Page 3 of Golden Star

Matt’s eyes flick back to mine, and there’s a look there—one that’s almost pleading.

“Seven… six…”

“Sapphire,” he whispers, and I can barely hear him over the rising cheers. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“Five… four…”

His hands are on my waist, the heat of his body closing in on mine.

“Three… two…one…”

He closes the distance between us, and there’s a comfort in the familiarity of his lips pressing against mine. Memories rush back of the good times we’ve had together—our nightly phone calls when we were first getting to know each other, his making our relationship official by taking me to homecoming, the playful snowball fight we had before the first time he told me he loved me, and the walk around the lake the morning of my high school graduation when he told me how scared he was that he was going to be stuck in Presque Isle forever.

“Happy New Year!” The bar erupts into cheers, people shouting in excitement and clinking their glasses together.

I pull away from Matt and open my eyes.

But instead of focusing on him, I glance at the far side of the bar.

The silver-eyed man is gone.

A strange pang hits me. Regret, or maybe disappointment. I can’t quite place it, but it makes my chest hollow with the undeniable feeling of loss.

Especially because I never even got his name.

Sapphire

“I should get back to work.”I step away from Matt, putting some distance between us.

“Maybe we could still go out tonight?” He looks at me with that earnest, boyish expression that used to make my heart flutter. “Everyone’s going to the park near the mountains to see that meteor shower later.”

“The meteor shower!” Zoey’s suddenly here, bouncing with the excitement of someone who never turns down an adventure. “Yes. We’re going.”

It’s true—we were planning on going.

But that was before we thought Matt was joining us.

“It’s late. The park’s closed.” I frown, searching for more reasons to say no. “And it’s freezing outside.”

“We’ll have each other to stay warm. And who cares if the park’s closed?” Matt says. “It’s not like anyone actually patrols it.”

He’s right—the cops don’t bother patrolling much around here. Especially since tonight, their prime concern will be keeping drunk drivers off the main roads in town.

And I have to admit—I was looking forward to seeing the meteors.

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll come. But just to see the meteors. And if it’s too cold, I’m leaving.”

Zoey cheers, throwing her arms around me and giving me a squeeze. “That’s the spirit! I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Hopefully not. But you know what Iwouldregret? Getting fired for spending time with my friends instead of my customers,” I say, squirming out of her grasp. “We close in a half hour. Think you both can wait that long?”

“Depends on what drink you’re able to cook up for me,” Matt challenges.

“Then it’s a good thing I make fantastic mocktails,” I say, grabbing a towel to dry the remaining water on the counter. “After all, you’re driving.”

He rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t say no.

As I start mixing the drink, I glance at the corner of the bar again, where the man with the silver eyes was sitting.

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