Chapter 33: The 12th Month - How the Stars Fall

There was no rum tonight. Just a man in a field laying on his back as he stared at the black velvet sky. Tears streaked his face. “I thought I could move on, Nova . . . I’m trying to let you go. But it’s been twelve months of living with a star-shaped hole inside my chest. What I’d give to see your sea-green eyes filling with wonder as you experience life for the first time. Or to taste your lips as we make love under the blankets of our bed.”

Ryker smiled at the vision of Nova twisted in his sheets. Her hair a tangled mess of diamond strands. Cheeks flushed from the pleasure they’d shared. The scent of jasmine floating in the air. “Sometimes I think I hear your laugh, but when I turn around, the wind carries it away.”

A star streaked across the velvet blanket above him. The sight of it stabbed him in the chest. It wasn’t his star, but the memory of seeing her fall to Earth was still so vivid in his mind.

The wind rushed through the long grass. Blowing the fireflies higher above him. “I don’t know how to live without you,” he whispered.

But he had to. Whether he liked it or not. Nova had asked him to live his life, and he said that he would—he didn’t promise that it wouldn’t be easy.

Ryker got up, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. He looked at the sky one more time with his hands on his hips. “I hope you know that I try to find you every night. I hope you’re happy . . . I hope you feel loved.”

He turned and headed home with a whisper on his lips. “Goodnight, little star.