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Naturally, I spend the rest of the night spiraling. Sterling is busy, never getting a second to relax or check on me, but I have too much time to overthink everything. Once people start arriving, I try to find a distraction. I show my family around the event, stop for a drink at the Moonlit Tavern’s booth, and drink a shot with Farrah.

My brain never stops yapping. And counting down.

So much could go wrong.

What if we’re stuck waiting for the meteor shower? If I had my magic, I could have timed it perfectly, but I don’t. What if I forget the words to the spell? More importantly, what if the spell doesn’t work?

Sterling finally finds me fifteen minutes before I’m supposed to go on. “You ready?”

I shake my head, staring at him with wide eyes. “How can I be ready for this? I still haven’t managed to do small magic⁠—”

“That’s okay.” He rests his hands on my shoulders. “Some people work better under pressure⁠—”

“Cool, but I’m definitely not one of them.”

“I think this is what you need.” He peers at me sincerely. “Can you trust me?”

Hell no. I can’t trust him. I can’t trust anyone. I still barely know anyone in this town, and they’re all about to discover my biggest secret. That I’m not a witch anymore.

My shoulders sag under the weight of Sterling’s firm, strong hands.

I inhale slowly. “Sure. I’ll trust you with this.”

Not with everything, but this one thing. The problem? I still can’t trust myself.

“Good.” He leads me past the crowds of people to the quiet place where the bonfire is already lit brightly.

Smoke curls up to the stars, and when I glance at them… they’re silent. Unmoving. Unspeaking.

“Wait.” I hold his hand, tight, and I can see it—the moment he takes my worries seriously.

He squeezes my fingers right back and leans in so he’s eye level with me—quite a feat, considering he has to be a foot taller.

“I can’t do this,” I whisper. “I don’t want to let anyone down. This can’t be my first impression on people, Sterling! And I don’t understand how you’re not more nervous about this⁠—”

“I…” He looks at the floor. “To be completely transparent, I found backup in case anything happens. Rowan Hawthorne. She’s an astro witch, and she was a little sad to be left out of the event.”

Oh…

It wasn’t that he trusted me. Sterling never believed in me. He found someone else, someone more magical. And he was right to.

“Okay,” I say, forcing my voice to stay steady. “You should call her. Give her the spell. I can’t cast it, but I think it should work—or she can rewrite it. Whatever.”

I expect Sterling to run back into action, as he has been all evening, but he hesitates. Watches. “Only if you’re sure…”

“I am.” I give him a tight smile. “Go.”

He does.

The stars are silent.

I’m not.

I run to the edge of the clearing, out of the light of the bonfire, and rest a hand on my chest, breathing in and out. Harsh. Heavy. I’m there even when the others start gathering around in the distance, even when Sterling says the opening words to the ceremony. Gods, the picnic we set up is beautiful, but I won’t even be able to enjoy that tonight.

My night is ruined.

As always, I’m the one who destroyed the fucking vibe.