Page 40 of Starstruck

Henry was just so handsome, in a way that I could only describe aswholesome. His cute button-down shirt and glasses, mixed with his beach blonde hair, made him look like the human version of a golden retriever, just radiating sweetness. I think that was why I found him so endearing—the goodness and light he naturally brought wherever he went.

There was no doubt that the more time we spent together,even though all we seemed to talk about was the presentation and the fact that his dad was the dean, the slight crush I had on him was solidifying. Wedging between the cracks in my heart that had never been filled before.

He just made me feel normal, and giddy, and all the things I’d neverhad the time or energy to feel.

As my thoughts echo in my mind, my attention was dragged up tothe hinges of the door before us opening, Etoille’s head popping out from behind it a second later with his smile lines deeper than ever.

“Miss Moore, Mr. Sommerford, you’re up.” He chirped, beforeretreating back into the room, leaving the door wide open for us to glide in.

But before I could let my feet take me in, I felt a nudge on my arm. My eyes traveled up to Henry’s gaze, tracing his smile before I methis baby blue’s.

“You’ve got this, Goldie.” He reminded me.

Oh, for the love of all things holy—just kiss me already and put me out of my misery, you freakishly handsome menace. Stop tormenting me with that jawline and those eyes like you’re doing it on purpose! Not that it matters, because at this rate, I’m probably going to combust anyway.

Honestly, the dramatics. Maybe I reallywasdestined to be an actress.

I shook my head, sitting behind the darkness when I closed my eyes, before springing them open as I lifted my palm between us. “We’ve got this.”

I didn’t want to feel the lightning bolts as our palms collided, but Idid. Boy, did I feel them. But I tried my best to push those thoughts to the back of my mind, and instead, I reshuffled my flashcards and sucked in a breath, before walking right on into the lecture hall.

My breath skated past my lips as we left the room, relief making myshoulders drop, my hands unclench, and suddenly everything felt calm again.

“Holy shit, Goldie I’m so sorry—”

I spun around to face Henry, sympathy weaving through my smile.“It’s fine, I promise.” I shrugged. “I kinda wanted to talk about that part of the presentation anyway.”

His smile was every bit bashful, shame settling in his smile lines ashe paced the floor in front of me.

Our presentation was going well, really well, until we reached thepart where we had to refer to the studies and professional findings we’d used to supportourresearch, proving that the heart ruled over the autonomic nervous system, more than our gut feelings did. It was filled with statistics and figures that evenIhad to repeat in my head whenever Henry rehearsed them.

And when I heard his voice crack, his words catching in his throat, Ithanked my lucky stars that I knew them by heart.

He dished me a thankful smile when I started talking, but I simplykept my eyes on Etoille, ignoring how the side of my face that he was smiling at felt as though it was in direct sunlight.

“God, I don’t know what happened.” Shaky hands raked through hisblonde strands. “I could see the words in my head, but I couldn’t—”

“Henry, it’s fine,” I assured him. “It’s fine.”

He slowed his pacing, enough that I could see him take in what I’dsaid, before he stopped his feet in front of mine and stole a needed breath. One side of his smile lifted. “I’ll get you another birthday present, to say thank you.”

The ambush I’d had this morning from Daisy and the girls, runningto jump on the bed with handfuls of gift bags flashed across my mind. So did the birthday banners and shiny balloons that had been scattered around the dorm.

I smiled up at him. “As you should.”

His laugh was soft, and sweet, like silky honey falling from the tipof a spoon. Those ocean eyes dipped to the floor, only for a second, before they met mine again. “Look, I’ve gotta get to my forensics class, but I’ll see you later.” Before he stepped away, his hand scrubbed across his jaw. “Where’s this dinner again?”

I nodded at him, the evening after studying where I’d plucked upthe courage to ask him to my birthday dinner tonight flooded my mind as I said, “It’s Marco’s. That Italian place on third. Look for the planters outside, with the white roses.”

“Got it. See you tonight.” He gave me one last smile before heturned the corner, and disappeared down the hallway.

As I stayed in the room where we’d waited before heading in to seeEtiolle, hearing the whispers and last-minute rehearsals from classmates that I recognised, I had to give myself a minute, trying with all my might to pin down the corners of my smile.

A wave of giddiness buzzed through my body, in a way I’d only everacted out. But now that it was real, I wished for the feeling to stay, or for there to be a way to bottle the feeling up so I could sip on it for the rest of the semester. Letting it be the thing that wakes me up in the morning.

The thought of seeing him tonight, somewhere that wasn’t thelibrary or in the seat three rows in front of me during class, made me drop my head, the tips of my shoes being the only thing that got to see how pathetic my smile was.

I’d wanted to ask him out, just the two of us, but once I felt myselffalling deeper into his stare, my heart eerily close to beating out of my chest for good, I panicked, and blurted that it was my birthday soon and I’d love for him to be there.

---