Page 18 of Where the Stars Heal

Madison spins after serving the group of guys in front of her shots and looks at me, her eyes lighting up with amusement when she follows my line of sight and catches me staring at Asher.

“No way,” she squeals and claps her hands together.

My eyes widen, and heat creeps up my neck. I glance away quickly, but Madison’s knowing smirk grows wider. She’s full-on smiling at me now, and my heart skips a beat as I fumble for something to say.

“Please don’t,” I stammer as I try to find something else to talk about so she doesn’t ask questions.

“Oh my god, that explains the text earlier and the shirt,” she says.

“No… No, it doesn’t,” I whisper-yell back.

I grab her by the arm and pull her further away from everyone else. “Seriously, it’s nothing. He’s always angry and mean to me, anyway. He’s made it very clear that he doesn’t even want me here. God, he’d probably throw a party if I were to leave town.”

“You’re kidding right, Halle?” She’s staring at me like I’ve lost my mind, and I’m beginning to wonder if I have. Twice in one day, I’ve been caught checking Asher out.

“Asher doesn’t want you to leave town. He’s just really protective of your brother. They have this weird, inseparable bromance thing going on, and you being here is probably making him feel like Hunter’s going to pick you over him from now on.”

A bromance… What the hell? So, poor Asher is being territorial. Why does that give him the right to be an asshole to me? There’s no way that’s it. I raise an eyebrow at her in disbelief.

All of a sudden, music starts blasting from the jukebox in the corner of the bar, and excited screams erupt in the air as my heart rate kicks up. The noise starts to go through me; the clanging of glasses and chaotic conversations I can hear over the top of one another makes it hard to focus.

“I have to go serve these guys, but we’re not done here, Hals. I think we’re long overdue for a girls’ day.” Madisonbreaks through my thoughts, her voice pulling me back to the present before I can spiral too far.

Hunter comes up beside me just as Madison leaves, handing me a glass of water, and I look at it questionably.Do I look thirsty?

“For Tessa. I just walked by Jace, and he said you were getting her water.”

Shit, that’s right—I completely forgot about Tessa’s water. I take the glass from Hunter, feeling guilty.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry Hunter,” I rush out and scan the booths to make sure Tessa is still there.

“Alright, Halle. Don’t stress over it,” Hunter reassures me, but my cheeks start to burn with the feeling of failure. All because of getting so caught up with Madison… and Asher.

My heart starts to race with the beginnings of my anxiety, and I take a few steadying breaths.

I drop the water off to Tessa and continue clearing the tables in my section. Things are starting to get rowdy in here, and my arms are beginning to ache from carrying all the glasses. The floors are becoming sticky with spilled drinks, and my feet throb as I try to keep up with the night. Just as I reach the side of the bar to unload the glasses, someone knocks into me from behind, and I lurch forward, scrambling to keep the tray steady, but I fail. Time seems to slow as I watch everything fall to the ground with a deafening crash. I stare down at the shattered glass, and my heart sinks. My palms become clammy, and without thinking, I bend down to start picking up the big pieces of glass.

“Halle, Jesus, are you okay?” Hunter comes rushing to my side.

“I’m fine, Hunter. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I look at him with pleading eyes.

“Halle, you’re fucking useless.”

“What the fuck have you done?”

“Go away, you’re just in the way.”

I wait for Hunter to yell at me, to scold me, and tell me to fuck off, but he doesn’t do any of that. His brows furrow, and he looks at me a little concerned.

“Why do you keep saying sorry, Hals?”

“What do you mean why do I keep saying sorry? Look at what I did, Hunter. I fucked up. Twice now I’ve fucked up. I told you I couldn’t do this. I told you…” My breathing starts to come in quick and shallow.

The noise, the mess, the chatter, and everyone staring at me makes it hard to think. My vision starts to blur at the edges, and the room starts caving in on me. I can’t get enough air in, and I look to Hunter for help. My throat starts closing in, and I can’t seem to get any words out.

I try to stand, but my legs feel weak underneath me, and a numbness starts to creep its way down my arms to my fingertips. Just as I’m about to collapse, firm hands grab my shoulders and squeeze, steadying me. Looking up, I stare into those vividly green eyes, his earthy scent grounding me and pulling me back in. Asher.

“Outside, let’s go.”

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