Page 5 of Fallen Stars

I start for the door again. This time, Levi doesn’t stop me.

Just as I pass the threshold, a whispered “Later” hits my ears.

June 28th

Today was shit. Well, it wasn’t total shit. It started off great. Like many days, it was just me & L hanging out. Games and hacking and music. What we do most of the time. Also, I saw him smile again. Damn I love his smiles. Sounds immature or silly of me, but his smiles make myheart skip and skin sweaty. Ridiculous, I know. But it’s true.

Then his asshole of a dad trashed it. He stole his smiles. He stole his peace. And it just pisses me right the hell off. L is one the best people I know and his dad treats him like property. Like he doesn’t matter.

He does fucking matter!

And what was that look he gave me before I left? That wasn’t friendship. That wasn’t sympathy. It was something else. Something more. Or maybe it was my imagination. Maybe it was me seeing something on his face I’ve wanted to see for months but haven’t.

Other friends have said I’m too young to know what love is. That my feelings for him are just a phase. But they’re wrong. In my own way, I love him. Even if all he sees me as is a friend. His best friend.

L may never be mine, but my heart doesn’t care. I love him. And I will love him in secret and as a best friend if that’s all he’ll ever be.

ONE

LEVI

Present

All it takes isa stalker and some serial killers to make every resident of Stone Bay want a security system installed or a private investigator to spy on questionable loved ones.

Shit news for the town.

Great news for Tymber Woulf Security and Investigative Services.

Even better news for my bank account. Not that Ineedthe money. But it is nice to know I have backup funds for the random occasions my father decides to throw a holier-than-thou tantrum and threaten my financial future. A future he technically has no control over.

Five years ago, when I was neck-deep in studying for sophomore finals at college, I met Tymber. In a coffee shop not far from campus, I sipped on caffeine, blocked the world out with noise-canceling headphones, and fixated on my notes. Tymber sat down at the table next to me, opened his laptop, and started futzing with a program he was writing.

When I came up for air and sat back in my seat, I glimpsed his frustration and the lines of code on his screen. Sliding off my headphones, I introduced myself, told him I was studying computer sciences, and asked if he needed help.

Though I’d learned more about computers prior to college, there were some ethical components to the technology that were new.

That day in the coffee shop changed my life. Other than Oliver, I’d never formed such a fast friendship.

Now Tymber is more my brother than my friend.

As for Oliver… our connection has always been stronger than friendship. Indescribable and far from familial. Constant. Intimate.

Shortly after Tymber’s cyber security program took off, he asked if I wanted to join the business. If I wanted to be a part of the next big thing. Fresh out of college and eager to get my hands dirty, I said yes without hesitation.

When he wanted to expand from cyber security to residential, I expressed my lack of enthusiasm. I didn’t want to live in the city—not that being near my father was a better choice. I also didn’t want to do what’s already been done. There was nothing new in home security.

Wanting me on his team and refusing to take no for an answer, Tymber pestered me every waking hour until I agreed. But I had stipulations. The biggest one… I would not deal with customers directly. I was in it for the tech, not the people.

Late last fall, Tymber Woulf Security boomed again.

Wanting a physical location for the ever-expanding business, Tymber mentioned buying land and erecting a brick-and-mortar space in Stone Bay. Though he loved the city, it’d become too noisy, too in your face. And after a long day, all he wanted was quiet.

To sweeten the deal, I told him I’d chip in if he added investigative services. He jumped at the chance.

Just after shit hit the fan in Stone Bay last year, we opened the doors to the new business. With me as a partner with Tymber, I assumed one of the founders would come to us to help investigate the murders.

Not a single one did.

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