Page 7 of Where the Stars Heal

Fuck, I can’t believe I was looking at Hunter’s little sister like that. Not trusting her, and her being younger than me, should be enough to pull my head in. I’m twenty-nine for fucks sake, not a horny teenager who can’t keep it together.

I make my way toward Falls Creek, where the trail ends and Hunter’s street cuts through on the other side. I’ll stop in to say hey quickly. I live on the other side of town, but Hunter’s house is the house we all end up at, especially on weekends before our busy nights at work.

Rounding the corner, movement catches my eye ahead. Sitting on a log near the water’s edge is Halle. I stop, bending over with my hands on my knees to catch my breath, and glance over at her. Fuck, she’s pretty. She hasn’t noticed me yet. I’m still too far away, but I can tell even from here she looks defeated. Her shoulders are slumped, andshe has this energy about her that makes me feel like I shouldn’t approach her. She looks so tired.

I take slow steps forward, my breathing steadying out now. I’ll just sneak right by her and head to her brother’s. She won’t even know I saw her. I don’t think she’s aware of her surroundings. My feet snap on a twig, and her head snaps up.

Shit! So much for sneaking by, you idiot.

She looks at me and scowls. Damn, she’s got fucking attitude too, that’s for sure. I raise my hands as if she’s a frightened animal and will run off at any sudden movement, which probably annoys her even more, but for some reason, I can’t help but laugh at the thought of her running off like a scared animal.

“What the fuck do you want?”

Woah, why the hostility, Halle?

I shake my head, not wanting to deal with her. I walk toward the track that leads out to Hunter’s street, but I can’t help myself. A part of me wants to be near her, in her space, and all around her.

I look her over as I walk by. She’s wearing leggings and an oversized tee, and she has black Chucks on. She’s got her head back down, focusing on what’s in front of her. My feet move on their own, and before I can register what I’m doing, I’m peeking over her shoulder, looking down at what has her attention. Huh, she can draw.

Her hand freezes, her shoulders tense, and she snaps her sketchbook closed. She doesn’t turn to look at me or make any movement. The water rushing from the falls is the only sound around us, and the air feels wired, like any movement either of us makes next will set the tone.

Without moving, her voice cracks like she hasn’t spokenin a long while. “You know it’s rude to snoop at what people are doing, especially people you don’t know.”

My lips curve. She’s got sass. “But Halle,” I say in a mocking tone, “I do know you. You’re Hunter’s baby sister.”

She still hasn’t made a move to turn and acknowledge me or stand to move away, so I bend down, my chin just above her shoulder. I turn my head just slightly, my nose grazing her ear. She smells like caramel and coffee, like comfort and sweetness, like home. Being this close to her rocks through me, and I clench my jaw to keep a hold of myself.

“I know you better than you think I do, Halle, and I’ll have you packing your bags before you know it.”

Feeling more irritated after being so close to her, I take a step back and narrow my eyes at her. “You don’t fucking belong here.”

She jumps up so suddenly, and anger radiates off her. I can feel it. I can see her mind tick over, processing everything she’s thinking and feeling.

Come on, Halle, what is it you want here?

Picking her pens up from the log she was sitting on, she scoffs and starts walking toward Hunter’s. Just when I thought she was going to leave it be, she turns her head slightly, looking back at me. Those sad gray eyes roam over me and make me shift on my feet.

“You have no clue about me or my life. You don’t know what I’ve been through. You don’t know what I’ve seen or have had to deal with. Screw you and your assumptions. I don’t even know who you are.” The quiet anger in her voice hits me like she yelled at me. Well shit, I pissed her off.

She storms off, and I start to second-guess everything I thought I knew. Do I have it all wrong?

Holding my hands to my head, I stretch back and let outa loud sigh. Fuck. Hunter’s gonna be pissed at me if he finds out I was being rude to his sister.

“ASHER… MY NAME’S ASHER!” I yell out to her just before she passes through the trees.

Without turning around to look at me, she raises her hand above her head and flips me off as she keeps on walking.

I let out a low chuckle. Well, this is going to be an interesting summer with her around.

The sun breaks through the trees, and I decide to turn around and make my way back toward my place, but before I take off, my phone pings, and I pause to check it.

Connor: YO dude, family breakfast at Hunter’s, get your ass here stat.

Looks like I won’t be avoiding another run-in with Halle after all. I reply to Connor, knowing that if I don’t, he’ll keep blowing up my phone until I answer him.

Me: On a run, be there soon.

Not having time to run home to shower and change, I head straight to Hunter’s. Making my way inside, I’m hit with the scent of bacon and pancakes. Damn, they’re going all out for this family breakfast. I hear Ace bark, and Madison’s laughter follows, bringing a smile to my face. This is what home feels like: walking into a house surrounded by people who truly see you and feeling so comfortable with them that you don’t have to keep your guard up. You can just be yourself.

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