Page 173 of A Sky Full Of Stars

“No,” Summer cuts me off, shaking her head. “How about we agree to be honest from now on, but stop apologizing for the past. After all, we can’t change it.”

“Well, look at that. After all these years, you’re still the wiser one of the two of us. I think that’s a great idea.”

With the heavy discussion out of the way, we spend the afternoon trying to focus more on the present than the past, and I walk away feeling like a weight has been lifted. Like I’ve actually healed another wound rather than my usual Band-Aid approach.

When I get home, I update Lainey on how it all went, but when I ask her about her day, I sense she’s holding back.

She’s quiet throughout dinner, and it’s not until I’m outside, staring up at the stars, that I finally understand why.

“I’ve decided what I want to do,” Lainey announces, making me startle.

“Jesus.” I spin around so quickly, I almost knock her over. “I didn’t realize you were there.” I curl an arm around her shoulder and secure her against me, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. A sense of relief hits me as I step away, looking her in the eyes to give her my full attention. “Hit me with it, and tell me how I can help.”

“I want to go back to college,” she says, taking a deep breath, her expression uncertain. “I want to be a dance therapist. I want to use dance to help kids—or adults, I guess—with movement, rehabilitation, strength, confidence. Anything I can.”

A dance therapist? Summer was right.It takes me all of two seconds to process that before I realize how brilliant an ideait is. “You can do that?” I ask, excited by the prospect, making Lainey laugh.

“Yeah. I can. Maybe. I’d need to finish my undergrad degree, which I can do here in San Francisco. But then I may need to travel for my master’s, and I’d need to do clinical practice. It’s going to take a long time. It’s silly, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s perfect.” My smile widens as I pull her back into my hold. “And wherever you have to be, we’ll make it work.”

“Are you sure? I don’t even know if I’ll get in and—”

“Of course I’m sure. I think you’d be amazing at it. But I’m curious, where did the idea come from?”

“You,” she says, a little embarrassed. “AndBailey. I think it would really benefit her, and I’m going to see if I can find someone in the area to help her before I’m qualified.”

I try to think of the right words to say, but before I can speak, Lainey laughs nervously. “You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“Looking at me like you’re in awe.”

“Good,” I say with a smile. “I hope I never stop. Iamin awe of you, Lainey. You’re going places. Reach for the stars. They’ve always been on our side.”

Epilogue Two

Three Years Later

Thomas

ATaylor Swift song plays as I enter Lainey’s dance studio, and when I find her, she’s midway through a dance. Like always, I stare mesmerized as she floats around the room, my heart pounding at how far she’s come.

The song ends, and she pauses on the spot before running over to her phone and hitting play again, working through the routine for a second…or maybe tenth time. No matter how amazing she dances, she always thinks she could be better. But while she’s hard on herself, she’s different with her students, always happy just knowing they try.

I watch as she finishes another run-through of the routine, but when she shakes her head, as though still unsatisfied, I take off in a jog, catching up to her as she grabs her phone.

“Nope, that’s enough for tonight,” I say, throwing her over my shoulder before she manages to press play.

“Thomas,” she squeals, slapping my ass as she shakes, her voice light. “You’re back! But you’re early and—”

“You’reperfect, the dance is perfect, everything is perfect. And I’m not early; you were due home an hour ago.”

Lainey gasps as she reaches for my hand, trying to twist my arm so she can see the time, wriggling around in myhold.

“My arm doesn’t bend that way.” I chuckle, turning slightly to move through the door. “And I’m not wearing my watch.”

“Well, what good are you? What’s the time?”

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