Page 26 of The Star

Levi turns around in his seat once we’re speeding through the parking lot. “Whatcha wanna listen to, mami?”

“Where are you from?” The question leaves my mouth before I have a second to think about it, catching even myself off guard.

Levi chuckles. “A li’l bit of everywhere.”

My eyebrows pull down in confusion, but before I can probe any more, he’s turning back around to face forward and swiping through a playlist on his phone.

21 Savage blasts through the speakers, making my seat vibrate. My lips tip up at the side at the familiarity of the song, making me feel a little more at home. When I hear Hayden start rapping along with the artist, I lean forward to look at him.

My eyes sparkle with humor. “You know 21 Savage?”

He looks at me from the corner of his eye while he drives. “You don’t have to live in Franklin to like hip hop.”

I roll my eyes. “I know that, but you seem so…” I try to choose my words very carefully, but Levi cuts me off with a deep belly laugh.

“Like he’s got a stick up his ass or sits in a dark room, listening to emo?”

I laugh, dropping back in my seat. “Yeah.”

Hayden’s eyes find mine in his rear-view mirror, but he doesn’t say anything, he just gives me an ominous look before he returns his attention to the road.

After five minutes, I lean forward in my seat again. “What’s with all the tattoos?”

Hayden turns his head to look at me. “What’s with all the curiosity?”

I fall back in my seat again. “Just trying to figure you out.”

Levi laughs, switching the song so the car falls silent for a moment. “Impossible, my guy.”

I spend the rest of the ride silent, kicking myself for feeling overconfident for a moment with them. I need to keep my guard up, stay ahead of them. I observe them from the backseat. Levi is constantly typing away on his phone, laughing and kicking his feet up on the dash of the expensive car like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He raps with his hands to Young Thug, Lil Baby, and Gucci Mane, like the culture runs deep in him.

Hayden sings along sometimes but doesn’t give away any mannerisms that I can pinpoint his character – he’s a mystery. He does grip the steering wheel hard every time I make a noise from the back and drives like a maniac, like he isn’t scared of getting pulled over or wrecking. I catch the speedometer at 95 through my new neighborhood, making me shake my head. He’s…fearless. Carefree like Levi, but still made of stone. He doesn’t have fun, but he takes the risk given the opportunity.

I store the information away for the future, just in case I need it.

Thankfully, neither of them gets out to open my door or something when we’ve come to a halt in the driveway of my house. I open it and step out, poking my head back in to say thank you. Levi is looking at me, but Hayden hasn’t turned to address me. I can feel him paying attention, but his eyes never find mine.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“See you tomorrow, ma.” Levi waves a hand, and when I look at the back of Hayden’s head, I get the urge to shake him and request he have some manners.

I give him a dirty look, even though he still isn’t looking at me, then close the door. He speeds off before I even reach the front door, his tires squealing.

“Dick,” I mumble to myself as I push the front door open and step into the heat.

“Logan!” Sara yells the second I’ve closed the door behind me, making me jump. I hadn’t expected her to be home, thinking she would be at work.

She comes around the corner on bare feet, holding up the skirts of what looks like a fucking wedding dress, so she doesn’t step on it. Her hair is twisted into a messy bun on top of her head, and her face is spread into a huge smile, but all I can focus on is the dress she’s wearing.

“Thank God you’re home!” She freezes in front of me, dropping the skirt of the dress. “Is Carson with you?”

I can’t remove my stare from the dress, the blood starting to rush into my ears. I swallow thickly, feeling tears prick at the back of my eyes. They got engaged five minutes ago, so why is she wearing a wedding dress? There’s no way they’re getting married yet… aren’t engagements usually long? Or at least medium length? Or longer than a few fucking weeks?

“Logan?” I snap back to reality, so I meet her gaze.

“What?”

“I asked if Carson was with you?” Her voice is soft, like she’s unsure what’s happening.

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