Chapter 27
Adrian
I get up before the sunrise, as always, and I’m careful to avoid waking Jay up as I leave for the spot I found at the cliffs.
When I’m feeling troubled or the grief hits too hard, I always look for the sunrise. The spot I found on our first day here has a fantastic view of it and I keep going back.
This morning, though, it’s not because I’m feeling emotional, but because Stella’s shown up twice. If she shows up again, I don’t want her to feel alone.
Right. Keep lying to yourself. You know there’s more to it.
Sighing, I keep walking through the forest, making my way to our spot.
Our spot. The place that’s just for Stella and me. The place where I know it will all be okay, the place where it’s impossible to feel alone. The cliff is far from the cabins, leaving plenty of quiet and space to recover.
My safe place .
I watch in silence as the sky paints itself with light colors.
It’s been my go-to coping mechanism since our parents died. Watching the sunrise has always been the reminder that life moves forward, so I can too.
But no matter how hard I try, I still feel stuck. Though the sunrise feeds my delusions, leaving me with hope that I can move forward over time.
Footsteps come from behind me and I can’t help the wide grin from overtaking my face.
Stella. She came again.
“Hi,” she says softly, as she sits beside me.
“Hi. I didn’t know you’d show up.”
Stella smiles and it’s more blinding than the rising sun. “Of course I did.”
I don’t know what comes over me. Maybe it’s the joy of having her come when I didn’t think she would, maybe it’s the familiar hope that the sunrise brings, maybe it’s this trip . . .
“Come on, let’s try something.”
Stella giggles. “Right now?”
“That’s my point. Let’s go.”
I extend my hand to her as I get up.
Her eyes, so full of life, shine with trust and playfulness.
God, she has gorgeous eyes.
Her smile widens as she takes my hand and I help her up. I don’t let go of her hand as we start walking through the forest. I like the feel of Stella Brookstone’s hand in mine too much.
Stella
What is it with life and making me try new things?
Adrian leads me through the forest.
Neither of the two of us know this place, but he’s walking with a grin on his face like he knows where to go.
I want to laugh. We’re acting like idiots and I love it.
There’s something so beautiful about seeing Adrian’s serious, caretaking, gentle facade slip into a more curious and playful side.
I love both versions of him. In fact, I know I would love all versions of Adrian Westwood.
I’m holding his hand tighter because Adrian has this annoying gift of making me feel safe.
I trust him enough to go into something blind, which is something I can’t say about anyone in my life.
I want to close my eyes against the feel of his hand in mine.
That’s how comforting it feels to hold Adrian Westwood’s hand.
Ugh, I’m in so much trouble.
I look over my shoulder—no, I am not trying to distract myself—to find that we’re walking even farther from camp. What is he planning?
We both talk about random topics as we hike through the ups and downs of the mountain. The sun is still rising above us as we walk a downhill trail.
The breath is knocked out of my lungs when I see the giant waterfall standing before us.
The waterfall tumbles with playful grace, its waters sparkling like a cascade of diamonds as they splash into a circular pool below.
The pool seems almost sculpted, its edges framed with smooth, moss-covered stones that gleam like polished emeralds.
Tiny glowing flowers sprout from the crevices, which reminds me of Hazel’s magic.
Overhead, the overlapping greens and golds from the leaves make this place seem enchanted.
When the sunlight hits the water, its surface becomes a kaleidoscope of blues and greens.
“This is just . . . wow,” I murmur.
“Yeah . . . Stunning.”
I turn back to find him already looking at me.
Adrian joins me by the water, his gaze never leaving me. The quiet between us is more restorative than I thought would ever be possible. The temptation to lean my head on his shoulder like I did yesterday is unbelievably strong as he joins my side. I’ve never felt this before.
I was always the strong daughter, the one who didn’t want or need help. I know now how toxic that idea is, but I’ve felt like a stranger in my own skin since my desires started changing.
But, with Adrian by my side, that feeling fades away into oblivion, with the warmth of his presence and the brightness of his smile being the only things I can focus on.
“You feel like standing in the sunlight,” I murmur to Adrian.
Oh, crap. WHAT DID I JUST SAY !?
His face softens and, just like that, my racing heart calms.
“You feel like sunlight too.”
Butterflies. Freaking butterflies erupt in my stomach.
His eyes fall to my mouth, the sun making his eyes sparkle like emeralds.
My heart’s racing again for an entirely different reason.
But then the worst, and I do mean the worst, thing happens.
The temperature drops slightly and gray clouds take over the sky.
Adrian’s entire body tenses and the moment shatters.
Crap, this isn’t good.
Adrian
My pulse races as the sky turns an oppressive gray. I spring to my feet, panic hitting my bloodstream.
“Adrian!” Stella calls as she hurries after me.
Shit, shit, shit.
Sheer panic makes my blood freeze and I can barely function. Raindrops start falling.
Please, if a storm is about to hit, let it be far from the girls . . .
“Adrian,” Stella says, this time with a firm grip on my wrist.
How did she catch up so fast?
“Adrian, look at me.”
I look at her, raindrops falling into my eyes.
“You know just as well as I do that this is just rain . There won’t be a storm. You can calm down, it’s all okay.”
Her eyes are steady, unwavering, even as the rain drenches us both.
I can’t breathe.
“I have to stop it,” I say, my voice void of any emotion as I reach out with my magic to reach the storm.
“Wait,” Stella says softly. Her steadiness fades away and she turns nervous.
“Adrian . . . I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I have to say it.
Your panic around storms is because of your grief.
You can’t keep going through life like this, bursting into panic the second you hear thunder or see rain fall from the sky. ”
“Then what do you expect me to do, Stella?” I ask hopelessly. “I can’t . . . I can’t let this take away someone else I love.”
Her smile turns soothing. “This is barely a storm, Adrian. It’s just a little rain.”
I look around again. She has a point, dammit.
The gentle rain surrounds us, with gray clouds above us. There hasn’t been any lightning yet and I know there won’t be any. I can feel it through my magic now that the panic has faded away.
I groan and sit back down.
Stella joins me, her hand covering mine. I look back into her gentle eyes.
“You can’t let this keep holding you back, Adrian. You deserve a chance to move forward.” She seems to think something through. A smile blossoms on her face as she extends her hands. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
I chuckle despite myself. “You’re seriously going to give me that cliché line?”
She grins at me, the raindrops streaking down her face. “I’m seriously going to give you that cliché line.”
As I grab her hand and she helps pull me up, she says softly, “You deserve to heal. Maybe this is your first step.”
And with that, she leads me into the rain.
For a second, I hesitate, my feet unsure, but then she pulls me close, twirling me just slightly off balance. I laugh, feeling that heavy weight lift from my chest. I spin her back around, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I don’t think about the storm. I just feel .
We’re idiots. We’re soaked—laughing like fools—but this moment? It belongs to us. Just her and me.
I’m spinning her again, her hair flying in the rain, her face full of that uncontained joy. And for the first time in so long, I think maybe I can breathe again. Maybe I can let go of the guilt.
As we dance together, the clouds slowly drift away, leaving in their wake the pale glimmers of a rainbow.
I smile at the sight.
God, my life really will never be the same after Stella.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.