Page 94 of Starstruck

Rory’s gaze flicked to the floor, the fragile smile still clinging to herlips, but the sadness lingered, barely masked beneath the brave face she was wearing for all of us.

And I didn’t miss the way Finn didn’t take his eyes off Rory theentire time she was talking.

Cora nodded her chin at the twins. “What about you two?”

Daisy sighed. “We’re flying home for a few days, and hopefully itwon't be too unbearable.” She tapped Finn’s shoulder. “At least he actually asked us home.”

Finn nodded. “Yeah, it’ll be fine. Grandpa's there anyway so…”

I caught Daisy’s eyes before she smiled at me, a hint of sadnessswimming between the golden tones that lived in them.

Finn and Daisy hadn’t spoken much about their home life, but duringthe first couple of weeks, I was able to get bits and pieces out of Daisy. She told me that they were a pretty normal family up until their mom passed away when they were twelve, and she told me that her Dad spiralled, finding his cure for his loss at the bottom of several liquor bottles every night.

I knew that she talked about this kind of stuff a lot more with Rorythan the rest of us, considering Rory also lost her mom when she was barely thirteen. They helped each other on the hard days, and Cora and I were there as shoulders to lean on.

Jesse cleared his throat, resting his hands on the end of Finn’s bed. “And I’ll only be next door if you both need anything.”

Finn sent a smile Jess’s way, while Daisy dropped his gaze, toonervous to meet it.

“Gold’s, what about you?” Jesse asked.

I stood taller as I smiled. “I’m heading out to Montana for the firsttime ever to see my parents' new house. I'm on the opposite side of the state to you guys, which is a shame but... it's still nice knowing that you're close." I dished them all a smile. "My sister and her boyfriend are coming, and I haven’t seen them in ages so I can’t wait to catch up.”

Cora's eyes went dreamy as she sighed, “God, I love it when Nate comes into Flo’s; he’s so charming.”

I shot her a teasing glare. “And he’s so taken, you tart.”

She blew a middle finger kiss my way, and Rory shuffled in her seat, a little grin tugging at her lips. “I do love Nate, but oh my God, you should see it when Jacob comes in. Him and Flo... dear lord, they make me believe in true love.”

Jesse, waving his hands dramatically, interrupted, “Wait, wait, who are we talking about?”

I cocked my head, finally noticing the graphic t-shirt he was wearing. “You’ve seenDefenders of Time,right?”

His grin widened, lighting up his whole face, that big infectious smile of his pulling everyone in. “Duh, what do you think? The soundtrack is an eighties lover's dream,” he said, tugging proudly at his shirt.

I shrugged casually. “Half the cast is who we’re talking about.”

Jesse’s eyes went wide, almost cartoonishly so. “Wait, you mean… when you guys have been talking about Nate and Jacob, you’re talking about Nate Patricks and Jacob Emerson?”

Rory, Cora, and I all nodded in unison.

Finn, who had been quietly lounging in bed, suddenly sat up straighter, his jaw nearly dropping. “Holy shit, and the redhead in those movies… Adaline…”

“Moore,” I filled in before they could scramble to remember. “She’s my sister.”

The room collectively gasped, and I turned toward Tristan. He didn’t look surprised—he’d already heard all about our weird family tree. But the smile on his face right then... something about it felt different. More personal. Like it wasn’t just for show, but for me.

Jesse’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “How the hell do you know these people?”

I sighed with a small smile. “It’s a long story.”

But even as I said it, my mind lingered on that smile from Tristan, the warmth it stirred in my chest. I had to remind myself that none of this—his smile, the warmth—wasn't real. This whole thing was just an act.

We keep it up in front of them. It's easier that way.

Daisy cleared her throat. “Wait, Tristan, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

Every head turned to him, waiting for his response. He scanned the room with that calm, laid-back demeanor of his, then shrugged. “I was just gonna stay here… work on some music.”

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