Page 2 of A Sky Full Of Stars

Thomas

“Happy New Year!”Cheers ring out around the room, and I smile wide as a beautiful blonde grabs my face, pulling me down for a messy kiss.

Someone slaps my back, and I pull away just enough to see the culprit and chuckle.

“I thought we were having a boys’ night,” my college teammate jokes, wobbling as he saunters past with the two high school cheerleaders we met earlier. “But since you’re busy…” he continues, “I’ll see you in a few days.” He winks and I burst out laughing before moving in for another kiss.

It feels strange to think I won’t be seeing him every day like I usually do. We lost our playoff game, my first college football season is officially over, and now I have a couple of months of waiting until practice starts up again. I’d play all year if I could. I actually feel a little empty without it.

“Are you okay?” the blonde asks and I internally grimace.How did I forget we were making out?

“Never better.” I grin.

“Was that Jackson Laws?” she questions, her gaze trailing after him. Jackson may only be a freshman in college, like me, but he’s already worked his charm to make himself popular. “It sure was,” I say before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “But you don’t need him, because if you play your cards right, you’ve got me.”

What can I say, I’m damn popular myself. Especially considering we decided to make an appearance at my high school teammate’s party.

Speaking of…

“Much better than a college party, right?” that old high school teammate, Luke Bennett, says, handing me another drink as he nods to the girl beside me.

I tap my cup to his and huff out a laugh. “Let’s see if you still feel that way when you get to college, young man. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Luke rolls his eyes as he shoves my shoulder. “Fuck off with that ‘young man’ shit. We’re almost the same age,” he grates. “You just made the cutoff to start a year earlier than I did.”

It’s always a sensitive topic for him, and one that I love exploiting because he’s right. Luke and I have known each other since elementary school. He started the year after me, but over the years, through football and especially in high school, we became friends. Our birthdays are a month apart, butmybirthday made the cutoff for starting school earlier, and he’s forever reminding me that we should be in the same grade level.

“I don’t care what you say; this party isepic,” he adds with a confident grin.

He’s got me there.

“Alright. Alright. Alright,” I say in my best Matthew McConaughey accent. “I knew it’d be a hella good party. Why else would I be here?”

“Damn straight!” he cheers. “I knew you weren’t here out of loyalty.”

“Actually, there’s a little of that too.” I shrug, bouncing my eyebrows when the girl beside me giggles.

The music ramps up with the new year officially upon us, and I join the celebration, losing my mind to the beat. Bodies crash into me, people invade my personal space, but the more I drink, the less I care. This ismyyear. I can feel it.

“Want to get out of here?” the blonde asks, staring up at me through thick lacquered lashes, and I consider it for a second but find myself shaking my head.

“Not yet. I’ve still got some party in me.”

Since starting college, I’ve been the definition of the star student. I’m focused, I’m disciplined, and my grades are good. Despite what I said to Luke earlier, I’ve actually only attended one college party that wasn’t at the football house, or Ball House as we call it. True, it was epic, but I have no idea if they’re all like that.

Tonight’s my night to let loose. To get drunk. Topartay! I deserve it and I’m not letting anything stop me.

Luke raises his cup in the air from across the room, asking if I want another, and fuck yeah, I do. I nod, grabbing the blonde’s hand to spin her into my arms, dipping her back as we laugh. I’m high on life, completely ignoring how I’ll feel come morning, and it’s amazing…until a dickhead from my high school brings it all to a crashing halt. He swaggers my way like he’s God’s gift, but there is nothing cool about this guy.

“Fuck off, Jeffers, I’m not interested,” I preemptively attack, knowing what’s coming.

“Where’s your sister tonight, Kelly?” he goads, ignoring my comment. “I was really hoping she’d be here because man, I’d like to tap—”

“Finish that sentence and you’ll have my fist in your face.”She’s only sixteen, for fucks’ sake.

“And my knee in your balls,” Luke calls out from behind me, always having my back.

“But she likes older men, right?” Jeffers taunts and I see red.

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