Page 50

And it’s as beautiful as it was the first time I remember looking at the stars. The very same stars, but I’m a different person in a different place. Twinkling. Clouds floating.

“What do you see?” he asks.

I don’t answer for a moment.

His fingers find mine, weaving together, and my breath catches.

“Nothing,” I say. “I don’t see anything.”

“Come on. You must see something.”

I don’t.

With his thumb rubbing against the back of my hand, I feel something. Something I haven’t felt in years. Goose bumps, butterflies, warmth in the pit of my belly.

After years of being numb to it, even if it’s as fleeting as everything else in my life, maybe that’s enough. Just for tonight.

“Nope.” I turn my head and smile at him. “But now I see you, Sterling Poole.”

He smiles, but there’s something about it—so forced. “Come on. Don’t waste your time looking at me.”

“It’s not a waste⁠—”

“Yes,” he says firmly, his gaze hard. “It is.”

The warmth in my body freezes. Back to reality, where Sterling doesn’t trust me enough to tell me about his magic, and I’m not supposed to care enough to keep asking.

I wish the stars would tell me why I care.

Chapter 15

Sterling

I’ve never seen Aurora as nervous as she is now—and I’ve seen a lot more of her over the past few days. She’s been around the office when planning the event, and she spends time with me afterward in a desperate attempt to awaken her magic.

It doesn’t work, and when it’s time for us to meet with Jewel, Aurora’s hands are trembling.

“You’ll be fine,” I whisper, holding the door open for her.

It’s becoming a ritual to do these small things for her. Give her my jacket. Hold open doors. I can’t deny that, even though my reasons for doing so are unromantic, I’ve missed having someone to care for.

Aurora needs this, I think. I didn’t realize until we were in her cottage with rain falling onto that little umbrella that she’s been waiting for someone to support her, soothe her, ground her. I don’t know if I can be that person, but until after the harvest festival, I’ll do my best.

We’re a team. For now.

She smiles at me. Another new ritual. More surprisingly, I return it with ease. We get into our usual positions, far too close on the couch. Unlike before, I don’t push myself off to one side, scrambling desperately to get away from her. Maybe someday, I won’t melt when her knee touches mine. My heart won’t race whenever I smell her.

Our partnership is effortless, even if it’s temporary, like everything else. Aurora and I both know how fleeting connections are, and that’s all ours was ever meant to be.

I see you, Sterling Poole.

I’ve been pushing those words away for days, worried Aurora will see too much of me. She’ll be afraid of me, and with good reason.

Jewel fixes us with a knowing stare. “Don’t think I haven’t seen and heard about you two. You know how Starbrook likes to talk.”

I blink. Does she know about Aurora’s magic? I exchange a look with Aurora, who shrugs, tapping her fingers against her knee.

“They haven’t been saying anything inappropriate, I hope,” I say slowly.