Page 8 of Our Little Moments

It reminds me of the love I used to have in my childhood but lost way too early.

Chapter 3

Stella

Ipop my eyes open, slowly waking up, and realize there’s barely any sunlight in the room.

I groan, knowing I won’t be able to sleep any longer.

Pushing the covers off, I get dressed and head outside. If I can’t sleep, I might as well take a walk around town.

Grabbing my keys, I glance back at the room I was too tired to explore last night. Despite the dimness, the space feels warm. There’s a cozy bed, pastel curtains, and a coffee-colored table in the corner. The soft light filtering through the curtains gives everything a golden hue.

I close the door behind me as I head down the stairs and then outside where the sun is slowly rising.

A chill runs down my spine that has nothing to do with the weather.What am I really doing here?

I should be home, trying to rebuild my life before it fully slips away. The last chance I have of getting my life back is the next tournament, which is in a few weeks.

But I already feel oddly comfortable here. The magic here is so different from what I’m used to.

It’s gentle and comforting. There’s a softness to it.

I keep exploring the streets, full of different kinds of shops that all have their own power radiating off them.

What’s it like to use your powers in your daily life?

It’s fascinating to see something I’ve known so well used in ways I never could have imagined.

I’m dragged out of my thoughts when my phone starts vibrating.

I laugh nervously as I grab it, finding dozens of texts from my parents and a couple from Derek.

I look over my notifications. They’re mostly from my mom and Derek, wishing me a nice stay here. But my dad’s last text hits me particularly hard.

Dad:I love you, sweetheart. You’ve taken care of us for so long. Take care of yourself now.

Despite my attempts at holding myself together, a tear slips through my lashes as I look down again at my dad’s message. He’s always had a way with words—the gift of always knowing what to say. While he doesn’t have any magical abilities like me, that’s always been his power. He knowswhatyou need to hear when you need to hear it.

His words soothe the doubt that has been bubbling to the surface. This break will be good for me.

The sun is in full force this morning as it shines in the sky, despite the chilly air that remains.

It’s silly, but with the calm morning, the pleasant weather, the sign and the enchanting magic all around me, it feels like the universe is trying to reassure me that I made the right decision. That the town’s trying to make me comfortable. That Westwood Spring is welcoming me home.

I laugh softly to myself. It’s a ridiculous concept.

But the smile doesn’t leave my face as I walk inside the coffee shop.

Chapter 4

Adrian

Scarlett’s words loop around in my head until they’re all I think about when I walk away from Isabella, one of my sisters, after our morning run.

My younger sisters are my whole world—it’s been that way since I was a teenager. I’ve always loved taking care of them and I will always be their biggest cheerleader.

However, when Scarlett asked me how I was doing yesterday, the only reply that came to me was howmy sisterswere doing.

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