Page 73 of Fallen Stars

The world disappears as I obliterate the last inch of space between us and take his lips in a ravenous kiss. On a hum, his lips part a breath before his tongue strokes the length of mine. He fists my shirt at my hips and pulls me impossibly closer. The bulge behind his zipper presses my swelling erection. I deepen the kiss, a groan spilling from my mouth to his.

Someone clears their throat and cuts off our first public display.

Me, from months ago, would have been too jittery or self-conscious to kiss Oliver out in the open. Hell, I would have been apprehensive about holding his hand. But after a lifetime of suppressing who I am, after stifling my attraction to Oliver for far too long, all I want to do is tell the world he is mine.

“Love you, Ollie.” I drop one last chaste kiss to his lips.

We order sandwiches and drinks then join his friends and bandmates at a table.

Trip and Hailey talk enthusiastically about their performance in less than an hour.

Skylar picks at her food as she leans into her boyfriend, Lawrence, and says she wants more private cooking lessons from him. Lawrence responds with a suggestive arch of his brow. He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t need to. With that simple response, a smile brightens Skylar’s face as she wiggles in her seat.

My gaze drifts to Phoebe and Delilah. I study their intimacy a little longer. Observe the way Delilah softens when Phoebe tucksa flyway strand of hair behind her ear. Of everyone at the table—aside from Oliver—Phoebe intrigues me the most.

Along with Travis, Delilah, and myself, Phoebe is one of the Seven. As kids, we spent a lot of time together. Whenever our families gathered for social events or town meetings, the youngest generation of the Seven was shoved into the same room and encouraged to build friendships. On every occasion, Phoebe removed herself from the group to sit on the sidelines and write. If anyone approached her, she greeted them with a callous expression and verbally bit their head off.

With age, her cool demeanor turned glacial. No one wanted to be within five feet of Phoebe Graves.

Earlier this year, Phoebe and Delilah were thrust together when several dead women were discovered in town and a key piece of evidence put Delilah’s family’s business on the radar. Many assumed Phoebe would crush Delilah’s soul with her vitriol. But we were all surprised.

In a matter of months, Delilah thawed Phoebe’s heart. With every obstacle they overcame, I envied their strength and courage more.

Oliver nudges me with his elbow. “Everything okay? You’re quieter than usual.”

I lean into his side and give him my weight for a moment. “Yeah.” I shrug. “Adjusting.”

He sets his sandwich down and wipes his mouth. “Is this too much at once?” He rests his hand on my thigh. “We’ve hung out with everyone before, but it was different.”

I lay my hand over his. “It’s not too much.” My knee bumps his leg as I turn toward him. A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I lean closer. “Is it selfish to want you all to myself?”

His hand on my thigh flexes as he groans. “No.” Inching back, his vibrant basil-green eyes flit to my blues. “Would itmake me an asshole to abandon our friends to spend time alone with you?”

He saidourfriends.

“What’re you two whispering about over there?” Kirsten asks, diverting everyone’s attention to us.

“Do you really want the answer?” Oliver gives her a pointed stare.

Kirsten purses her lips and shakes her head. “Nope. I’m good.”

Laughter echoes around the table.

“We need another movie night,” Kirsten suggests. “Maybe next week when the town is less chaotic, so Trav can join us.”

Like every officer at the Stone Bay Police Department, Travis is on duty all day. He joined us for a quick bite but will soon be wading through the crowd until the festivities end.

I uncap my water and take a sip. “I’ve heard about these movie nights. Lots of food and gossip. Not much movie watching.”

Travis barks out a laugh. “Spot on, man.”

“Hey,” Oliver, Kirsten, Skylar and Delilah say in unison before falling into a fit of laughter.

After we agree to plan a movie night next week, conversation around the table quiets. Travis finishes his sandwich, gives Kirsten a kiss on the head, and blends into the crowd as he resumes work.

Minutes later, Hailey and Trip toss their trash in the bin and head for the stage. Oliver lingers for a moment, his fingers toying with the hem of my shorts.

“Come hang backstage while we play.”

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