Written in the Stars Read online

  Written in the Stars

  BELLA EMY

  WRITTEN IN THE STARS © 2022 by Bella Emy

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property.

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  If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by the author who can be contacted at [email protected].

  Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2022 Bella Emy

  Created with Vellum

  Dedication

  To anyone who has ever suffered from a broken heart, afraid of falling in love again.

  May you one day find the strength to try once more.

  Contents

  Blurb

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Thank You

  About the Author

  Also by Bella Emy

  Follow Bella

  Blurb

  Serenity

  When I caught my fiancé and his coworker in a compromising position just a month before our wedding, I vowed to be done with love and swore off men all together.

  On an impulse, I ran back home to Glimerton, New Jersey to spend time with my sister, Lissa. Needing to get away from my everyday life and routine, I stayed and helped Lissa run her store. I knew I needed a distraction to keep me busy and not dwell on my devastating break up.

  I was expecting to hurt from the pain of my broken heart for a while in the hopes it would eventually heal with time.

  What I wasn’t expecting was to be swept off my feet from the very first moment I locked eyes with Zander Carter.

  Zander

  I spent my days saving people from brutal fires, coming to their rescue. The only time I wasn’t able to save someone, it sent me on a downward spiral. I fell into a black hole, leaving that painful memory of the merciless incident in the back of my mind and causing me to pull away from the force.

  Three years later, I’m back at the Glimerton Fire Department, committing my life to the rescue team once again.

  I was expecting to get back out there and save people from life-threatening emergencies.

  What I wasn’t expecting was to fall in love so suddenly, causing my plans and everything I knew to change the minute my eyes first locked with Serenity Darling.

  Chapter One

  ZANDER

  It’s funny how in the blink of an eye, everything can change. One minute you’re making dinner plans, trying to figure out what movie to watch on TV, and the next, you’re making funeral arrangements. What was so important just that morning no longer matters.

  I throw back the bottle, letting the cold beer coat the back of my throat. It’s the only comfort I’ve had in the last couple of days. How the hell could shit change so drastically in just the blink of an eye?

  “So?” Matt’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts and back into reality.

  “Huh?”

  He frowns, obviously disappointed that I haven’t heard a single thing he’s said to me.

  I shrug. Of course I feel bad, but I’m not really sorry. I think if he was going through the same thing I am, he would feel the exact way.

  Matt stretches his arms. “I know it’s hard, man. I can’t imagine going through what you are. I just want you to know that the guys and I are here for you if you need anything, ever.” He pats me on the back and then takes a swig of his own beer.

  He’s the last one left; everyone else had gone home hours ago, but Matt was like that. He didn’t want to leave me alone. He’s my best friend. But he speaks the truth. I know everyone on the force would definitely give their last penny to a brother. We’re a family, and that’s what we do. That’s what the Glimerton Fire Department is all about.

  I nod. “I appreciate it, man.”

  “No problem. Have you given it any more thought?”

  I think over his words. It’s been three days since the fire, but I haven’t changed my mind since I first told him I would leave the force two days ago.

  I shake my head. I know what he wants to hear, but I haven’t wavered from my first decision at all. I can’t. How the hell can I go back to fighting fires when it’s just a fucking horrible reminder every single time.

  The black smoke. The blazing fire.

  The stopping of her beating heart.

  I have to squeeze my eyes shut to fight back the tears.

  Taking another swig, I shake my head and say, “Nope. I’m sorry, bro. I’ve made up my mind. There’s no turning back. I’m handing in my immediate resignation in the morning, probably via email. I would do it now, but I can’t think straight.”

  Matt lets out a deep sigh and then rises to his feet. Placing his empty bottle down onto the table to his right, he says, “Well, this is my two cents, and you can take it with a grain of salt or leave it, but I really don’t think you should quit.”

  I rise from my seat and also place my bottle of beer down onto the table. “What?”

  He walks toward my front door, and I follow him.

  As he pulls it open and turns around to face me, he says, “Look, I get it’s a painful reminder. I get that, but we’re firefighters. Fighting fires is all we know. I joined this force because I believed in helping and saving people, and I put my life on the line every single day. But it’s what I do and I love it.” He pauses for a moment and says, “And I know you do, too. I know you do this for the same reasons I do.”

  I swallow thickly. “That was a long time ago; that’s all over now.”

  He nods, but waves a dismissive hand in my direction. “Maybe so. But instead of giving your resignation, why don’t you just tell Calloway you need some time off.”

