Page 11 of A Sky Full Of Stars

I’ve just grabbed my bag when my phone rings and Luke’s name lights up my screen. I ignore it at first and head off to the showers. He’s most likely calling about a party. Again. And at some point I have to cut the cord. Not from Luke, but from the high school scene in general. It’s been close to nine monthssince I graduated, and while I love my high school teammates, it’s time to move on. I’ll be able to hang out with some of them in a few months anyway when they start at Heartwood U. Luke being one of them. It’s the only place he applied.

I’m on my way home when I finally listen to Luke’s voicemail, and the sound of his booming voice through my truck speakers makes me cringe.

“Tommy!! This party is epic. So many babes. You should be here.”

Tommy?His parents must be turning a blind eye to the alcohol again because I don’t think he’s ever called me Tommy.

I try calling him back but he doesn't answer—which is lucky for me because it shows I tried—and I'm pulling into our long driveway as I hang up. My headlights illuminate our front porch and the hunched-over figure sitting on the steps immediately distracts me from Luke. Summer shields her eyes as she lifts her head, and a feeling of dread flows through me.

I hate this scene. Something is going on between her and my parents, and none of them are talking about it. If Summer’s home, she’s moping around, but most of the time, she’s MIA.

Without speaking, I lock my truck and walk her way, sitting down beside her. She sighs before letting out the smallest laugh.

“What’s so funny?” I ask to break the silence.

“Your truck. No matter how many times I see it, I’ll never get over it.” She throws up a hand toward her old beat-up Honda and laughs again while my stomach sinks.

“I’m sure they’ll get you a new car when you head off to college,” I say, even though I doubt that’s true. They bought me my brand-new top-of-the-line Ford the day I got my license,so it’s hard to justify the college excuse. But I keep holding out hope.

“I don’t even want a fancy car,” she says with a scoff. “I’d much prefer the cash.” She turns to me with a sassy grin, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You and me both, Summer. Your car still gets you from A to B. What do I need the fancy truck for?”

“To get the girls?”

I fake a gasp before winking. “You got me. And it works.”

“I know. We share a wall.” She rolls her eyes and pretends to gag, but I know she’s joking. I’ve only ever snuck one girl into the house, and Summer wasn’t even home. She’s never home. Either way, I usually use my truck and—on that note…

“I just figured out what my truck is good for.”

“Oh yeah?”

“The back seat.”

“Ew. Thomas!” She punches me in the arm and stands up, her expression full of disgust while I burst out laughing.

“You brought it up.” I shrug before changing the subject. “What are you doing at home on a Friday night, anyway?”

The words barely have time to leave my mouth before headlights flash in my eyes. “I’m not,” Summer says as she shields her face again. “Logan’s back for the weekend and we’re going out.”

Logan.One of Summer’s best friends. She may have known him since she was a child, but I’m still not sure if I can trust him. We’re almost the same age and yet… he befriended Summernot me. I’ll never understand that. And he knows how I feel. Even now I can guarantee he doesn’t get out of his truck.

“Just the two of you?” I ask, as I watch Logan approach. “What about Cory?” Cory is Summer’s other best friend. Theone that stays by her side whenever Logan disappears, the one that talks to me… the one I trust with Summer’s life.

“Are you worried aboutmeor Cory?” Summer asks.

Definitely you. “Cory,” I lie. “I don’t want her getting left out because Logan’s back.”

“Aww, and they say you’re an ignorant asshole.” She pats me on the back. “You actually care.”

My eyes flash to hers. “Who? Who says that?” What the actual—

Summer laughs, cutting into my thoughts just as Logan calls out.

“You ready, Sum?” he says from his open window, proving my earlier point as he comes to a stop behind her car.

“Coming,” she practically sings with a huge smile on her face, waving my way without even saying goodbye.

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