Page 12 of A Sky Full Of Stars

A sharp pang hits as I watch them drive away before unlocking the front door and heading straight to my room. I know we’ve drifted since I left for college, and while it’s mostly my fault, it still hurts.

My bed welcomes me when I arrive, and with the comforter stripped back, pillow fluffed, it’s screaming at me to dive in. But with the pile of books haunting me from my desk, and the huge “assignment due” note on my calendar, I know I won’t be able to sleep.

Unless…

Giving up on my plans to cut the cord, I call Luke again. If I drink enough, it’ll be easier to switch off. I could even be out cold before my head hits the pillow.

Of course, now that I’ve made up my mind, he doesn’t answer. Again. But why would he? He’s got the babes.

Huffing out a laugh, I grab my phone and order an Uber, taking a chance that I’m right about the party. I text a fewfriends on the drive over, but as we’re pulling up, I get a text from someone I wasn’t expecting to hear from.

“Keep the change,” I joke as I wave goodbye to the driver, checking my phone as I do.

Jenna: Plans?

A smile pulls at my lips as I read the single-word text.I do now, Jenna. I do now.

Thomas: Just got to a party. Want to join me?

We text back and forth a few times and decide that she’ll pick me up in an hour so we can do our own thing. Code for…I’mgetting lucky tonight.

Damn, where’s my truck when I need the backseat?

I smile to myself as I picture Summer’s face on hearing that joke, but the second I turn around, I realize the joke’s on me. The house is quiet. No lights. No cars lining the drive. No streams of people coming and going. I was wrong.Goddammit.How the hell didn’t I notice that?

My phone buzzes with another text, and I relax when I see the screen.

Jenna: Change of plans. I’ll be there in forty minutes.

Forty minutes. I can wait.

Getting comfortable on the curb, I scroll through social media to pass the time, but it’s only been about five minutes when the front door opens and Lainey walks out, aggressively ripping a piece of paper.

She stalks over to the trash can and throws the paper in before slamming the lid down, cursing to herself as she does. Instead of walking back into the house, she pauses on her front lawn, her head moving between the door and her yard.

It’s dark out, but even from this distance, it’s impossible to miss when she wipes at her eyes, and my stomach knots.

I’m torn between calling out or leaving her alone, but as I continue watching her in silence, she seemingly makes a decision and disappears around the side of her house. I stare unmoving, but when the gate slams shut, I’m hit with the strongest desire to go after her. It’s like seeing Summer in pain. I can’t handle it. Despite having no idea what’s wrong, I can’t walk away.

The pull is too strong.

Jumping up, I jog across the yard and round the corner before I’ve had the chance to think it through, and it’s not until I step through the gate that a nervous energy hits me, made worse when I turn into the yard and Lainey comes into view.

I don’t think I’m equipped for this.

She's curled up on their outdoor couch, her arms wrapped around her legs and her forehead resting on her knees. She’s rocking slightly, but it’s hard to tell if she’s crying.

I’ve only ever seen Summer in a similar position once, and she told me to get lost.

I barely know Lainey. She’s probably not going to want me here, and yet, my legs won’t move. I can’t leave her.

I won’t.

“Lainey? What’s wrong?”

I move closer as her gaze snaps to mine, and when she gasps, my chest tightens.

“Thomas?”

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