Page 73 of A Sky Full Of Stars

Jumping from the car, Lainey slaps my arm, jokingly giving me a shove. “Yes, he knows. We broke up before I came here.”

“Be—”

“Beforeyou messaged me. It wasn’t about you. I didn’t expect this.” She motions back and forth between us and I chuckle again. I didn’t expect it either. At least it wasn’t my intention when I asked to see her, but the second I did…

“Can you promise me something?” I say, grabbing her hand until she gives me her full attention.

“I can try,” she whispers, sensing the conversation just turned serious again.

I close my eyes and release a slow breath before opening them again. “Promise me you’ll never settle for anything less than you deserve.Evenwhen it comes to me. Because you deserve the world, Lainey. Every bit of it.”

“I—”

“Nope.” I press a finger to her lips and shake my head, putting a stop to her argument. “Don’t try and tell me otherwise.” I step closer, encroaching on her personal space. “I mean it, Lainey. You deserve the world. But fuck, I’m happy he’s not giving it to you.”

Lainey smiles against my fingertip, before her tongue sneaks out, giving it a lick.

I stifle a groan, as her relaxed laughter lights up her face, and it takes everything in my power not to smother that laugh with my mouth.

“Can—”

“Nope.” I smile as she leans away from my touch.

“Am I at least allowed to say thank you?” she asks, her challenging gaze returning.

“Sure. You can thank me with a—” A drop of water hits my nose, and I lose my words as we both look up at the sky. The next drop hits Lainey right next to her eye, and the soft giggle she releases is a sound I want burned into my memory. A permanent reminder that I can make her happy—that I’ve madesomeonehappy.

Stepping forward, I lightly brush the water from her face, my thumb lingering a second longer than it should. Her breath hitches again, and her eyes lock on mine just as the heavens open up.

I raise an eyebrow, watching her while she stares up at me, her expression marred in confusion as she blinks away the rain. I try to speak, but she renders me speechless, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth, shaking her head as she turns to walk away.

“We better—”

I catch her hand, pulling her to my chest, trying to control the sudden increase in my heart rate, a feeling like panic taking over me.

When she doesn’t protest, I move closer, wrapping my free arm around her waist as her palm settles against my pounding heart. I raise our clasped hands and sway, dancing to my own beat, ignoring Lainey’s gasp as she takes a moment to figure out what I’m doing.

A small giggle escapes her, but I silence her with a chaste kiss.

“No talking,” I scold. “I never got my dance under the stars.”

She opens her mouth to speak but bites her lip instead, her head shaking with a flirtatious grin. I can’t tell if she was going to argue or question me, but when she rests her head on my chest, I no longer care.

We sway slowly, dancing on our own as the rain cascades down, soaking through our clothes. At one point Lainey shivers, but when I try to pull away, she holds tighter, continuing to move.

When the rain slows, and the world around us grows quiet, I start singing “Dancing in the Moonlight,” by Toploader, trying to remember the lyrics as I go. I’ve just reached the second part of the chorus when Lainey bursts out laughing, her body shaking against mine.

“You don’t like my singing?” I ask, trying but failing to hide my grin.

“On the contrary, I love your singing, but…”

“But what?”

“Do you realize you’re getting the words wrong?” Her face contorts as she waits for my answer, a sympathetic smile in place. Meanwhile, I’m confused.

“I got the words wrong?”

“So wrong.” She grimaces, clearly thinking she’s offending me, but she’s not. Nothing could ruin this moment.

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