Stars On Fire Read online

  I watched him until he entered the ship, his colleagues following behind him. Then the door was shut and secured.

  The camera returned to the image of the rocket, and the engines beginning to power on.

  It hit me hard that I wouldn’t see his face again for three months.

  That he was leaving this earth and would be millions of miles away.

  That he might not come back.

  There was so much pain in my chest, so much terror in my veins. I was proud of him, proud of my friend, but I was also devastated by the loss. It felt like I was getting divorced again…even though the situations weren’t the same as well.

  Houston began the countdown. “Ten…”

  The engines grew louder.

  Vic held hands with Stacy, both of them anxious for lift-off.

  Neil’s mother was constantly dabbing her eyes with a tissue, unable to control her tears.

  The countdown ended. “One…”

  All the engines fired off, the structure released the rocket, and the orange flames billowed into an enormous cloud of heat and fire. It grew several stories tall, shrouding the rocket with the combustion. It was so far away, but I swear I could feel the heat even at this distance.

  Then the enormous rocket lifted off into the sky…

  Everyone clapped and cheered as they watched the spacecraft rise and head for the open sky.

  The four of us were the only ones not clapping.

  I was terrified for Neil, terrified something would go wrong and his life would end just the way his father’s did. But as I witnessed the amazing moment when humans launched into space and headed for the moon, I felt this overwhelming sense of awe. Excitement ran through my veins, and my respect for this man increased tenfold. He launched into the unknown, only relying on his intellect and skills to keep him alive, but he wasn’t afraid at all. He really was an American hero, carrying all of humankind on his shoulders.

  I would miss him so much…but I was so proud.

  So proud to watch that man launch into the sky.

  ALSO BY E. L. TODD

  Neil Crimson is back from his mission. We promised we would just be friends, to keep our hands to ourselves and have a platonic relationship.

  But I haven't been with anyone since he's been gone...and I miss him so much. When he walks in the door, he's just as strong and handsome as I remember. He's a little thinner than before, but still regal and powerful. When I look at Neil Crimson, I don't see a friend...I see the best I've ever had.

  But it could never happen again.

  Until one night when he shows up on my doorstep...and says I'm the best he's ever had too.

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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Note from the author

  1. Charlotte

  2. Charlotte

  3. Neil

  4. Charlotte

  5. Neil

  6. Charlotte

  7. Neil

  8. Charlotte

  9. Neil

  10. Charlotte

  11. Neil

  12. Charlotte

  13. Neil

  14. Charlotte

  15. Neil

  16. Charlotte

  17. Neil

  18. Charlotte

  Also by E. L. Todd