Page 1 of His North Star
CHAPTER 1
The pads of my fingers ached, my skin rubbed raw from ripping my wedding invitations to shreds over the past hour. I absently pulled another piece of cardstock from the box, tearing it in half, again and again, until it became a bunch of jagged pieces like my heart.
Mom offered to dispose of the 175 announcements for me, but why should they get a simple toss into the dumpster when I couldn’t do the same for my feelings?
My only solace came from the darkness that embraced me. The stars lent me their peace as I ripped another chunk apart. The wooden boat dock gently swayed as the lazy waves of Whitefish Lake rolled ashore, rocking me in its own empathetic way. The soft wind blew against my face as it tried to dry the tears that errantly trickled down my cheeks.
I scraped the bottom of the box, lifting the last paper out. I couldn’t see the photo on the front of the invitation in the inky blackness, but I didn’t need to. The image had seared itself into my memory. Those who should have received the announcements would have assumed we were two people madly in love. The way our smiles stretched wide, our eyes locked onto one another’s, and our arms wrapped around each other so tight, like we never wanted to let go. The cream dress with little navy flowers I wore complemented the blue of my ex’s button down.
Too bad it was all a lie.
Blake somehow understood before we said “I do” that I’d never be the brightest star visible. I’m good at blending into the background, something Blake always tried to change about me.
A muffled chime buzzed against my stomach where my phone rested in my jacket pocket. Only one person would text so late. I ignored it. I had to be alone to process the feelings regarding my failed relationship.
My phone rang. I huffed, pulling my cell out. Tyler, listed as T-Rex-Ler in my contacts, shined across my screen. He wouldn’t stop until I answered. My best friend had many great qualities; allowing me to ignore him wasn’t one of them.
I sniffled, then tapped the green button. “You know it’s after ten, right?”
“Really, Maren?” he said sarcastically. “I forgot how to tell time. Thank you so much for helping me.”
“What do you need?” I asked, letting his remark slide. I laid back, getting comfortable. Talking to him often lasted several hours. “I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“Where?”
“At the dock.”
He pushed out an incredulous laugh. “Are you looking at the same starsagain?”
Normally, I would be out here with my telescope photographing the next nebula I had set my sights on. Too bad that wasn’t the case this time.
“I’m hanging up now,” I warned, pulling the phone away from my ear.
“Wait.” His voice grew louder.
“Yes?”
“I’m at your house. Come up.”
I held back a moan. I really, really didn’t have it in me to be around cheerful Ty. “Why?”
“I brought you something.”
Since when did he bring me things? “Come down to the dock.”
His long stride could easily cover the four and a half-acre stroll across the lawn from my house to the beach.
“It’s a treat that needs plates and forks,” he said. “So come up to your apartment.”
He was definitely up to something. “Fine.”
I tucked my phone in my pocket, grabbed the box and bag, then stalked toward my one-bedroom apartment above the bed-and-breakfast’s four-car garage. I made a quick detour to the outside garbage bin to dispose of my shredded wedding invitations before meeting Ty.
He stood at the top of the outdoor staircase with a bag in one hand and the famous pink bakery box in the other. He casually leaned against the railing, his long legs taking up most of the landing. His blond hair shimmered gold under the porch light. He smiled triumphantly as I slowly ascended the steps.
“Did you bring an entire pie?” I asked.
He grinned. “Yep, and I’m leaving the extras with you.”
