“Are you okay, likereallyokay?” Ariel asked, studying Stella with her large eyes. “With Arnie in the hospital and those painful words that show up unannounced, and now Jack, who’s clearly into you, plus a pirate on the loose.”
Stella rubbed her left temple. “My life is a complete disaster. Ever since I burned that journal.”
Ariel’s eyebrows lifted. “That could have been the catalyst for all of this.”
“That’s what I believe,” Stella said. “I think burning those words set loose all these other events too. Like dominoes.”More like dynamite.“I don’t know how, but burning my heartbroken words freed my heart.”
Tears filled Ariel’s eyes. She touched Stella’s arm. “I’ve been wanting your heart to be free for so long.”
“Me too,” Stella said. “But I’m no closer to understanding what those painful words mean, and having the added complication of Jack and the library just adds to my confusion.”
Ariel scrunched up her nose. “Is Jack a complication?”
“Good question,” Stella said honestly. “In a way, yes, because I—”
“Because you’re totally into him!” Ariel said in a dramatic whisper, glancing over Stella’s shoulder to locate Jack.
“Without getting too deep into the workings of everything, what you don’t know is that the people from the books can only be here for two weeks, the same amount of time you’re allowed to check out a library book.”
Ariel’s disappointment pushed out her lips. “Jack can’t stay?”
Stella shook her head with the leaden reminder.
Ariel twirled the crescent moon earring in her right ear. “Regardless, Jack and the library might be part of what leads you to understanding all of this, including yourself and the new words. Call me tomorrow.”
“Be careful in this weather.” Stella locked the library doors behind her. She waved through the glass as Ariel dashed into the rain.
Stella returned to the desk, her thoughts whirling. “If we find Hook, what should we do? Tie him up again?”
“That’s probably our best option.”
Rain slashed against the windows, and Stella watched the raging storm for a moment. “Where should we start?”
Jack slipped his hands into his pockets. “Hook likes to brood. That much I know about him. He’s likely plotting revenge in a hideout somewhere, but he’ll also be searching for his sword, which he won’t find. There’s a back corner in the archives floor where the stones are loose, and Crusoe hid it. If we can’t subdue Hook, you won’t like my suggestion for how to get rid of him.”
Stella’s expression twisted. “You don’t mean turn him to ashes, do you? Because I won’t be able to stab him. I’d more likely stab myself in the process.”
“Leave the stabbing to me,” he said. “The other option would be to buy a case of rum and let him drink himself into a stupor.”
Stella groaned. “Our two options are murder or breaking not only the library rules but also the law by havinga caseof rum in a public building that’s open to children. I’m not interested in jail time.”
“That’s a no on the rum, then?” She cut her gaze at him, and he offered her a comforting smile. “We’ll get through this together. I promise.”
Together.The word wrapped around her heart like a hug. Her breath stilled, and a flicker of hope appeared inside her. She wantedto tamp it down—hope was dangerous—but looking at Jack’s smile, she didn’t want to close herself off or push him away. She wanted to pretend for a few minutes that she was together with a handsome man who made her almost believe everythingwouldwork out.
With the help of Crusoe and Darcy, Stella and Jack spent the next half hour scouring every corner and opening every door. Hook was a no-show and didn’t respond to threats, name calling, or insults of any kind.
At nearly ten Stella dropped into the chair behind the circulation desk. “I think we should call it a night. At this point, I’m so exhausted I don’t care where he is or if he shows up as soon as I leave.”
The thunder and lightning had dissipated, but the rain continued to fall in dark, fast-moving sheets.
Jack looked toward the windows. “Crusoe can keep an eye out for him, but I bet Hook will sulk a while longer. Why don’t you stay at Arnie’s tonight? He wouldn’t care, and you won’t have to drive home in this weather. After all this rain, the roads will be slick.”
Jack had a point. The day had been so long and full that it felt like a week’s worth of time folded into one day, leaving her weary and emotionally drained. She could run across the grass and go to bed without having to drive through the rainstorm.
“That’s a great idea,” she said, reaching for her purse.
With the book club disaster and then searching for Hook, Stella had forgotten what she and Jack had been doing right before Ariel and the screaming interrupted them. The memory returned as she faced Jack. He had been seconds away fromkissingher.
