Page 291

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

She snorts.

We’re almost inside when a small voice cuts through the chaos.

“ARTEMIS. HI!”

I turn.

A little girl, perhaps eight years old, stands behind the barricade in an oversized pink coat, clutching a notebook to her chest. She reminds me of Stevie when she was that age. My heart immediately softens.

Ugh.

This is all your fault, Stephen.

The little girl bows with a bright smile on her face.

Then, in careful English, she says, “I hope... you go back.”

I stare at her and she swallows nervously.

“I think... he looks happy with you.”

Something inside my chest softens.

She means Stephen.

How… sweet.

Before I can stop myself, I smile down at her.

The little girl’s eyes widen.

“YOU SMILED!” she screams.

Then the crowd around me goes wild.

So…moving one facial muscle makes people go crazy.

Wow.

I give the little girl one last nod before stepping inside the hotel.

The noise and the questions disappear behind the revolving crystal doors.

I remove my sunglasses and stare at the gorgeous lobby.

I’m home.

New York.

But no matter how loudly the city welcomes me home, a part of me is still across the ocean, beneath fairy lights and a thousand stars, with a man with warm brown eyes that no longer look sad.

I wonder if he misses me as much as I already miss him.

Ugh.