Jack didn’t speak again until they were halfway down the main staircase. “What’s his name?”
Stella’s chest tightened. Could Jack see into her soul, see all the secrets she kept there, the ones she wanted to bury for all time? “Whose name?” she asked, hoping to divert him.
“The name of the guy who hurt you bad enough to make you want to give up. Did you ever bring him to the library?”
Stella clenched her jaw. “He wouldn’t have come to the library. He didn’t even like to read.” Speaking that truth out loud struck her as funny. She’d spent a year with someone who didn’t like books? How was that even possible? “He didn’tmakeme do anything. It was my choice to stop wanting anything other than what I have right now. Why is everyone always telling me to do something different with my life? Go to school, take a new job in Miami, go on a date. I’m perfectly fine—”
Stella’s lungs squeezed painfully, blurring her vision with black dots and shooting stars. Her body seized, and she tilted sideways. A fire burned at her core and sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Stella!” Jack said, catching her in his arms before she tumbled headfirst down the staircase.
Brilliant violet liquid spilled over the nearest step like a waterfall of neon. Vibrating letters formed from the liquid, rising like magic. Tendrils writhed from the letters, reminding Stella of jellyfish. The words grabbed her sandals and then slinked up her leg as shivers wracked her body.
Jack squeezed her in his arms. “Stella, I don’t know what to do. Tell me how to help.”
She had to speak the words aloud. Her teeth chattered so violently that her voice came out in staccato bursts. “‘He was excruciatingly handsome and no ordinary man.’” Within seconds, the shaking and the burning stopped, and Stella sagged in Jack’s arms.
After a moment, he sat her up beside him on the step. “What is happening, Stella?”
She swiped her hand across her sweaty forehead and then rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “That’s a good question.”
“Is this something medical?” he asked.
Worry deepened the lines on his face. Without thinking, Stella reached up and touched his cheek, trying to smooth away the concern. “Are you asking if I have a brain issue?” She lowered her hand. “I don’t know. It just started happening a few days ago. How canyousee the words when no one else can?”
“I’m not sure.” Jack placed his hand on hers. “Are you okay?”
Stella nodded. “It’s intense but passes quickly, as soon as I acknowledge the words out loud.”
Jack rubbed his thumb across the top of her hand. “I’m curious about this excruciatingly handsome man. Is he the guy you don’t want to talk about?”
“Wade? Ha, no,” Stella said with a sarcastic laugh. “He was attractive, sure, but not excruciatingly handsome. That’s too high level for him.” She stood with Jack’s help and thought of her journal tucked into her purse. “I need to write down those words. I don’t know what they’ll eventually reveal, but I know they mean something.”
“Wade,” Jack said, repeating the name. “Are you still in love with him?”
Stella stopped on the bottom step. “In love? No. Absolutely not. It’s been done for months, and I’m over it.” The lie stung Stella’stongue and throat, making her feel like she’d eaten a ghost pepper. “The truth is, I’mgettingover it. I’ve been dragging around my broken heart like a trophy, but not anymore. I’m making some changes.”
Jack looked like he wanted to say more, but he only nodded.
Vicki rushed over and met them. “I saw Mr. Crusoe drag the pirate down into the archives. Is that okay? Is that legal, to hold someone hostage in the library? Are the police going to come pick him up?”
“Vicki,” Stella said, shifting gears quickly, “we aren’t holding him hostage. He’s... intoxicated, so we’re subduing him until his employer can come get him.”
Vicki’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? I hope word doesn’t get out that we had a drunken pirate impersonator in the library.”
Stella leaned forward and whispered, “Just keep a lid on it, and no one will find out. I don’t plan on telling anyone. Do you?”
Vicki shook her head. “It’s about time for me to end my shift, but I don’t really want to leave you here alone during the evening.”
Stella glanced at the large antique clock hanging on the wall. “Your shift is technically over already, so I’ll take it from here. Thanks for coming in and helping out. I’m sorry everything got so out of hand. It’s been one of those days, but I’ll be fine to close down tonight.”
Vicki glanced over her shoulder as though someone might round an aisle and sneak up on her. “What about the other impersonator? I didn’t see the Englishman leave. The tattered guy who dragged the pirate downstairs hasn’t left either as far as I know. They certainly didn’t stop by to tell me they were leaving.”
Stella rubbed the tense muscles at the back of her neck. “I’ll get it all back in order.” When Vicki looked skeptical, Stella added, “I promise. I have Jack here to help me.”
As they returned to the circulation desk, Vicki smiled at Jack.“You’re a godsend. You knew exactly what to do. Do you live around here—”
Stella cleared her throat. “Thanks, Vicki. You’re okay to come back tomorrow?”
