Page 77 of Our Little Moments

Nate laughs. “But you said you needed a laugh.”

“I meant it—”

I walk away, leaving those two to their world.

I climb the little path as I get higher up in the mountain. If I hadn’t hidden where I did, I would have never noticed this small area. It’s too well hidden with the trees.

I know I made the right decision when I see a glowing butterfly.

Stella.

I know she’s near, so I look in the trees, behind the rocks . . . Then I hear her laugh. It’s above my head.

I look up, and I can’t help the grin from breaking free. She carved stairs from the mountain and made a huge space, almost like a cabin inside the mountain. I climb in the spots she carved to join her.

When my head reaches her level, I’m amazed. She’s playing with her magic, trying to figure it out. Dozens of green butterflies surround her. Flying around. Some are in her hair, some are holding on to her skin or the rocks.

Her eyes shoot to mine, a slow smile spreading on her face. “You found me.”

I will always find you, Stella. There isn’t a mask you can put on that I won’t see through. There isn’t a lie you can tell that I will believe.

I see you.

I flush under her gaze. She glows like the sun, especially with its light highlighting her curls and dark skin and lime-green eyes . . .

It feels like there is no one else in the world, nothing but Stella and me in this little spot she created.

Her eyes dive back to mine.

My heart rate is out of control.

Laughter erupts from below, a chaotic mess of voices echoing in the forest. I look down to find the others looking for us. The game is over.

Chapter 29

Stella

“Woah. This is kind of intimidating,” Layla murmurs next to me.

Jay snorts. “Talk for yourself.”

I laugh quietly as I analyze the next competition we’re doing. We managed to find a little corner below the cabins with the perfect spot to climb. Of course, Isabella and Jay chose it for our next race.

“Okay, everyone!” Isa calls, walking in front of all of us. “This spot is incredible. We used to climb here at every opportunity back when we came here as teenagers. The rocks are incredibly strong and stable. We still have the safety gears necessary obviously so half of each team will race while the other stays below to look out for them.”

Her eyes land on Jay, laughter in them. “For this part of the race, the first person to the top will win for their team. And using our powers is off-limits, of course.”

Jay chuckles. “Obviously. You know I could just fly to the top.”

“Exactly. And we can’t allow a win to be accomplished by cheating, can we, Jay?”

Silence follows, most of us stifling our laughter.

“Well, let’s get started!” Adrian calls, breaking the silence as he heads toward the mountain.

We all follow him, grouping in pairs as we install the security gears and hooks. Hazel and Nate next to me are laughing as he helps her into the harness. Isabella grins at me and gestures at our harness.

“Come on, get in there, Stella. And we’ll win this.”

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