Chapter 25
Stella’s chest seared as if she’d swallowed a Roman candle. She wanted to wrap her arms around Jack, to explain why she couldn’t
go, but she didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, he closed the space between them and grabbed her hands.
“There is no one I’d rather have near me than you. But you’d have to change your whole life to make that happen. You’d have
to live according to what I need, and I have nothing to offer you but a life of uncertainty. And me allowing you to take this risk was selfish.” He crushed
Stella against him. “I almost let you give up your life just for the slim chance that I could be with you in my world. I’m no different from Wade.”
Stella pushed away from him. “You are nothing like Wade.”
“Aren’t I?” he asked.
“I’ve been avoiding my life for years. Leaving with you is so tempting, but I don’t belong in your world. My life is here.
In the library, writing, chasing words.” Stella wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Jack. For being you, for seeing me, for making me feel special, for helping me believe in love again. I’m going to miss you terribly.”
Jack squeezed her against him and kissed the top of her head. “You’re one in a gazillion, Stella. You deserve all the love
in the world.”
Ariel gasped, staring wide-eyed at Jack and Stella.
“It’s happening,” Stella said, stepping away from Jack. His body illuminated as though he were made of starlight. “You’re
glowing.”
Arnie approached them. “You take care of yourself, Jack.”
Jack nodded. “You take care of her.” Then he smiled at Stella as he placed his hands over his heart. His eyes turned the golden
color of a summer sun. “I will never forget how wonderful my time with you has been. Never.”
“Never ever,” she said.
A windstorm of air and light swirled around them. Within seconds, Jack was gone.
Stella pressed her hands over her mouth, closed her eyes, and cried.