Page 40 of A Sky Full Of Stars

Dad’s teeth clench, but he calmly steps into the room and closes the door.

“That was Thomas?” he asks, his voice slightly raised.

“Please don’t tell Luke. Thomas didn’t do anything wrong; it was all me and—”

“You’resixteen, Lainey. He’s—”

“It was a kiss. He’s only two years older than me.”

“He isnow. But he’s about to turn nineteen, and I’m pretty sure Luke said it’s this week. He’s a sophomore in college. You’re a junior in high school. Lainey, if anything more happens, it’s illegal.”

“Nothing more happened. It doesn’t matter anyway. He ran. He doesn’t want me. We haven’t even spoken since.” Tears prick the back of my eyes, but I force them away, not wanting Dad to see how much Thomas affects me.

“That’s for the best; you’re leaving for New York tomorrow and—”

“I don’t want to go.”

“It’s what you’ve always wanted. I won’t let you change your mind because of a boy…a man,” Dad snaps. “You’ve worked hard and—”

“I don’t want it. Any of it. It’s not my dream. San Francisco is my dream. I want to wait and audition again. I’ll work harder. I’ll make it next time. I know I will.”

“It’s all been arranged,” he says calmly, as though he wasn’t even listening to what I’d said. “It’s done.”

We fall quiet for a few minutes, only the sound of my sniffles between us, so when someone taps on the window, you’d think a gunshot had gone off with the way our heads whip around to the sound.

My stomach drops knowing that it’s Thomas, but I hide my fear. He’s never come over in the morning, but of course, he’d choose now for his first time.

I stay silent, praying he’ll leave without a word, but when I look over at Dad, heknows. He doesn’t need Thomas to speak to confirm who it is. From his clenched fists and angry expression, it’s not hard to see that he’s figured it out.

“Lainey,” Thomas whispers after a moment, and my chest tightens as tears prick my eyes. “Lainey, please tell me you’re there.”

I bite my lip to stop myself from talking and stay still. I don’t want him sucked into this drama. It’s not his fault. I wanted that kiss more than I’ve wanted anything. He doesn’t deserve my father’s wrath.

“Lainey.” His voice quivers, making my tears fall.

I look at Dad but he shakes his head, taking a small step before I frantically wave at him to stop, my emotions overwhelming me when he actually does.

Tears stream down my face as I curl up into a ball and cry, my body shaking, the reality of everything hitting me with force.

Another knock on my window makes me flinch as his desperation increases. “Lainey,please.”

I choke back a sob, my eyes flashing to my bedroom door before settling back on the window.Go away. Please go away.

The sound of his voice kills me, but I hold strong. I have to.Heleft. He didn’t want me. And it’s for the best. Seeing him now is only going to make saying goodbye harder, and ruin everything for him.

“I know you’re in there, Lainey. I can hear you crying.”

Shit!

I cover my ears to block him out. To block it all out. But it doesn’t work. He keeps getting louder.

My gaze moves to the door again, and I know what I have to do.

“Go away!” I yell, thankful my brother’s not home or he’d be here in a flash. “Please, just go.”

“No, Lainey. I know I fucked up but I need you, and it sounds like you need me too. I’m sorry.”

God, I need him.I’ve never needed him more in my life but—

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