Page 13 of A Sky Full Of Stars

What do I do?

Chapter Five

Thomas

Lainey rubs her eyes as she sits up, then looks around. “Is my brother here?” she asks, a little panicked, her eyes darting in the direction I just came from, as if he’s about to follow me around the corner.

Now that I’m close, I can see all the emotion written on her face, and it worries me that she clearly doesn’t want Luke to see her.

“It’s just me.” I put her mind at ease. “I didn’t think anyone was home. Are you okay?”

Lainey visibly relaxes and puts on a smile, trying to appear calm. “Sorry, I’m fine. I was just reading something sad.”

“Ahh, those sad books. They get me every time,” I joke to make her smile. “Was it Nicholas Sparks?”

“What?” Her jaw drops and she stares at me like I’m a stranger.

“What do you mean, what? You don’t think I read Nicholas Sparks? Of course, I read Nicholas Sparks. It’s Nicholas Sparks.”

“Please stop saying Nicholas Sparks.” She finally grins but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Okay, I’m shutting up.”

“No, don’t shut up. I’m curious to know your favorite.”

“Favorite?”

“Nicholas Sparks,” she reminds me with her brows raised and the hint of a smile in her voice.

“Oh…A Walk To Remember,” I say, hoping she doesn't notice the question in my tone.

But of course, she does. “So you’ve seen the movie?” She huffs out a laugh, clearly displaying her skepticism.

“Okay, yes. My sister made me watch the movie once. She told me it was based on a book.ButI wasn’t joking about the sadness. That shit was traumatizing.”

Biting back a grin, Lainey tries to keep a straight face, but her sparkling eyes give her away. “I wouldn’t know.” She shrugs. “I haven’t seen or read it.”She’s happy.Imadeher happy.

“What book were you reading then?”

“I never said it was a book.”Happiness gone.

My stomach sinks.The paper she was ripping.“Fuck, Lainey. I’m a dick.” I drop onto the couch beside her and tilt my body, giving her my full attention, making sure she knows I’m here to listen. “Want to talk about whatever it is you read?”

“Yes…and no.” She hesitates. “Talking about it will make it real, but at the same time, I kind of want to tell you.”

My heart stops, the sadness in her eyes hard to take. Something’s definitely wrong.

“I didn’t get into the ballet school I wanted,” she announces as fresh tears well in her eyes.

“I thought you didn’t want to dance?” I whisper, but instantly regret it. It’s not the best response I could have given her.

“It’s complicated.” She grimaces. “I want to dance, but I only want to dancethere.”

“Oh.”Shit.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, Lainey. Can you try again? Audition again?”

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