Page 24 of Where the Stars Heal

I need to head inside and change my shirt, and a small part of me is hoping to catch Halle while I’m at it. I’d like to clear the air between us before the night gets on.

Hunter and Jace shake their heads, holding up their almost full beers for me to see before continuing their conversation. I walk by Connor on my way, checking if he needs another beer, too.

Slipping inside, I’m dumping the empty bottles in the recycling when Madi’s voice cuts through the air.

“Asherrr,” she calls out my name, dragging ther. Holy shit, did she just slur my name?

Turning toward the living room, I take in the sight before me, my jaw dropping in disbelief.

“What the hell are you doing standing on the coffee table, Madi?” I whisper-yell, keeping my voice low, not wanting to draw Hunter’s attention to the sight before me. If he saw Madi in this state, he’d lose his mind.

Halle and Tessa are curled up on the couch, glasses of wine in hand with Ace in Halle’s lap. I narrow my eyes at him. What a little traitor. He used to be my best friend and now he can’t get enough of Halle. Can’t blame him, though. There’s a part of me that wishes I could curl up next to her like that, too.

Tessa is laughing so hard, she’s holding her stomach. But it’s Halle that catches my eye and fuck, she’s sitting there with the biggest smile, and my stomach drops. That smile lights up her whole face, reaching her eyes and transforming them. I’ve never seen her smile like that before. She’s stunning. Something inside me snaps, and jealousy courses through me, twisting me up inside. I want to be the reason for that smile.

Madi draws my attention back to her when she starts dancing on the spot, her hips swaying as she tips her wine glass up, taking a long sip. Shaking my head, I silently chuckle. Whatever Hunter’s done here, he’s going to be paying for it later.

“Hunter is a party pooper, Asher. He doesn’t know what he wants. You know this,” she slurs and points at me then turns to the girls and points at them, “his sister knows it and Tess does, too.”

I zero in on Halle again, fascinated with this side of her. Her fingers fidget around the wine glass, the only sign I cansee of her anxiety. She’s wearing a simple, oversized black tee with one side tucked into skin-tight jeans. I’ve never seen her look so calm, so at home here with the girls, smiling and laughing like she belongs. My heart skips a beat, and heat starts rising up my neck.

“Madi, whatever my brother’s done, I’m not sorry, because this is great,” Halle says to her in a teasing way. She stands, looking at the girls with a small smile and her glass raised. “I’m gonna go top this up.”

I’m in her way to get to the kitchen, but I don’t move as she stops in front of me. Close enough for me to catch that sweet caramel scent of hers. Holding back a groan, I spin my lip ring in a habit I’ve picked up over the years.

“Can you move?” she asks in a bratty tone. Like I’m an inconvenience to her.

I smirk at her and lean down so we are face to face. “Say please, Halle.”

If I could pause time right here, right now, I would. The air between us feels thick with tension as we stare at each other. Her eyes roam over my face, and I know she’s thinking about what way she wants this to go. She’s so used to doing everything right, always wanting to please everyone, but there’s this defiant side to her, and she wants out. She wants to snap back at me for telling her to say please and damn, do I want to see it.

We both jump at the same time when Madison’s squealing breaks through our moment. A wave of disappointment washes over me, and I take a small step back, creating space between us.

“Tessa, can you feel that?” Madi claps as she bounces over to us and begins fanning herself. “The tension between you two is hot as hell.”

Jesus, what is wrong with this girl tonight? I shoot aglance at Halle, half expecting her to freak out with embarrassment, but to my surprise, she’s smiling at Madison, looking more amused than anything.

Halle grabs Madi’s wine glass off her. “I think I’ll top yours up with water for now,” she tells her.

Relief moves through me, the tension unraveling as I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. It’s here, watching Halle and noticing how her cheeks have filled out, how the dark circles under her eyes are fading, and how she looks healthier, that I know the last two weeks have been good to her. My heart stops and picks up quickly when it hits me. She can’t leave. Sunlit Cove is her home, and I hope one day I’ll be her home, too.

11

SHE’S NOT HIS SIDEKICK

ASHER

She’s something else, Halle. All night, I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off her. They track her every move, and the sound of her voice draws my attention every time. I can’t help but notice the way those skin-tight jeans hug her long legs and hips, making me feel things I shouldn’t. My fingers twitch with the need to touch her, to drag her close to me and sit her down on my lap. I’m surprised her brother hasn’t pulled me up on it and smacked me over the head yet. I’d like to see him try, though.

The chair next to me scrapes against the deck as Connor pulls it out and takes a seat. Leaning back, he pulls his hair up and ties it. Glancing over the bottle of beer in my hand I see his chest shaking with quiet laughter and I know I’m screwed.

“Dude, Hunter may be oblivious as hell, but you gotta stop undressing his sister with your eyes right in front of him,” he says with a smirk.

Taking another sip of my beer, I try to play it off casually,but my eyes betray me. They land back on her, stealing another glance.

Funny how everything can change in a few short weeks. I haven’t seen her try to get near Hunter’s money or bar, and now that I’ve been around her, I don’t think that’s what she’s after.

Her laugh reaches me from across the yard, where she’s playfully throwing a ball to Ace. Tessa and Madi are standing near her, trying to get Ace to go to them, but he’s only got eyes for Halle. My lips twitch slightly with that thought.I know the feeling, buddy.

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