  Now he’s talking crazy. There’s no way the chief will give me the time off I’ll be needing after all of this. Plus, the truth of the matter is that I no longer want to do this. My reason for doing it is gone. I don’t have that desire, that drive, any more.

  Still, I don’t completely blow him off. “I don’t know, Matt…”

  “Just think about it before you say anything. You’ve already got a bit of time off because of what happened. Take the next couple of days to think before you say anything to Chief Calloway.” He looks out the door and then faces me once more. “Think about it, will ya?”

  I nod, even though I don’t know if there really is anything left to think about. I’ve pretty much already made a decision.

  He offers me a small smile and says, “Well, I’d better run.”

  He’s been here long enough, and I know he’s due at the firehouse at 8 a.m. tomorrow m
orning.

  “If you need anything, and I mean anything, even just to vent or talk, don’t hesitate to call… no matter the time. You hear me?”

  I nod again, and he stares at me, searching my face. “Yes?”

  “Yeah, man. Thanks,” I finally say.

  He smiles again. “Alright, bro. I’ll check on you in the morning… or, as a matter of fact, let me know when you’re up. In case you don’t get much sleep tonight, I don’t want to wake you when you actually do sleep.”

  “Matt, I don’t think I’ll be doing much if any sleeping these days.”

  He nods and before he leaves, he says, “Right… later, man.”

  Once he’s gone and I shut and lock the door behind me, I make my way to the couch and plop down onto it. Looking around, empty cans and bottles crowd the area. It looks like a damn pigsty, but I don’t give two shits right now. I’m in no mood to clean up.

  I flip through the channels, but nothing grabs my attention and my thoughts always revert to three days ago: May 28th.

  I shut my eyes and welcome a line of tears to stream down my cheeks. I need something that’s going to take the edge off.

  Realizing TV isn’t going to do it for me tonight, I rise from the couch and head straight for the fridge. I pull out another Heineken and make a mental note to stop at the store tomorrow and pick up some more.

  After I pop the cap open and throw the cap on the floor, I march right for my computer in the den and begin typing away.

  Good Evening, Chief Calloway.

  I know it’s late, but I need to get this off my chest. Consider this my letter of resignation.

  Sincerely, Zander Carter.

  There. Short, sweet, and to the point. Chief Calloway knows what I’m going through. He gets it. He won’t be upset with me. He’ll just know. I hit send and watch as the email hits my Sent folder. Matt is going to be pissed, but maybe someday he’ll understand. I just hope that he’ll never understand the pain of what I’m going through right now.

  As I sign off the computer and shut it down, I walk back over to the couch, stumble onto it, and pray to God he’ll put me out of my misery soon enough.

  Chapter Two

  SERENITY

  I’m giddy and nervous all at once. My heartbeat is racing and I can’t wait to see the man I love with all my heart. It’s just a typical Friday night, and since he’s been working late pretty much every Friday since I can remember, I decided to get all dolled up and bring my sweet Walter dinner, surprising him at the office. He never used to work late, but recently, it has become more and more frequent, which I’m guessing is because they’ve picked up so many recent cases. Walter Zeller is a lawyer, and one of the top attorneys in the firm. He’s on his way to becoming partner someday, I just know it.

  As I’m about to ring the buzzer to be let in, Mr. Cravingter, a partner of the firm, comes rushing out. His white hair and kind eyes would never reveal the fact that he’s a hardcore lawyer that hardly ever lost a case. He’s a shark you don’t want to mess with.

  “Hello, Serenity! How are you, dear?” he asks as he holds open the door for me.

  “I’m well, Mr. Cravingter, thank you. And yourself?”

  “Fine, thanks. Can I help you with something?”

  “No, just here to surprise Walter with dinner I made. He’s always working late, so I figured it would be nice for us to eat together for once.”

  He looks at me with a puzzling gaze. “I’m sorry, Serenity. I haven’t seen Walter since four this afternoon. I was the last one in there besides the guard at the front desk. There’s no one from the firm inside… everyone’s already gone home to start the weekend.”

  I furrow my brows. No one from the firm? Surely he’s missed him somehow. “Really?” I flick my wrist over to check the time.

  Seven forty. He would have called me by now.

  “Well, I’m just going to go in and see if I can find him. I haven’t heard from him all afternoon.” How can he be the last one here? Walter has to still be here. Where else would he be?

  “Alright, dear. It was good seeing you again.”

  “You too, Mr. Cravingter,” I reply with a smile.

  But something inside of me feels off. Something just doesn’t seem right.

