Page 30 of Where the Stars Heal

Heat rushes to my cheeks as I turn back to Tessa, remembering we were talking about Madi. I try my hardest to act as if he doesn’t affect me at all, but every part of me is painfully aware of his presence.

Tessa hands me the muffins with a knowing smirk and amillion questions in her eyes, and I shake my head at her, silently pleading for her to not ask any. I try to escape back outside, but the air around me suddenly shifts, and goosebumps spread across my arm. I don’t need to turn around to know he’s standing right behind me. The heat of his body radiates off him and pulls me in, making me feel nervous all over.

“Asher, hey. What can I get you?” Tessa asks over me.

“Just a black coffee today, Tess.”

The corner of my mouth tugs up slightly. I knew he was a black coffee drinker.

I feel his breath brush the side of my neck as he presses up against me, his earthy scent invading all my senses as he leans over to pay for his coffee. My pulse begins to quicken at how close he is to me. My hands become clammy around the plates I’m holding as I struggle to keep my focus. There’s a magnetic pull inside of me that wants to lean into him and allow his warmth to wrap me up, like a safety blanket.

I feel him bend down toward me. “Hey, sweetheart,” he says, low enough that only I can hear him.

“Ah, hey, hi,” I stammer out as the back of my neck tingles from the way he sounds, all breathless and raspy.

Before he has a chance to say anything more, I quickly spin away from him and glance over my shoulder, calling out, “Thanks, Tess.”

She waves at me from the coffee machine as I push through the door, the bell chiming again. I look at Asher as the door closes to find him staring at me, biting back a grin.

“Oh my god, Halle, you’re officially my favorite. I love you so much.” Madi squeals as I set down her blueberry muffin in front of her.

My nerves are on high alert, and my pulse hammers in my throat. Asher’s here, and I have no idea how to actaround him now. What if last night was all a lie, an illusion we created in the bubble we found ourselves in? Did he change his mind overnight? Did he wake up this morning still wishing for me to be gone? My fingers start tapping on the side of my leg as a million scenarios start running through my head of what could happen next. Maybe I should leave and go back to Hunters before he comes outside with his coffee.

The sound of Madison humming pulls my attention back to the table, and I glance over to see her looking like she’s in heaven with her blueberry muffin. Her eyes are half-closed, and she savors every little bite she takes.

“You gonna share any of that?” Connor asks as he reaches over to grab at her plate.

Before he can get close, she slaps his hand away, hissing at him like an angry cat.

“Shit, Madi, did you just hiss at me?” he says, pulling his hand back.

“My muffin,” she mumbles back with a mouth full.

Ace barks at the commotion from where he’s sitting by our feet, and I bend down to scratch behind his ear. Looking back up, I find Connor laughing and taking a photo of Madi with crumbs all down her shirt and mouth so full she looks like a chipmunk.

His smile spreads wide across his face as he shows me the photo he just took. Madi looks absolutely ridiculous, and I can’t hold back the giggle that escapes me.

“This is gold. I’m sending it in the group chat so Hunt can see.” He laughs louder.

“Don’t you dare.” Madi glares at him.

“It’s already done. He wouldn’t have believed me if I told him you were sitting here this hungover with a blueberry muffin all over you.”

My phone pings, and I frown. The only people who have my number are Hunter and Stacey, but I haven’t heard from her since I left town. I pull it from my back pocket and stare down at the notification, confused.

CONNOR HAS ADDED HALLE TO THE GROUP: WHISKEY CREW

My chest tightens as I read the notification, and my mind scrambles to make sense of what’s happening. How did he get my number? I’m in a group text message thread. Connors’s photo of Madison is staring back at me. My fingers begin to tremble, and I tighten my hold on my phone. A chair scrapes loudly across the ground, the sound registering in the back of my mind somewhere as a shoulder bumps into mine. Looking over, I see Connor sitting right next to me with a gentle smile. He doesn’t say anything to me or ask what’s wrong. He doesn’t question my sudden change in mood. He just bumps my shoulder again, winks at me, and grabs for my plate. Somehow, he knew that I needed a little reassurance without making a big deal of it. I don’t know much about Connor, but I see him, and I know that he watches us all more than anyone else. He’s the type of guy who’s always there for everyone, no questions asked. But who’s watching him?

My shoulders relax a little, and I take in a shuddering breath, calming myself. Glancing back down at my phone, I notice the text attached to the photo he sent.

MADI IS A HOT MESS

I let out a small laugh. Leaning forward, I grab my coffee from the table to finish off. Just as I sit back, a shadow fallsover us, and I look up to find Asher standing there, his gaze sweeping over me before settling on Madi.

“You look like shit, girl,” he teases, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from me.

There’s a playful grin on his face as he stares right at me, not bothering to hide the intensity in his eyes at all. My stomach tightens, and I shift nervously on my seat, bringing my hand to my ear and spinning my earring. Connor must pick up on the tension that’s formed between us because he bumps my shoulder again and clears his throat as he leans back in his chair casually.

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