Page 131 of A Sky Full Of Stars

“What?” my driver asks, his confused eyes meeting mine in the rear-view mirror.

“Nothing. I’m all good.”

My eyes fall shut again until someone clears their throat and I remember where I am. “Right. Sorry, I’m off.”

After rushing from the car, I watch as the driver disappears into the night before using the fence to navigate my way up the long drive, sneaking in the back door with my trusty keys. I could have called Summer before letting myself in, but I figure it’s better to ask for forgiveness when she’s well rested than to wake her up in the middle of the night.

And who knows… maybe seeing me here tomorrow will be agoodsurprise for her. She was the one that suggested it.

I walk quietly through the house, using my phone light to illuminate my path, and the second I’m in the spare room, Idrop my bag and fall onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as the world swirls around me.

When my eyes drift closed, the spinning stops, but an assortment of colors and images begins to wreak havoc on my mind—the beach, my new team, the bar,Lainey, kids playing in Summer’s yard, my messy apartment,Lainey, the bed, the soft mattress, my pillow…

I’m not sure how much time has passed, but something wakes me and I jump with a start, before rolling over to check the time, the movement giving me an instant headache.

Ignoring the drilling going on in my head, I sit up as a slither of my dream balances at the edge of my mind.Lainey?God, I always fucking dream of her.

It’s been years, and I can still picture her beautiful face like it was yesterday, still picture the gold flecks of her dark eyes—eyes that now haunt me when I’m at my lowest.

I huff out a laugh and check the other side of the bed, relaxing when I find it empty.Alwaysrelaxing when I find it empty. I made the decision to end things with Lainey, but that doesn’t mean I ever moved on, and I’m terrified that I’ll one day do something I live to regret.Anotherdecision I’ll live to regret. I already have a few banked up, and there’s only so much baggage I can carry.

The same noise cuts into my thoughts again, but this time I recognize it as Josh’s cries, and a few seconds later a light comes on down the long hall.

I fight to stay awake to make sure everything’s okay, but I must drift off again, because the next time I stir, the sun’s high in the sky and my head feels significantly better. My body clock doesn’t usually allow me to sleep late, but on the rare occasion it happens, I welcome it, enjoying the end of the offseason before shit gets real.

Bouncing out of bed, I take my time to shower before wrapping a towel around my waist, not bothering with clothes since I know Dylan and Summer won’t be home.

The smell of coffee permeates the air as I walk toward the kitchen, but it’s not until I round the corner and see a flash of pink that I register what that means.

Someone’s here…and either the world is completely fucking with me, or that someone is Lainey.But that can’t be right.

Grabbing the wall, I pull myself to a stop before moving out of view. I thought I was fine, but maybe I’m still drunk.How can Lainey be here?She’s traveling the world. Luke would have told me if she was home.Wouldn’t he?

My palm flexes as I itch to call him, but how is that going to help? If he tells me she’s still away, that’s not going to change anything. I’m still going to have to walk out there and see for myself. Because for one, curiosity will kill me if I don’t, and two… I’m really fucking thirsty.

I slowly suck in a breath, ignoring the way the air stings my throat as it travels to my lungs.I can do this.I’m sure I imagined it, or maybe Summer’s wearing a hat. Either way, there shouldn’t be anything standing between me and a cool glass of water. I’m going in.

Tightening the towel around my waist, I stand tall and enter the kitchen like I own the place, ready to confront the houseguest. Only it’s a complete ghost town.

Thomas, you delusional fuck.

I huff out a laugh before grabbing myself a glass and turning on the tap. I really need to get a grip on reality sometimes. After all this time, I’m still obsessing over Lainey. Still picturing the way her lips curve at the edges and a single brow lifts when she’s trying to hold back a smile, or the way her eyes sparklewhen she laughs. Those rare moments that I wish I’d seen more often instead of the sadness that followed us around.

After downing a few glasses of water, I fill my cup a final time but take a slow sip, dropping my head back to let the cool liquid soothe me from the inside. I don’t even know what I’d do if I saw her again. Nothing has changed. I’m still not ready to send the damn text, and yet, just the idea of her sets my heart on fire.

“If only,” I mumble to myself just as the front door opens, drawing my attention to the hallway, my hand frozen with the glass raised to my lips.

“You’rehere?” Summer gasps as her hand flies to her chest, and she readjusts Josh on her hip, obviously expecting the kitchen to be empty. “And you’re in a towel.”

Josh smiles when he sees me while Summer’s brow lifts in amusement.

Shit.“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t want to wake you last night when I got in, and I thought you’d be out this morning. Don’t you usually spend Sunday mornings with Joel and Delilah?”

“We do, but it’s midday. We’re done.”

It’s midday?“Sorry, I—”

“No, it’s fine. I gave you the key and I wanted you to use it. It’s just…” she trails off, her eyes flashing toward the back of the house. “I guess you’re going to meet Josh’s nanny half-naked.”

---