Page 26 of Starrily (Perks of Being #2)

Chapter 26

R aleigh sat under the widespread branches of the magnolia tree, watching the stars emerge in the darkening sky. The Guidry Witches might not have gotten their name from the ability to suggest magical spots for a date, but they should have because this place was amazing. It was a serene meadow, an unpaved pathway away from town and a line of trees away from the bayou. A perfect in-between, dominated by a thirty-foot tall magnolia tree—Raleigh didn’t even know they could grow this big—practically swallowed in pinkish-white blooms. The fresh, citrusy smell was so strong Raleigh knew he was going to the right place before he even saw the tree.

It was strange to think this would all still be here tomorrow, and he might not. No more sunsets and stars for him. And even if another Raleigh remained, he wouldn’t look at them the same.

But he’d rather have a finite end than become a ghost.

“Hi.”

Raleigh turned to the voice, and his melancholy thoughts dissipated. Callie stood on the other end of the clearing, coming off the path. It was great to be alive for one last night—that way, she could take his breath away.

She was wearing a dress he’d never seen before, simple in design with a round neckline and a skirt that flared slightly at the waist and ended above her knees, but striking in a color somewhere between pink and red. As she approached, she pulled at the silk scarf he’d given her.

“I feel under-dressed now,” he remarked.

Callie smiled and pushed back a lock of her hair. She’d left it unbraided, and the voluminous curls floated around her head—like that day, back at the zero-gravity flight. Witch or not, she looked magical.

“I figured I should wear it at least twice,” she said as she sat beside him on the blanket.

“When have you worn it before?”

“At the AAS dinner. The one with all the scientists?”

“Oh, I remember. You were at the fancy dinner; I was at a yacht party.”

She inclined her head in confirmation.

“Glad to see you could make it this time,” he said.

“How did you know about this place?”

“I asked your family for date spots. This ranked number two, after the alley behind Nana Rosie’s restaurant, where all the teenagers like to make out.”

Callie burst into laughter. “I’m glad you went for this one instead.”

“Too many embarrassing memories with the first one?”

“Not really. But the tree … I always liked coming here as a kid when I wanted peace. For some reason, people don’t visit, even though it’s a nice place and not far from town.”

That was strange. And when he asked for directions to the tree in town, nobody knew anything about it. Luckily, he was able to find it eventually.

“Would you mind if I go greet it?”

Raleigh blinked. “Uh, sure—I mean, no, I wouldn’t. Are you talking about the—”

Callie stood and went to the tree. She touched the bark gently at first, then wrapped her arms around the trunk.

“Tree,” he finished.

“Hey, old buddy,” Callie said. “I missed you.”

The Guidrys were getting to him—Raleigh half-expected the tree to say something back. “I’m pretty sure that thing is a mutant.”

Callie returned to the blanket. “They can grow this tall. But most people prefer smaller varieties for their gardens.” She looked from the tree back at Raleigh, her eyes shining.

Not just her eyes—there was something different about Callie as a whole. Maybe the occasion, the perfect setting, made her look so magical and beautiful, but Raleigh still suspected there was an additional change underneath. The way she moved and talked—there was a lightness, a freedom that hadn’t been there before.

He shook his head. “So, back to the point.”

“Ah, yes.” She looked around. “I believe I was promised a party and a yacht, and I don’t see either.”

“Nothing I can do about the latter unless you know some sunken boats in the swamp. As for the former … I was hoping we could still have a good time.” He reached into the basket at his side and brought out a bottle of wine and two glasses. “According to Tony, this is the best he has in his store. I didn’t dare question him, lest he teleport me to prison.”

Callie snorted.

“But first,” he said as he put the wine back down, “there are some things we need to clear up.”

“Raleigh …”

“Please. I have to do this.”

She shut up and hugged her knees. He drew a rolled-up piece of paper from the basket and gave it to her.

She unrolled it and frowned as she skimmed over it. “You’re giving me a contract?”

“A new contract for Aries Tech funding your project. One that Everett can’t cancel or amend and which gives you all the needed funding up front. It’s been signed by me and the representative at QueLabs—Dr. Watzmann, his name is?”

Callie continued to check the paper.

“You’ll also notice there are no annoying clauses in it, such as requiring someone from Aries to shadow you at work.”

She lifted her eyes. “Why?”

“You could claim it’s because it makes me a bit jealous, but really, it’s so that you can work in peace, and no one has any ulterior motives—”

She laughed. “No, I mean, why did you do this? The whole new contract?”

