“Stomp and clap!”
Someone sets the rhythm: stomp stomp, clap clap. We all fall into the beat.
Timo juggles invisible balls, his face pulling theatrically, pretending to be surprised at his own talent. I grin wide, and he calls out, “Sister!”
Katya steps into the center, and Timo tosses an invisible ball to her. She pretends it’s on fire and hot-potatoes it, her hair billowing down her back.
I love being in a show with my little sister, but more than that—I’m happy she’s not working with anyone she can’t trust. And that she’s safe.
“Brother!” Timo calls cheerfully, and he chucks an invisible ball at me.
I catch the ball with two hands, and I eye my girlfriend next to me. “Bay.”
She wears her cool-as-steel New York attitude, but as we join the center circle with Kat and Timo, I dribble my invisible basketball around her frame.
My eyes are teasing, saying: what? Can’t catch it?
Wearing a tank top, Baylee mimes rolling up her imaginary sleeves and she tries hard not to smile.
I act like I dribble between her legs, and then I stand an inch from her face and spin the invisible ball on my finger.
Baylee steals the ball and pretends to kick it away, and my smile stretches and I nod my head to the beat the artists make around us.
Bay mimes a baseball bat dropping from the air into her hands.
Then she gears up for a pitch.
Timo, Kat, and I angle our bodies like we’re eyeing the pitcher.
“Bases are loaded,” I call out. “She’s the indomitable, undefeatable Baylee Wright. Never missed a ball in her life.”
Bay’s gaze flits to me, smile peeking, but she tries to act concentrated on batting. Then she swings, and in unison, Kat, Timo, and I whip our heads to the right and shield our eyes from mock sunlight. Gawking at a homerun.
Timo whistles a fading whistle like it’s the baseball, flying off into the distance.
Baylee mic-drops her invisible bat.
I rush up to her, our lips a breath away, and in a split-second, I pretend the invisible ball just landed on my finger.
Baylee shakes her head, trying to keep her lips pressed together. Trying to look serious.
“Whisper!” someone shouts. Everyone shhhhs.
I spin the ball faster, and she’s close enough to murmur, “You’re unbelievable.”
I grin more, and she can’t suppress her own smile any longer. I dip my head, forehead nearly touching hers, and I murmur, “You’re just now realizing this moment never ends?”
It can’t disappear.
It’s already invisible, unseen. Something we feel.
We’ll never lose this. It burrows into us like an endless light.
SPECIAL THANKS
Our deepest thanks is given to Nori Amada.
We are believers in fate, and we wholeheartedly believe that the universe brought us together. Had we not met, this book wouldn’t carry a portion of the joy and heart that exists inside of it. Thank you for sharing your love of music with us. For answering our countless questions on soca and the Caribbean. And for being the singer/songwriter to lift Baylee up during dark times. Hearing you talk about your music, and your passion for it, breathed fire into our own art.
Readers:
We highly recommend that you discover more of Nori Amada’s music. It never fails to lift our spirits.
You can find Nori Amada on
iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud
You can follow Nori Amada on
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are dreamers. Huge, boundless, ridiculous and bizarre dreamers—and we once dreamed up being able to write this magical acrobatic world that seems beautiful and impossible. Then we dreamed up the possibility of someone reading our story and feeling something from these pages and characters.
That someone, maybe, is you.
So thank you. Whether knowing or not, you are our dream, and we’re forever grateful for you.
It’s always hard for us to list out names—because it truly tears us apart leaving out anyone who’s helped us—so when we say a big thank you to the Fizzle Force, it encompasses everyone who knows us or who has simply read our books. Those we’ve chatted with and those who’ve stayed quiet. We love you all, and we’re so very thankful for the support you’ve given us, especially throughout this novel.
To our mom, you are the rock behind this book. Thank you so much for always being there when we need you. Especially on such short deadlines. Not many may know, but you are always our first reader. Our first supporter and cheerleader. We love you so very much.
To Nori, we’re honored to have met you, and we thank you so much for sharing your passion for music with us. You’re possibly one of the sweetest people in the world, and we’re wishing you only immense success.
To our sensitivity readers Maya and Ebony, thank you for the feedback and for the insights you shared on Baylee’s culture and identity. It was invaluable to us, and of course, any mistakes or misrepresentations are our own.
To Kimberly, our agent, thanks for always being in our corner. We can say, without a shadow of a doubt, you’ve brought magic to our lives.
To Lanie, you are such a powerhouse, a sweetheart, our superhero—we adore you to the very ends of the Earth. Thank you for the endless support for Infini and all the hard work you’ve put into spreading the word about this Aerial Ethereal Universe. It has meant more to us than words can express.
To Jenn, thank you for all you’ve done with the Fizzle Force Group—but mostly, thank you for being such a great friend throughout the years. And sticking by us. And being here. We’re so very appreciative.
To Jae, your graphics, your kindness and bright spirit are literal sunshine. Thank you so much for making the Fizzle Force Group so welcoming. For all the celebrations you’ve thrown in spirit of Infini and the cast of Aerial Ethereal.
To Siiri, we want to thank you for the constant support from beginning to the not-yet-end (hopefully we’ll be here for a while!) You’ve been a great friend to us and a big advocate of our work. Thank you, always.
To bloggers, thank you for taking the time out to read and review our books. We’re so very grateful for all your love and enthusiasm.
And thank you to Sue, Amy, and Bella for all the Aerial Ethereal happiness you’ve stirred up on Tumblr and Goodreads. You’re magical in our eyes.
Lastly, we’ll return to the Fizzle Force, our readers. To you. With one final goodbye, just as the curtains to Infini—this very novel—draw close…
We thank you.
STEP BACK INTO THE WORLD OF
AERIAL ETHEREAL
Craving more books from the Aerial Ethereal Universe?
Nikolai and Thora’s story starts it all. AMOUR AMOUR – a standalone contemporary romance—is set in the same dazzlingly, Vegas acrobatic world as INFINI. Go back and discover how their love story began.
AMOUR AMOUR
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES
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Join the Fizzle Force Facebook Group to interact with other fans, chat about the books, and to enter exclusive Fizzle Force giveaways.
MORE BOOKS BY
KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE
ADDICTED SERIES
Addicted to You
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Thrive
Addicted After All
CALLOWAY SISTERS SERIES
Kiss the Sky
Hothouse Flower
Fuel the Fire
Long Way Down
Some Kind of Perfect
STANDALONE ROMANCE
Amour A
mour
Infini Page 43