  Still, I shake my head and continue onward.

  As I carry the tray of lasagna to Walter’s office, I feel extremely proud of myself. I hardly ever cook, but being that our wedding is just a month away, I want to show him I can be domesticated. I’ve been watching cooking shows, taking notes, and downloading apps on my tablet. Sometimes I’ll follow along with the new recipes I find.

  I continue walking through the halls of the building and find it pretty strange that no one seems to be here. The guard at the front desk had easily let me pass, but that was because he recognized me from previous visits here to see Walter. All the lights are dimmed and not a peep can be heard. There are usually people here working late during the week, but I figure no one is left because they probably want to get their weekend started.

  As I approach the doorway to Walter’s office, I find it peculiar that his door is cracked the tiniest bit. Usually it’s wide open, unless he has a client in there or something. I walk in and see him with his back turned, and as I make my way in, softly calling his name, I see him with his pants around his ankles as he buries himself deep inside of Dora, his twenty-two-year-old secretary.

  My mouth hits the floor. “Oh my God!” I bellow, dropping the glass tray of lasagna.

  A mess of food and glass pieces litter the floor.

  Startled, Walter immediately turns his head around to face me, screaming my name. “Serenity!”

  You’d think he’d get off of her, or rather out of her, as soon as he saw me? But he doesn’t. It takes him a moment to register the image of me walking in on them before he moves off of Dora and picks his pants up.

  Dora, thankfully still covered in a bra, pulls her black pencil skirt back down and then rushes over to where her shirt lies on the floor to the right of his mahogany L-shaped desk. Unfortunately, as he moved away from her, I got a front-row view of her perfectly round ass.

  “You piece of shit…” I whisper, staring at him in disbelief. And it’s as if I’m seeing him for the first time. I don’t recognize this man. I don’t know who he is. Where is my beloved Walter, and what has this asshole done to him? My heartbeat is running at a million miles per minute. I try to let the scene of what I’ve just witnessed sink in, but it doesn’t. It can’t. This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening. This isn’t my life. I’m not the girl who gets cheated on by her fiancé. I’m not the girl whose heart is breaking into pieces, realizing what she just saw.

  But I am…

  “Baby, please. I can explain… This is not what it looks like.”

  I raise an eyebrow as his words bring me back to reality. I look about his office and realize that at some point, Dora ran out. Coward. “Not what it looks like?” I question, repeating his words back to him. “I need to go. I have to go. I’ve got to go.” I swallow the hard lump that has formed in my throat and clench my fists open and shut. My breaths become erratic, and I feel like there isn’t enough air in the world to oxygenate my lungs.

  I turn around, and without another word to the scumbag, run out of there as fast as my leg can carry me. Still, I hear Walter continuing to run after me, calling my name, but I refuse to turn around and face him once more.

  Now it makes sense why all those nights ago he’d stay late. Come to think of it, hadn’t it started all but six months ago, right around the time he told me the firm had gotten a new secretary?

  Dora, he explained, blonde and beautiful, was right out of college with a great head on her shoulders.

  Yeah, now I have to wonder… a great head, or was she just great at giving head?

  I bite my lips; a nauseated feeling coming over me. I hate feeling like this. I hate knowing that at any given moment, the tears are about to come without warning.

>   I feel a sharp pain in my chest as I struggle to breathe. The image of Walter hovering over her is now etched in my mind, causing me to want to retch.

  But no matter what, I refuse to stop running. I refuse to let Walter catch up to me and try to plead his case. In my eyes, there is no excuse for cheating.

  I never gave him a reason to cheat on me. I never once denied him whenever he’d touch me as we’d lie in bed. Or whenever I’d be in the kitchen making breakfast and he’d come up behind me, pushing his hard cock against the cheeks of my ass. A lot of times, I’d even be the one to initiate the whole thing. So I know for a fact the reason he cheated is not because the sex wasn’t there. We’d get intimate all the time.

  What the hell did I do wrong?

  I try to fight back the tears, but as the images of my fiancé once again play in my head, I feel them sting my eyes. I have never, ever been unfaithful, and I would have done nothing disloyal to my husband-to-be.

  What the hell happened to us?

  He used to love me. He used to care. But now I’m wondering if every time he’d whisper those three little words into my ear if they were ever true. Did he ever mean them?

  I continue running until I reach my car and quickly jump in. I start the engine and step on the gas even before buckling up my seat belt. I want to be as far away from here as I possibly can before Walter catches up to me.