Page 44 of Where the Stars Heal

Connor: ASHERR come on man. You were there help me out.

Madison: Halle, girl? You want to celebrate?

Connor: Of course she does. She’d do anything for Ace and Ace wants to party

Rolling my eyes, I bite back a grin as Asher snorts beside me. “Is he always like this?” I ask him.

“Yeah. Con’s the life of the party around here. Your brother’s too much of a stickler for rules, Madi loves playing mother hen, and I’m apparently a broody asshole.” He grins at me.

“Broody asshole? No way.” I act surprised, placing a hand dramatically on my chest. “And here I thought it was some sort of bad boy, mysterious act.”

Asher chuckles as we step behind the bar. “Hey, I can be mysterious.” He turns and waggles his brows at me.

A burst of laughter escapes me, and I brace myself on the bar. “Oh my god, please never do that again.”

We’re grinning at each other, lost in the playfulness ofour own Halle and Asher bubble when our phones go off again. Asher snickers, tossing his onto the bar. “That’s all you, sweetheart. If you don’t answer him, he’ll come looking for you.”

Connor: Someone… anyone… tell me we are partying tonight?

Me: I don’t like parties.

Connor: LIL SIS, bout time. Fine not a party but let us celebrate.

Madison: We can keep it lowkey just us? I want to know all the details.

Me: Fine…

Connor: YES!

Connor: Yo Ash, Hunter said to bring a case of beer home

Hunter: I did not but if we’re celebrating Halle agreeing to stay then alright!

Madison: Boys… Halle girl, I’ll bring the wine

Home. I roll that word around in my head for a moment. I guess this is home now. When I first arrived here, I thought it would be just for the summer. I never expected to love it so much, but this small town has a certain charm to it, and the people here are genuinely kind. There’re no looks of pity or disgust when I walk down Main Street, or when I enterthe coffee shop. Hunter’s friends welcomed me like I was their missing piece all along, and then there’s Asher and the magnetic pull between us. My heart tightens, realizing I’m actually wanted here, and my eyes well with tears.

“Halle.” Asher’s voice calls from down the far end of the bar. “You okay there?”

Shaking off the overwhelming feeling, I plaster on a reassuring smile. “The boys want you to bring home a case of beer.”

“How does that sound, sweetheart?” His lips tug in a knowing smile. “Calling this place home?”

Nothing escapes him. It’s like he has a front-row seat inside my head, seeing through me every time. I walk over to him, watching as he stacks glasses of water onto a tray. The way his arm muscles flex with each movement is distracting, a little mesmerizing, and I can’t help but wish they were wrapped around me instead.

“I kind of like it,” I admit, standing close to him.

He turns, his face inches from mine, and my breath hitches when he says, “Yeah, well, I kind of like you.”

“Kind of?” I tease, reaching over and grabbing a glass of water.

As my chest brushes against his arm, I catch the way his eyes shift, zeroing in on my lips as I take a slow sip from the glass. Setting it back down, I slowly flick my tongue out and lick my lips. He leans in, and I back up, my hands automatically bracing against the bar.

The warmth of his breath touches my skin, and the space between us sparks. “You want me to admit it, sweetheart?” He speaks with a low tone. “Because I’ll admit it, I don’tkindof like you. Ifuckinglike you, Halle. Everything about you. The strength you carry, your courage, independence, compassion, resilience. Your smile, those eyes, thesegoddamn curves.” He grips my hips in that dominating way that I’m quickly becoming addicted to. My body heats up as a deep ache builds low in my core. I press my thighs together, hoping for any kind of relief, but it’s useless. Asher’s consuming every part of me. My breaths turn shallow, my cheeks warm, and I glance away from the intensity of his gaze.

“I like all of you,” he rasps, placing his hands on either side of my face, thumbs slowly stroking my cheeks as he pulls my attention back to him. “And I want… no, Ineedall of you.”

My lips part, and my heart pounds so hard it feels like it’s trying to jump out of my chest, and I can’t take it any longer. My fingers curl into his shirt, and I pull him to me, meeting him halfway as our lips collide in an all-consuming kiss.

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