“Because I had to set it right. I never wanted to go along with Everett’s ploy, but I did, anyway. My unwillingness is not an apology for my actions. But all of my feelings were true. When I was trying to cheer you up, it was because I wanted you to be happier. When I got you the spot at the observatory, I did it to help you , not any project you had going on, and not my company. And yes, when I poked at you and talked back to you, it was because you were really getting on my nerves.”

She smiled. “Same.”

“So you believe me?”

She put the contract down. “You never needed to convince me with words,” she said. “Yes, when I found out, I was angry and couldn’t think clearly. But the anger has passed. I know you’re not deceiving me because I know you. Whichever name you want to go by and however many lives you combine, I know you .”

“It’s curious,” he said. “Sometimes, I’m not sure who I am, myself. I remember everything from my life—Raleigh’s life—at least, anything a normal person would. Those memories were never gone, but when I took over as Simon, it was easy for them to slip away. Like knowledge of a language not being used. And I’d lie if I said there’s nothing of Simon in me. I have changed—not because I have his memories or know his life, but because of how others treated me and what his life gave me.”

“For the better?”

“I’d like to think so. I made this decision for myself: I’d never say no to anything, because even if it sounds undesirable or unappealing, you never know what good can come of it. Which is why I didn’t say no to working with you.”

“I see, because even though I was undesirable and unappealing—”

“Oh, no—okay, I see what I did there—”

Callie burst into laughter. “I’m kidding. Bad jokes—got it from you.”

He smiled. “What I wanted to say is … whoever I am now, it’s also because of you. You brought it all together—the part of me that was Raleigh, and the part that was Simon.” He cupped her face and slowly brought her closer. “You make me complete, Calliope Guidry.”

“And you me,” she whispered. She scooted closer, her face an inch away from his—and then she stopped, and sniffed. “What’s that?”

“Hmm?”

“You smell like … I don’t know what. But it smells delicious.”

“Oh! It’s a perfume, or something. Your family made it, following a recipe in Shanna’s book. It’s supposed to stick to ghosts, but they believe it should also help me stay material for the night.”

“That’s good news.”

“Very good news.” He leaned his forehead on hers. “Because there are some things I’d like to do I very much need to be material for.”

“Oh yeah? Which ones?”

He smiled and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “You know, I’d hoped to do this after the ritual. I thought I’d have the time. I’d ask you on a date. Maybe two or three. Then I’d ask if you wanted to be my girlfriend, and we’d go from there.”

She brushed against his cheek. “You still can.”

“Well, then, Calliope Guidry, just for tonight, will you date me?”

“I will.”

“Good.” It might be for one night only, but instead of fear, Raleigh felt peace. This wasn’t the ending he’d imagined, but it was still the best one. After all, it had Callie.

“I love you,” he said.

She smiled and rubbed their noses. “I love you, too.”

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but if I’m gone …”

“No, don’t.”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “If everything is made of energy, then so are my feelings for you. I might be gone tomorrow, but my love won’t. It’ll be out there somewhere, and if I can do anything at all, I’ll make sure you’ll feel it.”

She sniffled and hid her face in his neck.

“Now, don’t be sad. You can grieve, but I won’t allow you to grieve too much. Because you have to enjoy life. Promise me.”

After a bit, she nodded.

“You are my Phoenix. I know you’ll rise again.”

They stayed like this; Callie leaning into him, Raleigh holding her close, and the night embracing them.

“You promised a date,” she said after a while.

“I did, didn’t I? Well, what would you like to do? We’ve got wine … I suppose we can count the magnolia blooms or watch the stars … unfortunately, I didn’t bring a movie.”

“We could skip to after the movie.”

“See, that’s where you need to learn to live,” he said. “The way you do it properly, you get the seats in the back and start during the movie.”

“I think that’s the literal opposite of ‘proper,’” she mused.

“But it’s more fun.” He leaned down to kiss her; lips first, the corner, where her dimples showed when she smiled; then the chin, and down her neck, as she stretched back and offered herself to him. Callie giggled and grabbed his hair as if trying to make sure he wouldn’t move away.

“Quiet,” he whispered. “You can’t let the people in the front seats hear you.”

She giggled more.

“We’re going to get thrown out of the theater.”

“You’re crazy.”

He gently removed her scarf as he continued his kisses down to her collarbone. “Am I? Oh, you might be right. It’s not a movie theater; it’s a planetarium. After all, there are stars above us.”

“Now that’s a nice date.”

He shifted them so that Callie was half-lying down, and he put his arms on either side of her. “Let’s see if I can make it better than ‘nice.’”

She smiled, all the way to her dimples. “You can certainly try.”