Page 25 of Where the Stars Heal

“You know, I used to be Ace’s favorite, but he hasn’t left her side all night,” I say, turning to give Connor my best what the fuck look. “What’s up with that, Con?”

He holds his hands up in surrender. “Hey, don’t look at me, man. My boy just knows when someone needs him. Remember how attached he was to you at first?”

He watches Ace with the girls, a smile spreading across his face. Lifting two fingers to his mouth, he lets out a loud whistle and yells, “Come here, boy.”

Ace’s ears perk up, and he spins quickly, facing us. He hesitates, looking back at Halle, and barks once at her, causing her to giggle. She gives him a gentle nudge, and he bolts toward us.

“You know, I got Ace when I needed someone to listen to me. He’s been my best friend ever since, a constant, and over the years, Asher, he’s been there for everyone else in some way too. Even you.” He glances at me quickly before pushing his chair back to give Ace room.

“I think he knows it’s Halle’s turn. She needs him and his friendship more than us right now.” Ace leaps onto his lap with that, and we both chuckle at his excitement.

I lean over, scratching Ace behind his ears. “You’re right,”I say before I lean further down and say to Ace. “I guess I’ll just have to share you, huh?”

“Who’s sharing who?” Hunter yells from down the other end of the table.

“Your boy over here is getting jealous of your sister, Hunt,” Connor announces to the whole table.

I kick the leg of his chair and mutter, “Seriously?”

But he just grins wider and continues, “He’s pissed off because Ace is no longer his sidekick. He’s all about Halle baby.”

I sink lower in my chair, spinning my lip ring between my teeth as my eyes narrow on Connor. Did he just call her baby? Nope. Not happening.

I kick his chair again. “Don’t call her baby,” I hiss at him, but this time, the legs on his chair go out from under him and he falls to his ass.

I watch Ace run back to Halle, startled by the fall, and catch her watching me with an amused smile on her face. That look makes my stomach flip, and the longer she stares at me, the more frozen I become, my mind racing away with thoughts I shouldn’t have.

“What the hell, man!” Connor yells, bringing my attention back to him.

I snicker at the sight of him, the way he’s glaring up at me, looking half-annoyed and half-entertained. Hunter and Jace lose it, both doubling over as they hold their stomachs, laughing uncontrollably.

“Sorry, man.” I reach over to give him a hand up. He takes it, grinning at me, and picks the chair up from the ground, sitting back down.

The girls come over, looking amused by the commotion of the guys' laughter.

“What just happened?” Tessa asks curiously, her eyes bouncing between each of us.

“Just Con testing gravity,” I joke, winking at Connor as Hunter and Jace chuckle again.

“Fuck off, man. Halle,” Connor calls her attention to him, “Ash here is jealous because Ace is your best buddy right now and not his.”

Halle bends down and picks Ace up, scratching under his chin. “We don’t like being friends with Mr. Angry, do we?” she teases.

I drag my hand down my face and groan as the whole group erupts in laughter at my expense. Peeking at Halle through my fingers, I notice her eyes widen at me with shock as she mouths sorry.

Why is she always sorry? There’s nothing to be sorry about here. I shake my head at her and join in on the laughter in hopes of calming whatever panic is about to begin in her head over this.

“Mr. Angry couldn’t be more right, lil sis,” Hunter calls and smiles widely at me.

I roll my eyes at everyone, mumbling, “Whatever.”

Grabbing my beer from the table, I finish it off, glancing back at Halle. She’s standing there, looking from the table to the door, and I can tell she’s ready to call it a night. I’ve never been so attuned to someone before; it’s like I can feel her mood shift.

“Who’s up for a movie?” Connor asks, breaking through the guys’ laughter.

I catch Madi leaning into Tessa slightly, her eyes looking more glassy than they did earlier. She clearly didn’t take Halle up on her “more water, less wine” suggestion. She’s going to hate it tomorrow when she wakes up with a wine-induced headache.

“Oh, a movie sounds good,” she says excitedly, turning to face the girls. “Don’t you think, girls?”

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