Page 105 of Ink & Stardust

It’s hard to wrap my head around that just a couple of weeks ago, I was mourning the loss of him, so sure that I’d never feel this way again. And now here I am, so happy I can barely breathe when I give myself time to slow down and think about it.

The first time I met Kai, I knew he’d destroy me, and he did. But he also pieced me back together in a way I didn’t think was possible. He upended my entire life and rearranged it in the most remarkable way.

I now see what happened with Leo and Summer as a blessing. Because if it weren’t for them, I never would have come here. I wouldn’t have been at that party the night I met Kai. We would have gone on to live completely separate lives, never knowing that the other existed.

I never used to be a big believer in fate. In fact, I was pretty convinced that if there were such a thing, it actively hated me. Now I can see it was just showing me the wrong so that when the right came along, I’d hold onto it for dear life.

And that’s exactly what I plan to do.

For the rest of my life, if he’ll let me.

“Do you have any idea what’s even happening right now?” Kai smiles at me like I’m the sun that lights his entire world, and it does things to my heart that my brain can’t even begin to understand.

“Nope,” I admit with a laugh, clapping and cheering along with the crowd just the same.

“If they score this goal, they win.” He squeezes my hand.

“So, this is it? The end of the game?”

“Because they’re tied, they each get one last kick to try to seal the win. Since the other team missed, it comes down to this,” Jackson pipes in next to Kai, looking so much like his sister it’s uncanny.

I mean, obviously he’s a dude, so he doesn’t lookexactlylike Maisie, but he is most certainly the male version. He’s taller than she is, but they share the same lean build. The same light brown skin. The same stark blue eyes, which I now see they got from their mother, who sits next to Jackson, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun, nervously watching her daughter on the field. Her husband is seated next to her, an older version of her son. Other than his darker skin tone and dark eyes, they are like twins. I think it’s safe to say they both favor their father.

I didn’t even know Jackson was coming, let alone Maisie’s parents, until they sat down next to Kai a few minutes before the game started. It was definitely a surprise but a pleasant one. I suppose Maisie didn’t think to mention it, given how hyper-focused she’s been on today’s game. And Kai... Well, we were busy doingother things. The thought widens the smile already firmly planted on my lips.

“Here we go.” Char slides her arm through mine, sitting on the opposite side of me as Kai. “Gosh, why am I so nervous?” she asks, snuggling close, no doubt to try to avoid the cool wind that whips around us, stinging my cheeks.

I swear the weather went from hot to cold overnight. But then again, I guess that’s how it usually happens.

“Who’s kicking?” I ask, trying to make sense of what’s happening on the field. “Is that...”

“Maisie.” Char finishes and we both straighten.

“Is Maisie kicking?”

“It would appear so.” Kai chuckles at me and Charlotte, his hold on my hand tightening.

“I feel like my stomach is about to fall out of my butt,” Char announces, drawing laughter from a few co-eds around us.

“She’s got this,” Jackson tells us, clearly having been through this before, given that he doesn’t seem even the least bit nervous. “Maisie never misses. That’s why she’s out there.”

Trying to breathe in some of his confidence in his sister, I pull in a shaky breath, trying to focus on the feel of Kai’s fingers wrapped around mine instead of the way my heart is thundering against my ribs with nerves.

I watch as Maisie lines up. Hold my breath as she moves for the ball. And damn near topple backward out of my seat when the ball soars through the air, slipping past the fingertips of the goalie before hitting the net behind her.

We all erupt. The entire stadium. Not a single person is still in their seat once she makes the shot. Char pulls me into a hug, jumping at the same time, which jars my entire body, before releasing me to celebrate with the stranger on her left.

I’ve barely begun to turn toward Kai before I’m swept up in his arms, his warm lips finding mine. I smile into the kiss, forgetting all about the game the second his tongue slides intomy mouth. I bite back the groan working its way up my throat, all too aware of the thousands of people surrounding us.

“Get a room,” Jackson bellows, smacking Kai on the back, which I feel rather than see.

“If you don’t want to see, don’t look,” he grumbles, kissing me again, slow and deep, as if to make a point.

“Is it always like this?” I hear Jackson ask someone.

“Oh, this is nothing.” It’s Char who answers.

“Standing right here,” I mutter as I reluctantly break the kiss and pull away. Though Kai never lets me get too far, his arm slipping around my back, tugging me into his side.

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