Page 8 of A Sky Full Of Stars

“Okay, thank you. I appreciate it. Though I am surprised you convinced Mel to keep it a secret.” She’s hopeless with surprises but she owns it.

“You say that like I haven’t known her forever. I only told her an hour ago, and then had Mom switch off your phone.”

I rush to grab my cell from my bag, and sure enough the screen’s off.Guess that explains why Dad didn’t call to check in.

“Okay, clever.”

I’m starting to see boys in a completely new light this week. Thomas remembered me. He even remembered when we first met. Now Luke knows stuff about Melissa. I always thought boys were unobservant beings. Turns out, I could be wrong.

When Luke’s friends and Mel arrive, we split off into teams and start the first game. While it’s fun from the get-go, it’s immediately apparent that I suck. So bad. Because, while my friends were learning how to bowl bybowling, I was in my room dancing. This is only the second time I’ve ever been, and I’m almost tempted to ask if I can use the kids’ ramps, since they’re already allowing me to use bumpers.

“You’ll get the hang of it soon, Little Miss,” Luke says, curling his arm around my shoulder. “It’s all about practice, and who’s more dedicated to that cause than you?”

I roll my eyes as I step out of his hold and get ready for my turn, ignoring his verbal jab. Luke likes to tease me about my routines, claiming that I do it to myself by not standing up to our parents. But that’s not it.Iwanted it. It wasmychoice.

Past tense.What is going on with me?

Grabbing my ball, I get in position, wiggling my ass a few times before swinging my arm back.

“Just roll the fucking ball, Pebbles.”

Dropping my arm, I raise my middle finger over my head and laugh.I can do this. I am going to make this lane my bitch.

I step forward, ready to swing again, when…

“Lukey, my man,” someone calls out behind me, and the ball flies out of my hand, landing with a crash. I spin around so fast I get dizzy, but I’d know that voice anywhere, and I had to see for myself.

Thomas walks our way, his smile completely distracting me until his gaze locks on my ball and I wince.Looks like the lane won this round.

My cheeks heat, and a warmth spreads through me as Thomas jogs past, lifting my ball from the floor. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Lainey, you know Thomas. Thomas, you know Peanut. We’re good; now take your shot.”

I cringe at the name Peanut before mumbling that we “may have met.” Thomas on the other hand decides to play dumb this time, and it hurts a little.

“Maybe,” he says. “I can’t remember.”

I force a smile so I don’t frown, but when everyone goes back to the game, he throws a wink my way, his denial forgotten as my heart cartwheels in my chest.

By the time we finish the first game, I still suck. I don’t think I managed to knock over ten pins in total, let alone in one go. It didn’t help having Thomas here. Every time I looked his way, he was laughing or flirting with a girl on the other team, and unfortunately, I looked often.

“Should we switch it up this round?” one of the guys asks as we take a break for some food.

I almost blurt outyesin the hope of splitting up Thomas and the girl, but I keep my lips sealed.

Luke’s eyes flash to mine before settling back on his friends. “Sounds good,” he says. “But Lainey stays with me.”

My brows furrow but I smile to hide it. Luke only calls me Lainey when he’s in serious mode, and two seconds ago he was laughing.What did I miss?

The groups shuffle around with me staying next to Luke, like a good little girl, but when Thomas stands, I can’t hide my emotions, or more specifically my nerves. “I’m playing this round, and Luke needs one more.” He makes his way over and sits next to me, bumping his shoulder to mine. “You think we can beat them?” he asks, his killer smile on full display.

“Not even in the slightest,” I say honestly, making his smile brighten as his eyes crinkle in happiness, completely obliterating any chance I had of ridding myself of this crush.

As if reminding me of his existence, Luke barks out a laugh. “I have to agree with Short Stuff," he says, bopping me on the nose. "She sucks. We have no hope.”

“Hey, now.” Thomas frowns and I freeze.Is he about to defend me?“You’re underestimating my skill,” he finishes, and I laugh so hard, I almost snort.Me and mystupid delusions.

“Unless you’ve improved since we last played,” Luke says, neither of them paying me any attention, “we’re fucked.”

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