Page 12 of Fallen Stars

The hint of a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I stare at the screen. In my periphery, food is shoved into boxes and then a bag.

“Ready?”

I lock my phone, shove it in my pocket, and meet Skylar’s waiting stare. Rising from the seat, I nod. “Yep. Where to next?”

“Your place.”

My lips push out in a pout.

“Unless you want to sit in Poke the Yolk on your day off.”

“Oh.” I shake my head. For whatever reason, I assumed she wouldn’t visit where I work while I tag along. “Yeah, no. I’m good with skipping.” I hook an arm around her shoulders as we cross the parking lot for her car. “Going anywhere after PTY?”

“Back to the office.”

“Damn.”

She unlocks the car and we slip inside.

“When are you going to the bistro or confection place?”

Calhoun’s Bistro and Calhoun’s Confections are the two high-end food establishments in Stone Bay. Works of art, the meals and desserts will make a dent in your bank account, at least for us common folk.

“Wednesday.”

Of course, it’s on a day I work. I grumble under my breath. “Figures.”

Starting the car, she buckles her seat belt and rolls down the windows. “Promise I’ll bring you goodies.”

“Yeah?”

Skylar puts the car in reverse, but doesn’t ease out of the space yet. Instead, she glances my way. “That’s what friends are for.” She backs out, puts the car in drive, and aims for the lot exit. “Besides, wasting that food is definitely a crime.”

Maybe it’s the warmer weather, maybe it’s the influx of tourists—I have no clue—but for whatever reason, Dalton’s is at capacity tonight. Although not everyone is here to listen to us play, the adrenaline spike at seeing the crowd has me bouncing on my seat behind my drums.

My eyes drift to the table near the front of the stage. Smiles light up my friends’ faces as they chat and wait for us to start. One by one, I scan each person at the table. When I reach the end, my heart plummets.

No sign of Levi.

He promised he’d be here.

Why isn’t he here?

God, how I hate my heart sometimes.Stupid, useless organ.Always sets me up for disappointment.

I don’tneedLevi here, but I want him here.

When Levi and I are in the same room, this intense and extraordinary thrill pumps through my veins. Nothing compares to the high I experience when Levi is nearby. But in complete opposition, he also grounds me in a way no one else does. For some inexplicable reason, when he watches me play, it gives me focus. It centers me. His presence pushes me to play better.

The jukebox music abruptly cuts off and everyone in Dalton’s cheers.

The buzz of the crowd fuels me, but I need that extra boost of epinephrine. The surge only Levi delivers.

Guitar hanging across her chest, Hailey steps up to the mic. “Holy shit, Stone Bay.” She shields her eyes and surveys the massive crowd. “I have to admit, this is a bit overwhelming.”

Cheers and whistles echo throughout the pub.

“But I’ve never been shy.”

---