Page 8 of Choosing Goddess

“I think I’d like that too. I missed your stories.”

“Is that all you missed?”

“Other stuff too, I guess,” she teased.

I shoved her lightly before getting up and grabbing a bag. I handed it to her, a smile on my face. “Happy Birthday,” I told her.

She sat up and took the bag before twisting her lip.

I watched as she dug into her purse before handing me a box. “Happy Birthday to you too,” she told me.

I waved my hand for her to open the bag, smiling as she pulled out the stargazing book. “I wasn’t sure if you had one like it, but I know how you like finding stuff in the sky, and this is supposed to be the most current and up-to-date guide.”

“And not getting released until later this year. How did you do it?”

“Connections, Spy,” I said, tossing her a wink before opening my box. I looked down at the book, flipping through the blank pages before opening the front flap. “‘The best place to not lose your notes. A pocket friend to help you. Write when your phone dies and think of me, Spy.’ Thank you. How did you know?”

She held the book to her chest as she sat up, a grin on her face.

“An interview. You once said that you wish you had a sheet of paper at all times for you to write stuff down because you didn’t trust putting things in your phone. It always stuck with me and, well, it seemed like a perfect time to get it. And it’s lightweight, so you can always have it.”

I turned it over in my hand, not sure how I got so lucky to have this woman back in my life, but I was going to vow to not lose her again. Somehow the fates had brought us back together, and I couldn’t have been happier.

Chapter 5

Spyridoula

Iglanced at him, watching the sun set behind him, and smiled.

“You know, you can bring out the laptop I know that is stashed while I put this book to good use.”

“You think I would do that to the good company I have with me?”

“Of course. Because I have my scope with me. If I was coming out to a spot where there’s no lights, you can bet your ass I’m going to check things out. And since someone was so nice to get me this beautiful book, well, I just have no choice.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as he smiled, because even though it had seemed like forever and a day since we’d been together, it was as if some things just didn’t change.

I remember many a night where we would be out in my backyard. He would have a notebook, and I would have my ‘scope, ready to talk about anything while I looked.

“Okay, fine, you win. I do have my laptop.”

I grinned as I got up to get my telescope, setting it up.

“Why did you have writer's block?” I asked as I looked through the book for the summer stars.

“You make it sound like it’s something I wanted. I didn’t. But when you get it,” he paused, and I looked over at him. “When it comes, when someone is so unlucky to have it, it sucks. For some, nothing comes to mind. But for others, like me, I can write and write, create things time and again, and end up hating everything.

“Even my agent and editor would send it all back to me with big red letters on it saying crap, or write something else. My favorite was always; this isn’t you. I was stuck. Even I knew that. I was forcing my pieces, and that's not a good thing.

“Writing should never be forced. Your plot, your characters should flow of their own accord. It should be a world built up in your mind, and flow from that and through the screen so that when a reader is reading it, they’ll feel as much of the world as you were.”

I stared at him, my eyes opened wide.

I didn’t think I would hear that.

“Guess you’ve come a lot farther than when we were kids, and you would tell me stories all the time about whatever came to mind.”

He glanced up from his laptop, a smile on his face.