Julie Berry

“When I trip and fall, then?” She hoped this would come across as a bit of a joke.

He pressed his hand a shade more firmly into her back. “I won’t let you fall.”

And so James went from stranger to patriot, hero, bravely shouldering his duty to God, King, and Country.

Hazel went from stranger and pianist to reason why the war mattered at all, symbol of all that was pure and beautiful and worth dying for in a broken world.

She smiled, the first time she’d smiled for this stranger. James’s poor heart might’ve stopped beating then and there if he weren’t young and healthy.

When do I get to return the kiss you gave me?

But Hestia could never be . . . Aphrodite.

You’re a brand-new piece of sheet music,” she said slowly, “for a song which, once played, I’d swear I’d always known.”

and instinctively folded the whole bundle under his coat, to the warmth over his heart.

A series of little explosions began firing throughout her brain, and spread quickly elsewhere

He bent and kissed her forehead.

James watched the skyline. It was the more gentlemanly option than staring at Hazel.