Wish Upon a Star

By Michelle McLean

Wish Upon a Star by Michelle McLean

Ceri McKinley never stopped wishing that her ex-fiancé Jason Crickett would come back into her life. But when he finally does, he comes with a request that puts them both—and all of humanity—into jeopardy.

Jason only wants two things: to bury his brother properly and to convince Ceri to trust him again after he jilted her. But when Ceri agrees to help him get his brother back, they end up fighting for their lives as the second zombie uprising threatens them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781622663323

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Wish Upon a Star

Michelle McLean

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

Copyright © 2013 by Michelle McLean. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Entangled Publishing, LLC

2614 South Timberline Road

Suite 109

Fort Collins, CO 80525

Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.

Edited by Erin Molta

Cover design by Curtis Svehlak

Ebook ISBN 978-1-62266-332-3

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition September 2013

The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Other titles

by Michelle Mclean

To Trust a Thief

A Bandit’s Stolen Heart: Book One of The Blood Blade Sisters series

A Bandit’s Broken Heart: Book Two of The Blood Blade Sisters series

A Bandit’s Betrayed Heart: Book Three of The Blood Blade Sister’s series—coming soon.

To TCR, my love always

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Acknowledgements

Chapter One

I knew it was him the second I heard his voice. Even through the chaotic din of the crowd at Pleasure Island, his voice carried and hit me right in the heart, stopping me cold. I didn’t need to turn around to confirm it, though remaining still was one of the hardest things I’d ever done in my life. He was here. Finally. Walking back into my life. Never thought it would happen, though I’d wished for it often enough.

Maybe one of these days I’d get it through my thick skull that wishes hardly ever came true. Even when they did, they usually didn’t turn out the way you wanted.

Then again, here he was.

What I didn’t know was why he was here or how I felt about him turning up now.

Or why I was still staring at the floor even though he’d been standing in front of me for the last several seconds.

Ceri.

His voice still had the power to turn me into a quivering pile of goo. I hated him for it.

I looked up, forced myself to stare right into those grass-green eyes. Jason.

And…cue awkward silence.

He opened his mouth a few times, like he wanted to say something, but instead he just stared. And every word of every speech I’d rehearsed in my head for when, or if, I ever saw him again evacuated my brain.

The memory of him walking out of my door four years ago broke the spell. I cleared my throat.

What are you doing here?

You look good.

My heart flipped and I took a slow breath, trying to calm the traitorous organ that overreacted to a few nice words. They meant nothing. Him walking out on me three days before our wedding meant everything. He wasn’t welcome here, no matter how many cartwheels my heart did. No matter in how many weak moments I’d wished for it. I had to keep reminding myself that.

That doesn’t really answer my question, I said.

Mommy! Look what Grandma bought me!

My daughter, Skye, ran up through the crowds of tourists milling around the megamall-type center and thrust a twirling pinwheel at me. I forced a smile, stealing a quick glance at Jason.

He was staring down at Skye and I could almost see him doing the mental math, calculating how old she was…his eyes widening as he came to the conclusion that there was a possibility she was his.

I’d lost track of how many times I’d wished she was.

Jason, this is my daughter, Skye. We are here to visit her father.

Jason’s eyes met mine, narrowing slightly, and I tamped down the jolt of guilt that hit me. I had nothing to feel guilty over. He had left me. My actions after that fact were none of his business.

He smiled down at Skye. I’m very pleased to meet you. My name is Jason.

Hi, Skye said shyly, wrapping her little arm around my leg.

My mother came to stand beside us and, with my attention no longer riveted on Jason, I noticed that his father was standing behind him.

I smiled at Max with genuine pleasure. I’d always loved the old man. He’d been the father I’d never had.

Max hugged me hard enough to crack my back. How have you been?

I’m doing fine, I assured him. You?

Max’s face fell and for the first time I noticed the lines of grief etched around his eyes. We’ve…had a bit of a hard time. He glanced up at his son. I think we’d better let the two of you talk in private for a minute.

Before I could protest that I had no intention of talking to Jason in private, Max turned to my mother and held out his arm. Ms. McKinley, shall we take your delightful granddaughter for a ride on the carousel?

Yay, yay, yay! Skye shouted, jumping up and down with excitement.

My mother winked at me and then she took Max’s arm and together they led Skye off to the carousel. Leaving me alone with Jason.

Jason ran his fingers through his floppy 1990’s Hugh Grant haircut. You don’t need to look so nervous, Ceri. I just want to talk to you for a second.

What do you want?

Can we sit for a minute? He nodded at a circle of benches off in a corner and I reluctantly followed him.

I sat, putting as much space between us as possible. If Jason noticed, he chose to ignore it. He pulled a folded newspaper article out of his pocket and handed it to me. Have you seen this yet?

I spread the paper out and a lump of dread lodged in my throat. The blaring headline was like a knife twisting in my gut.

NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL PETER CRICKETT GUNNED DOWN IN ROBBERY GONE BAD

The pain wasn’t for Peter. To be honest, I didn’t feel that bad for Peter. He’d kind of had it coming. But his death hurt Jason and their father. And them, I loved. No matter what lies I told myself or what had happened between Jason and me, I didn’t wish this kind of pain on him.

I’m so sorry. Really.

He nodded his thanks. Read it.

I turned back to the article.

Peter Crickett, a former employee at Saxton Technologies and beneficiary of their cutting-edge cybernetic prosthetics, was killed in a shoot-out Saturday night when police officers responded to a call from a research scientist at the company’s lab. Crickett allegedly broke into the lab of his father, Max Crickett, who called the police when he discovered the burglary in progress. Whether or not Mr. Crickett was aware of who the thief was when he made the call is not clear. Mr. Crickett and his attorney have declined to comment.

Mr. Russell Saxton, the lead scientist and owner of Saxton Technologies, released a statement saying: "We at Saxton Technologies are deeply saddened by the events of this past weekend. The technology his father helped develop took Peter from a bedbound amputee and gave him a new lease on life. We had high hopes for him, but unfortunately, he chose to misuse his second chance. It is a true tragedy.

I stopped reading and rubbed my eyes. The only reason Russell thought Peter’s death was a tragedy was because of how much time and money he had invested in him. Russell didn’t care about Peter as a person. He didn’t care

Reviews for Wish Upon a Star

[hcollins_25 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first zombie read and I am hooked! I loved this novella! It may be short but by the time I was finished I felt as if I had read a full book. There was so much action packed into this story that there was no way I could set it down, even for a minute. The characters were great together and an ex gets what's coming to him. What's not to like? Will definitely be looking for more books from Michelle! A must read!!!! I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

[tala2cubs · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2.5 stars

This is a short story about a second chance romance. It started a bit slow for me, but when they got into Ceri’s ex-husbands offices the action started and didn’t stop. The story basically revolves around Ceri and Jason trying to save her daughter during a zombie outbreak. While fighting their way up the building and back they both wonder what if? Do they try again?

Ceri hasn’t seen Jason for five years, ever since he called of their wedding. In those years she married a very crazy man and divorced him. Ceri is still tied to him through their daughter and that’s how she ends up in an office with her ex-husband and ex-fiancé. Yep, it’s as awkward as it sounds.

Overall it’s a fairly good short story full of action with a bit of romance. It’s well written and the characters are fully developed. My only issue with it is the ending. It just abruptly ended; it felt more like a HFN instead of a HEA. Without major spoilers I can’t explain it in detail, I just hope there is more to the story.

(Received a copy in exchange for an honest review.)

Darker Passions