“Back off, Percy,” Stella said.
Jack placed his hand on Stella’s arm, attempting to calm her, then he stepped toward Percy. “I stand by Stella and support her in any way I can. I don’t believe I can or should force my ideas on her. However, for the sake of this argument, Stella knows my concerns.”
Percy’s chest puffed up. “Excuse me? Are you insinuating that I’m forcing my ideas on Stella? I would never do that.”
Ariel cleared her throat. “I’m not sure that’s accurate, Percy. What about Miami?”
“Miami is a great opportunity,” Percy said. “Is it wrong to want something more for her? You, of all people, have seen how much she’s been struggling.”
“I get your desire to help, but Miami isn’t a great opportunity for Stella,” Ariel said. “She loves the library. Shouldn’t she do what she loves? How can you possibly think Miami is a good fit for her?”
“Hello?” Stella said with an eye roll. “I’m standing right here.”
Percy continued without acknowledging her. He looked at Arnie. “She’s proven she can’t handle this.” He gestured wildly around them.“I’m guessing they didn’t tell you about Hook and his swan-dive exit from the second-floor balcony?”
“What is wrong with you?” Stella asked. “Why are you so adamant that I do whatyouwant?”
“Because...” Percy started and then paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “Because I can’t lose you. You’re all I have, Stella. You and me. Mom and Dad are gone. It’s just us, and you’re not like me. I don’t know what to do with you. I don’t know how to help you or understand what’s best for you. If you love the library so much, why are you so willing to disappear from it? Fromme?”
Stella blinked at him in the silence that followed. No one spoke.
Percy continued, “Listen, Stella, I’m sorry I’ve been coming across as an overbearing jerk. But is there any way I can convince you not to do this? No offense to you, Jack, because I’m guessing you’re a stand-up guy, and I bet if you were real, you might be great for Stella. I know Dad would approve.” Percy looked at Stella. “But leaving here, if that’s even possible, for some unknown place that might not even accept you because you’re... not of their time, I don’t know what will happen, and I don’t—I don’t want to lose you.”
Stella’s throat burned, and she felt the familiar salty sting in her eyes. She hugged Percy. “I would have been long gone without you all these years. You kept me sane.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “You and Arnie and Ariel.”
Arnie swiped at his cheek. Was he crying? “Don’t give us all the credit. You’re a lot stronger than you think. You’ve been keeping us on track too. You’ve been my daughter.”
“And my partner in crime,” Percy said.
“And my best friend,” Ariel said. “Accepting all my weirdness with love.”
“I couldn’t have loved you more if you were my own child,” Arnie said. “I’ve been rooting for you since you were riding thattricycle down the sidewalk with those pink and purple streamers. And I think you’ve done me the biggest kindness yet—sending a wonderful woman to me with a plate of cookies. Completely devious yet appreciated. If this does work... I’m going to miss you sorely.”
“We all are,” Percy agreed.
Stella wiped at her tears. “You’re going to let me go?”
Percy shrugged. “Not that I could ever stop you. For the record and everyone present, I think this is a terrible idea.”
“Noted,” Stella said with a slight smile. She looked at Arnie. “You can bring us back, though, right?”
Arnie sighed. “I don’t know, Stella. Jack is in his book, but you’re not. You don’t exist there. I have no idea what’s going to happen.”
Stella returned to the bottle. She stretched her arms over her head and leaned her neck from side to side. Then she shook her arms out at her sides and bounced on her toes. She twisted open the bottle of Pepsi and listened to the pop of bubbles rising to the top of the dark liquid. “Here goes. Everybody ready?”
“No,” everyone said at the same time, causing Stella to release a nervous laugh.
She picked up the bottle. The magical liquid churned inside, swirling wildly like a storm brewing. All she had to do was lift the bottle to her lips and drink.
A throbbing started deep in her heart. Thinking about leaving Arnie, Percy, and Ariel, of never seeing them or the library again, created a fracture inside her. What if their fears were valid? What if she was lost forever? Clarity reverberated through her, and she trembled with the awareness.
She lowered the bottle.
Stella looked at Jack, willing her bottom lip to stop trembling. “I can’t.” She corked the bottle. “I can’t go with you.”
Chapter 25
Stella’s chest seared as if she’d swallowed a Roman candle. She wanted to wrap her arms around Jack, to explain why she couldn’t go, but she didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, he closed the space between them and grabbed her hands.
