Page 163 of A Sky Full Of Stars

To avoid temptation. Because she deserves better.

Dylan calls again, but I still don’t answer. Instead, I focus on Lainey—on her smile, on the feel of her skin beneath my touch, on her heart. My hands shake, but I pump them a few times, smiling to myself like that will make it all better.

And when Dylan calls for what feels like the millionth time, I give in and man up, bouncing my shoulders in an effort to prepare myself for his verbal punches.

“I know why you’re calling.” My voice comes out clearer than I expected and I’m thankful. “And—”

“Summer’s in the hospital,” he blurts, making my stomach drop. “She fainted while out for a jog and hit her head when she fell. She’s stable, but they’re—”

“Where is she?” I cut him off as panic rises in my chest, my head instantly clearing.

“They’ve taken her to Wakefield Hospital. I’m on my way now. But Thomas, I spoke to her. She’s okay. We just wanted you to know.”

“I’ll meet you there. I’m about… I’ll be about twenty minutes behind you.”

Dylan breathes out a sigh of relief, and his relief comforts me. “Thanks, man,” he says, making my chest tighten. “I appreciate that,” he adds, before hanging up.

I turn to rush inside and find Lainey staring at me with wide eyes. “Fuck, Lainey.” I pull her into my arms. “Summer’s in the hospital and—”

“I heard.” She glances at Josh sleeping on the monitor as tears prick her eyes.

“She’s okay. Dylan would have said if she wasn’t. I’ll call you when I’m with her, but I’m assuming Dylan will call you next.”

After pressing a kiss to her brow, I take a deep breath and rush inside, praying I can keep it together enough to grab my wallet and keys. And I do. I take another deep breath before meeting Lainey again, squeezing her hand as I pass by. “I’ll call soon.”

“Wait.” She visibly panics. “Where are you going?” she calls out as I walk toward my truck parked at the back of the house.

My brows furrow but I don’t stop as I peer over my shoulder. “To see Summer.”

“How?”

“My truck.” I shrug, confused. “I promise, I’ll call soon.”

I jog to my door and jump in, ready to go faster than I would have thought possible. Yet, as I shift into drive, I pause.

Fuck. I can’t drive.But if I get out now, Lainey’s going to know I’ve been drinking. I curse just as the passenger door flies open, and Lainey slides in beside me, closing the door with a bang.

“What are you doing?” I rush out, my body heating.

“What am I doing?” she snaps. “What the hell are you doing?”

What? Ignoring her, my eyes flash to the monitor in her hand. “Josh is inside. Go back in. I’ll call you soon.”

“Josh is fine.” She glances at her watch. “And Joel’s almost here. If you wait until he arrives, he can look after Josh so I can come with you.”

My hands start shaking again, but I flex them a few times and ignore it. “You can’t come,” I say through clenched teeth, fighting to control my nerves.

“Why?” she asks, her expression blank.

“Because Joel isn’t here and–”

“He’s not far. We can wait.”

I shake my head, as my panic rises. I can’t lie to her again, but I don’t want to disappoint her.

“Lainey, please, I have to go.”And I don’t want you to see me getting out of my truck.Of course, Lainey doesn’t listen, and with one hand clutching the baby monitor, she buckles her seat belt and twists in her seat to face me. “Joel’s here now.” She points to Joel’s motorcycle coming down the driveway. “Just let me explain the situation and then we can drive,” she says pointedly, no room for negotiation as she pulls out her phone and starts typing something.

“Who are you texting?”

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