Page 64 of Our Little Moments

The truth is that everything in me reacts to her, all the time. When I hear her voice, my mood lifts. Since she came into our town, I’ve slept better. When I see her, I can’t help but grin and feel alive.

She feels like the sun. Like I’ve always been waiting for her to bring me to life. Stella is happy laughter and easy smiles. Genuine interest and affection that leaves you floating with the clouds. That’s the magic of Stella Brookstone. She smiles so bright that she casts everyone around her in the same glow, even when she doesn’t realize it.

We’re all about to reach the end of the trail when Isabella finally catches up to us. Jay chuckles next to me. “Well, we’re runningto the end of this. If we lose this because of you, Adrian, I will lose my shit.”

Both of us start running, both laughing. When Stella hears us run behind her, she and the others start running too. All of us are laughing, even Layla and Sam from behind us.

All five of us crash into each other at the end, laughing messes and out of breath.

But all I can think about is Stella’s blushing cheeks. Her breathtaking smile. Her messy curls.

Just how beautiful Stella is when she’shappy.

Chapter 25

Stella

Iwake up with a racing heart, which hasn’t happened to me in a while. I used to wake up from nightmares a lot back home, often my own magic playing tricks on me. My ability to twist would make me live in my nightmare when I would wake up and I never really got the ability to make the illusion disappear. I just had to push through until the magic would dissipate. Go on with my day even if nothing was right.

It was hell, but my powers were too strong to control on every level.

My skin itches and I’m on edge this morning, but it has nothing to do with my powers.

Thump, thump, thump.

What is with me today? It’s not my magic, not a nightmare, not a panic attack . . .

It’s when I step outside that it dawns on me.It’s Adrian.

I can still vividly picture our morning yesterday—just how much pain he’d tried to hide. Just how much he tried to carry everything alone.

I halt to a stop. Then turn around. I can still remember the path to our spot on the cliff. It’s still dark as I walk carefully through the forest.

My heart rate finally calms down when I find Adrian in our spot, gazing at the ocean.

I didn’t realize just how much I needed to make sure he wasn’t crying until I saw him. He seems almost lost in thought, pensive.

Still . . .

“Hi.”

He turns to find me, and a grin lights up his face. I smile back.

“Hey, Stella.”

We sit in silence together, the waves crashing down below us. I can’t tell if he’s okay or if he’s pretending.

I take in a shaky breath, and Adrian’s eyes shoot to mine. Under his stare, the weight of everything I’ve been carrying comes back all at once.

Adrian isn’t the only one who’s a caretaker. I am too. Except I take care of my parents. I lost my childhood too, in a different way. The weight of responsibility is crushingly heavy and I know he feels it too. The desire to match his vulnerability is making it hard to breathe.

My smile turns tense.Exhale.

“I’m the only one in my family that has powers. I always thought it made me a gift, a prodigy of some kind. I think the city’s culture also had an impact. Here, having magic is normal and that’s comforting to know. But I didn’t grow up with thatnormality. My magic came with expectations and they were high. Really, really high.” My voice cracks and a tear that’s been clinging to my lashes slips down my cheek. Before I can wipe it away, Adrian reaches out, sweeping his thumb on my cheek with so much tenderness that my heart stops beating.

I can’t get the words out. My eyes tear up.

I don’t think I’ve ever admitted this to anyone. I’ve kept what I’ve seen a secret all my life, never let it get out.

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