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Sapphire

“I should get back to work.” I step away from Matt, putting some distance between us.

“Maybe we could still go out tonight?” He looks at me with that earnest, boyish expression that used to make my heart flutter. “Everyone’s going to the park near the mountains to see that meteor shower later.”

“The meteor shower!” Zoey’s suddenly here, bouncing with the excitement of someone who never turns down an adventure. “Yes. We’re going.”

It’s true—we were planning on going.

But that was before we thought Matt was joining us.

“It’s late. The park’s closed.” I frown, searching for more reasons to say no. “And it’s freezing outside.”

“We’ll have each other to stay warm. And who cares if the park’s closed?” Matt says. “It’s not like anyone actually patrols it. ”

He’s right—the cops don’t bother patrolling much around here. Especially since tonight, their prime concern will be keeping drunk drivers off the main roads in town.

And I have to admit—I was looking forward to seeing the meteors.

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll come. But just to see the meteors. And if it’s too cold, I’m leaving.”

Zoey cheers, throwing her arms around me and giving me a squeeze. “That’s the spirit! I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Hopefully not. But you know what I would regret? Getting fired for spending time with my friends instead of my customers,” I say, squirming out of her grasp. “We close in a half hour. Think you both can wait that long?”

“Depends on what drink you’re able to cook up for me,” Matt challenges.

“Then it’s a good thing I make fantastic mocktails,” I say, grabbing a towel to dry the remaining water on the counter. “After all, you’re driving.”

He rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t say no.

As I start mixing the drink, I glance at the corner of the bar again, where the man with the silver eyes was sitting.

“Hey,” Zoey says, following my gaze. “You okay?”

“Just… wondering if I missed something important.” I shrug, trying to make light of it, but the feeling lingers as I look away from the empty seat.

“If it’s meant to be, you’ll see him again,” she says. “You never know how the stars will align.”

I will if I don’t get out of Presque Isle and end up bartending here for the rest of my life, I think, looking over to the door, as if the silver eyed mystery man is going to walk back inside at any moment.

He doesn’t.

I’ll probably never see him again.

The rest of the night passes uneventfully, and before long, the lights brighten in the universal sign for everyone to go home.

Soon enough, I’m in the passenger seat of Matt’s truck as he leads three carfuls of his friends through the mountains. Zoey’s in the back, and she talks for most of the hour long drive, which eases the remaining tension between me and Matt.

Finally, we pull into the parking lot. But the overhead lampposts cast too much light for us to see the meteor shower properly, so Zoey leads us deeper into the woods, to a small clearing.

Matt’s friends lay out blankets, and someone passes around a flask, the sharp scent of whiskey mingling with the crisp night air.

“And now, the magic begins,” Matt says, flinging his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer .

“Can I have some of that?” I ask the girl next to me who’s holding the flask—Mallory.

“I didn’t know our star bartender drank whiskey straight.” She gives me an approving smile and passes the flask.

“Only in emergencies. And it’s getting so cold out here that I consider it an emergency.” I take a sip of the whiskey, then glance up at the sky just in time to see a meteor zoom overhead.

The others are so caught up in chatting and drinking that they miss it.

They miss the next few meteors, too.

“I thought this would be more exciting,” Andrew says with a frustrated sigh.

“If the stars don’t hurry up and put on a show, I’m going back to the car,” his fiancée Winnie says.

Zoey’s chatting with Mallory, and even she’s starting to look like she’s ready to get out of here.

A few more minutes pass, and by the time another meteor zooms overhead, they’re too caught up in deciding when we should leave to notice it.

“I think we’ve seen all we’re going to see tonight,” Matt’s friend Kyle decides, standing up. “Let’s get out of here before we freeze.”

A murmur of agreement spreads through the group. Rhonda’s already packing up her blanket, and Andrew pulls Winnie closer, both of them looking ready to make a run for the warmth of their car.

I start to stand as well, but Matt reaches for me, stopping me.

“I was thinking we could stay a little longer,” he says. “Just you and me.”

I pause, glancing at Zoey for backup. She’s standing next to Mallory, blankets gathered, ready to go.

Matt stares her down, and she shifts uncomfortably, looking back and forth between us.

“You should stay,” she finally says, surprising me. “Text me when you get back. Okay?”

Something’s off. I don’t know what, but I swear it is.

Matt’s hand lingers on my arm. “It’s the start of the new year, and I want to spend time with you,” he says. “Here. Under the stars. Together.”

Zoey’s barely looking at me. I can usually get a decent idea about what she’s thinking, but right now, I’m clueless.

And she’s apparently not at all willing to fill me in.

“Fine,” I give in to Matt, since I actually am enjoying watching the meteors. “I’ll stay for a little bit longer.”

And, as I sit back down next to him and watch Zoey and Mallory hurry to catch up with the others, I pray to the stars above that the new year will bring me clarity about what I want for my future.