Page 101 of Our Little Moments

Adrian keeps tracing soft patterns on my arms tenderly as he thinks my words through and I’m utterly at peace. I’ll never understand how I went through life for so long without the love he gives so easily—without everything that makes Adrian Westwoodhim.

While he says I’m his sunrise, Adrian is the childhood music you keep returning to when life gets heavy, but forgot over the years. You plug your earphones in years later and listen to that melody again and you can’t help but grin and feel every emotion.

Adrian is my peace after my life became complete chaos. He’s the color coming back after years of my life turning gray. He’s my safety when I’d been on edge for so long I’d forgotten what it feels likenotto be anxious.

He kisses the crown of my head, effectively bringing me back to the present.

“You’re right,” he murmurs softly, “new beginnings are nerve-wracking. But they can lead to the happy ending we fought for in unexpected ways.”

I tilt my head up to look into his eyes. I’d never realized how much they could communicate.

The sparkles in his eyes from affection, the crinkled corners from his megawatt grin, the vibrance in his eyes.

From the vulnerability in his eyes, I know he’s talking about me and it makes butterflies soar to life as my vision blurs, but I can’t look away from him for the life of me.

His grin widens and my own smile grows at the sight. I never want this moment to end.

Everything feels perfectly right when I’m in his arms, and the all-consuming safety his presence gives slowly calms my heartbeat.

Adrian’s gentle love healed me and I can see it effortlessly as I look into his eyes. The love they convey, their emerald glow, and the endless patience that shines in them.

It’s like I can see right through his soul, and I know he can see just as much through me. He doesn’t lookaway.

My neck starts to hurt from my position so I’m forced to look away. My entire body tingles from the way he looks at me while my heart beats at a peaceful rhythm. How this man can make me feel so alive yet completely safe at the same time will always be a mystery to me.

Adrian notices the reason I pulled away and reaches out to softly massage my neck, and my eyelids flutter closed as the ache slowly dulls. The seconds tick by as my exhaustion from the last week catches up to me and sleep pulls me under.

Adrian

The days pass in a blur. Monday arrives faster than I anticipated and I pace around the streets, waiting for Nate, Jay, and the others to come. The only part of this that reassures me is that Jay will be there and I know that I’ll have his support through whatever happens, whether I struggle with my magic or if I succeed.

Nate arrives with a warm smile and he guides me to a spot further away from town to show me how his company works.

Everyone smiles when I arrive and I quickly realize that Nate didn’t just build a company to help fix and build our town, he created a united team of people who stick together and help guide me through how they function.

Jay steps in when Nate is done explaining how they work to help me train my powers. He shows me how we can both work together using our powers and I smile. As always, Jay and I stick together.

We all decide to train our magic together before we move on to the work I’ll have to join in soon. Training my magic to use it for a completely different reason terrifies me, but I know it’s an important step forward. As my powers come to life, I reassure myself that no one is in danger and that Nate has an entire team to step in if anything goes wrong.

I feel alive, like the puzzle piece I’ve been looking for all my life is finally in place. I know I’m stopping a toxic pattern, one step at a time. And I couldn’t be more proud of myself.

When I walk back home, I pass in front of Isabella’s coffee shop. My heart melts when I see Stella’s face break into a grin when she sees me through the window.

And as I look into her soulful eyes, I realize everything I could ever need is already in my life. I can’t think of a better future than the one where she and I go through everything together.

The future never seemed so bright. After all, she’s the sunrise I’ve always been waiting for.

Epilogue

11 months later

Stella

Stepping on stage has become one of my favorite moments in the world. It’s when I feel like I’m hugging my younger self and reassuring her that we made our dreams come true. It’s when I feel alive. It’s when I feel like myself the most.

But my favorite moment is always when I find the people closest to my heart in the crowd. Hazel and Isabella are impossible to miss with their wide grins and loud cheers. Layla is always dancing on her own with a smile.

And of course, Adrian. He’s always at the very front, singing right along with me with perfect accuracy because he knows all of my songs by heart. He listens to me when I practice them all the time and he always is the first to read what I write. He cares about everything I do—maybe a little too much—and goes above and beyond to make me feel supported.

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