Page 112 of A Sky Full Of Stars

Nate finally breaks his character, giving me a sympathetic smile. “I do.”

“Shit.” I glance over at a peaceful looking Thomas. “What do we do?”

“We?” His tone suddenly changes, and I question if he’s annoyed, but when I spin around to face him, he winks. “I know aboutyouas well.”

What? My body tenses in panic. “Know what?”

He gives me a pointed look, silently asking me if he really needs to answer that.

I let out a long, slow sigh. “How?”

“Don’t worry.” Nate chuckles. “I’m a lot more observant than your brother.”

Oh shit.“That’s not filling me with ease because he’s actually more observant than many give him credit for.”

“I know. I’m messing with you. Thomas told me.”

“He told you?”

“He did.”

My eyes flash to Thomas in all his drunken glory, and I don’t know whether to slap his mouth shut or kiss his cheek. I wish he’d talk tomeabout it. About what he wants. And I wish I knew what him telling Nate actually means.

“I don’t suppose you want to fill me in on that conversation?”

“Nope.” Nate pops thepbefore smirking. “I want to get him into his room for the night and go back to bed. I’ve got shit to do in the morning.”

“Oh, God. Of course.”

Considering he was worried about lifting Thomas, Nate manages to make it look like he’s carrying a child. It helps that Thomas seems to have roused himself enough to drag his feet slowly, rather than being a dead weight.

After dropping him on the bed, which thankfully happens to be on the ground floor, Nate turns to leave, but I stop him.

“Should I stay?” I whisper, gently grabbing his elbow, pulling him to a halt before he walks out the door.

Nate’s brow furrows before he glances toward the bed. “Tonight? That’s not a question I can—”

“No, I mean here in Heartwood. In the US.”

While I’ve never spoken to Nate about my work in Indonesia, I’ve recently discovered that Luke’s friends seem to know most of my business. The trip isn’t going to come as a shock to him, but canceling might.

Nate’s eyes widen before he looks away. “That’s definitely not a decision I can make,” he says, looking back at me. “But before changing your entire life like that, you should ask yourself howyou being herewill help him. You’re the only one that knows all that’s going on.”

He offers me another sympathetic smile before squeezing my arm, and when he walks away, I briefly glance back at Thomas, processing Nate’s words.

Can I help him?

I thought I already was, but now we’re here. What if this had happened during the season? If he loses the team, he’ll spiral even more.

I can’t go. Not yet anyway. There will be more programs to apply for. It’s not like I’ll be throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was running. I was using the volunteer trip to escape my problems, but focusing on Thomas helps me with that too.

And Thomas is more important.

Decision made, I turn to leave, when Thomas stirs. “Lainey?”Goddammit.

“Yes, it’s me.” I spin to face him with a soft smile. “Go back to sleep.”

“Where are you going?” He frowns as though he can’t fathom me leaving, and I almost giggle.

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