Page 114 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

I do as he says and search the skies. “I don’t know,” I tell him honestly.

“Look for three stars in a row, close together. That’s the middle of the hourglass.”

“I see it!”

“That’s Orion’s Belt. Do you see the shiny one in the middle?”

“I think so.”

“That’s Sirius. It’s the brightest star in the sky.”

“It’s beautiful.” I say, wonder ringing in my voice.

“It is.” I look back at him and find him already staring at me. “Now we can both looking at the exact samestar, not stars.”

The corner of his lips lifts at my expression.

“I can’t believe that.” I say, looking back up at it, blown away by the fact that that’s possible. Blown away by that small act to bring us closer together. “You know your astrology.”

“Enough to get by,” he says with a shrug.He looks back up at the sky and it’s unfair how handsome he looks doing so. Sharp cheekbones, defined jaw, strong Adam’s apple, all on display.

More than his attractiveness, it’s his thoughtfulness that gets me in this moment.

“Well, I love it. Every time I look at Sirius, I’ll think of you now.” I’m touched, I don’t know how else to put it into words. “Thank you.”

“Six? Are you doing alright, love?” Walter’s voice rings from inside my room and carries through to the phone speakers.

Phoenix’s gaze snaps from the sky to the screen as he stiffens. “Who the fuck is that?”

“The friend I mentioned. The one who told me to sober up.” I mute myself and turn the volume down, cutting Phoenix off before he can answer.

Hearing my voice, Walter joins me on the balcony and stands just out of frame of the camera. “There you are. I brought you a couple of bottles of water. Do you need anything else?”

I smile up at him, thankful for his help. “No, thank you though. I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“Anytime. You know where to find me if you need anything. I’ll let you get back to your boyfriend.” He says, before walking out.

I don’t bother correcting him, because what would I say? That he actually despises me? That he’s my fiancé?

That’s not confusing at all.

Turning my attention back to the phone, I unmute and up the volume to find an angry Phoenix.

“Did you just mute me to talk to that guy? What did you say to him? Who the hell is he?” He rapid fires the questions, not giving me a chance to answer. He’s now pacing outside the house, raking his hand over his buzzed head.

“He’s working the party and he came up to bring me a bottle of water, that’s all. He’s just a friend.”

“He knows where your room is,” he grits out. “He called youlove.”

“He calls everyone that.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Would your dad let him call your mum that?” He challenges.

“No,” I acquiesce, before adding, “But we’re not my parents. My dad loves my mum. We’re not in love.”

This has got to be a new low for me, having to now verbally point out that he doesn’t love me.

His face darkens in a way that tells me that was the wrong thing to say. “No, we’re not. But we’re still exclusive.”

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