Page 94 of Starstruck
“Lenny…are you okay? You look a little pale.” Isa grasps my arm, pulling my attention back to her.
I nod slowly. “I—Yes. I’m fine. I just… What do I do now?”
“You tell him.”
She says the words as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
I shake my head. “I can’t do that. What if you’re wrong about his feelings for me?”
Isa rears back as if I’ve insulted her. “Lennon Amelia Thorne. When have I ever been wrong?!”
I huff a laugh and roll my eyes. “There’s a first time for everything,” I say with a shrug, taking a sip of the iced vanilla oat latte in my hand.
Isa lightly smacks me on the arm, her jaw falling open in betrayal. “Take that back right now.”
I chuckle as we continue making our way through the aisles. Neither of us says anything for a moment as we browse, but when I come across an old vinyl of my parents’I Dare Youalbum, mymind flashes to the rider Baxter gave me. The whole reason I’m here is to find this album for him, but a watery smile fills my face as I stare at the cover art—the same photo I have framed in my office of the two of them onstage, staring into each other’s eyes while singing into the same mic.
Isa comes up behind me, rubbing a hand down my back. “You’ve gotta tell him, Lenny. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
“Not yet, okay?” I sigh, swiping a tear away quickly. “After the concert I will. I don’t want to risk cutting our time together short if, by chance, you are mistaken.”
I’ve told myself we could never be more than what we are now because anything else forces me to admit how I feel about himtohim. And that’s terrifying. He could reject me, or tell me he doesn’t feel the same way, so I’ve been avoiding my feelings at every corner. But it’s become glaringly obvious that no matter how many times I try to convince myself otherwise, I’ve fallen in love with Baxter. The best I can do now is tell him such and hope to God he tells me he loves me back.
I look at her with a sadness in my eyes and she sends me a small smile.
“Okay, Lenny.” Her head tilts toward the album in my hand. “Find what you were looking for?”
The smile on my face grows. “Yeah. I did.”
We browse for a while longer before I catch sight of bleach-blonde curls near the back of the store. Recognizing them immediately, I head in that direction, Isa following behind me.
“Sadie?” I ask as I approach.
She spins around to face me with a smile, and so does the guy she’s with, who just so happens to be Colt.
“Oh, hey Colt,” I greet.
“Lennon.” He nods slightly, his signature brooding look changing as he glances at Isa. His eyes darken, and his jaw works as he scans her body, though I can’t tell if it’s out of attraction or hatred.
“Hi, Lennon,” Sadie says with a smile, her bright-blue eyes shining even in the dimly-lit store.
I grin back at her. “This is my best friend, Isabella Cordova,” I say as if they both don’t already know who she is.
Sadie’s eyes light up as she looks to Isa, clearly starstruck by the fact that she’s in the same room as her.
I smile to myself. I plan to ask Sadie if she’ll fill the extra time at the concert now that Lilia’s cancelled, and she’ll be performing right before Isa if she agrees.
Colt grinds his teeth as he grits out, “We’ve met.”
Isa rolls her eyes. Sadie and I stand there, confused looks crossing our faces as the tension between my best friend and her brother grows.
“You have?” I ask. I’d remember her telling me about that.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Turning to Sadie, Isa smiles and holds her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Sadie. I’ve heard great things.”
Sadie takes it cautiously, a blush working its way into her cheeks. “Nice to meet you, too, Isabella. I’m a huge fan.”
“Oh, please. Call me Isa.”
