed at me. “Girl, do you know Beck at all?”

“Tall, handsome guy? Scruffy beard?” Zola prompted. “He’s been pining after you practically his whole life, before he even knew who you were. Pin-ing. And if you could see the etheric cord you two share, you would know that man is yours until the stars fall.”

“Ooh,” Hannah cooed, her eyes bright. “They have an etheric cord?”

“Yes,” Zola said emphatically. “A beautiful, golden sacral one.”

“What does that mean?”

“That’s a soulmate bond,” my sister explained. “You have to go make things right with him. You’ll never find a love like that again.”

“Go make up with him so you can enter the new solar system with your heart open. The fresh start will do you good,” Zola said.

“And please no more talk about having your magic taken away, deal?” Hannah asked.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, surprised to find that I meant it.

I left Hannah and Zola and went straight down to the engine room. Beck wasn’t there, but his coffee mug sat on the side table, on top of his journal by the hammock, and it was still warm.

I went to his room and knocked, but he didn’t answer. He’d given me a key, but I didn’t feel right about going in.

With the comms out, I went through the ship to all his favorite haunts, calling for him. He wasn’t in the gym, and he didn’t answer when I called for him in the forest or on my second trip to the engine room, thinking I’d missed him in the stairwell.

He was either avoiding me, or I just kept missing him, which knowing him, was more likely. I knocked on his door one last time and went in when he didn’t answer. He wasn’t there, so I laid across his bed. At least I’d be there when he got back.

The night had been long and cruel. I kept reaching for Beck, finding the bed empty. The wormhole’s roaring had haunted my dreams. All night I wanted him. To tell him I was sorry. To see if he was okay. To see if he was afraid.

I woke up to darkness. His clock said it was morning, but there was no twittering birdsong, no faux sunlight streaming through the transom over his door. Something was wrong on the ship.

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