Page 49 of A Sky Full Of Stars

Seeing Summer, and her smile, her kindness, made it almost impossible to believe the rumors and yet, according to Luke, Thomas and Summer no longer spoke.

The memory of the day I left Heartwood Falls still haunts me, and no matter how much time has passed, I can’t seem to push those thoughts from my mind. I go through periods where it becomes more of a distant memory, but then something happens and I’m right back to feeling the guilt all over again. Like today.

“Lainey? You okay?” Jace asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“Sorry, yeah. I’m fine. I appreciate you so much, Jace,” I say, changing my tune. “But it was nothing… So, tell me how your hot friend Kai is doing?”

“He’s great.” Jace chuckles, letting me off the hook. “How about I set you up?”

When I wake the next morning I have an urgent text from Luke, telling me to call him. A shiver runs through me when I see the time of the call—two a.m.—until he answers, sounding like death warmed over.

“Polly Pocket, I miss you,” he croaks into the phone, telling me he’s either sick or hungover. “You have to come to the Ball House for Thanksgiving. I won’t take no for an answer.”

Hungover then.Or still drunk.“Luke, you rang me in the middle of the night for that?”

“I rang you?”

“Yes, and it’s midweek.”

“So. We had an impromptu party.”

“Ugh, fine. But my answer is no. I’m not coming to a party.”

“It’s not a party. They’re having a party the night before. This is just me inviting you over on the actual day. On Thursday.”

“So I can look after your hungover ass? You sound awfulnow; imagine how you’ll be on Thursday. And what about Mom and Dad, and Ryan?”

“Dad’s away for work, remember? We’re celebrating after my game Saturday instead.”Damn, I hate when he’s right. “Please, Lainey. I miss you. I feel like I never see you, and you should be around your family on Thanksgiving,” he pleads with a saddened tone.

Ugh. He called me Lainey, and even though I usually avoid the Ball House whenever possible, I can’t stand when he does that.

Dammit. Why can’t I say no?“Fine, but I’m not cooking you breakfast or lunchordinner. In fact, you owemea meal.”

“Yes! We’ll work it out. Thanks, Pee Wee.” He hangs up after the nickname, and the sudden lightness in his voice makes me cringe.

I think I just got played.

He better not be lying about the party.

Chapter Nineteen

Thomas

Itiptoe my fingers along the back of the girl closest to me before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She giggles as I lean in, her gaze rapt with attention. They’re all stuck on my every word. “Then my parents’ Christmas presents went missing,” I say, as they gasp right on cue. “It’s like God’s telling me I’m not supposed to be here.” I laugh, but really…Why the hell am I back?I wanted to move away. I wanted to cut ties with this world, and yet I came back. And it all went to shit.

First, my flight was canceled, next I lost the presents I bought, knowing I wouldn’t see my parents for Christmas, then I got an Uber home only to discover Dad had borrowed my truck, and when I finally got it from him and made it to the Ball House, I heard some douchebag talking shit about Lainey.

For three years I’ve pushed her out of my mind, just like I did with Summer, wanting to forget everything about that part of my life…but somethingalwayscomes up.

Every time I think about her, I’m left wondering…where was she? When I needed her the most, why wasn’t she there? Why couldn’t she answer me?

I know she moved to New York, but why the hell couldn’t she talk to me first, tell me she was leaving? Say goodbye?

It’s fucked-up.

“You’re definitely meant to be here, Thomas.” One of the girls snuggles up to me. “Let’s make sure your night gets better.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”I’m all in.

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