Page 47 of The Star

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It isn’t until my second can of beer that I start feeling a little looser, a little more relaxed and calm. Giuliana and I are swaying to the loud music in Austin’s living room, clouds filling the small space and making my head lighter. I needed this, I needed the familiarity of Franklin, my friends with their knockoff shirts instead of the designer ones I see in the halls of Luxington High. I needed the comfortability of my friends, the kids I grew up with.

I feel safe here, like this is exactly where I belong.

Giuliana holds her phone up to take a selfie, so I lean my head on her shoulder and puff my lips. When she turns it around to look at it, she makes a satisfied sound through her lips. “We’re hot.”

I tip my beer. “That we are.”

I suck down the rest of the can, then crush it in my fist. I stand on my boots, but before I can tell Giuliana I’m going to get a refill, Austin steps into me and grips me by the hips. “Dance with me.”

I throw the can down on the floor, batting my eyelashes. “Okay.”

He drags me out to the middle of the room, and when the beat of the song picks up, he spins me around and pulls my ass into his front. I grind my hips, creating friction between us as he shimmies against me from behind. My blood rushes, so I drop my head back against his shoulder and let the music take me away.

I allow all my worries fall to the side, letting them fade into the background as the music flows through me. Austin’s hands stay on my waist, gripping at my flesh through my shirt as we dance. The familiarity of his touch, his smell, his everything makes me feel secure and safe, like the last few months of my life never happened.

My mom never died, I never moved to Luxington, I never met Carson.

Everything is back the way it was before – I’m in Franklin with my friends, getting tipsy and hooking up with my friend with benefits.

A few songs pass as we dance and kiss and laugh, and when my throat is dry, we make our way to the kitchen to get something to drink.

I jump onto the counter, letting my legs hang down the side of the cabinet as Austin pulls two cans of beer from the fridge, handing me one and leaning against the counter. “Missed you, Lo.”

I pop the tab on my can, taking a big drink and sliding my hand through the braids on top of his head. “Missed you.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I pull my hand from Austin and slip it out. It’s a number that isn’t saved, so I ignore the call and put my phone on the counter.

“We smashin’ tonight?” Austin asks, but my phone starts buzzing with another call, so my attention pulls back to it. It’s the same number from before, though, so I hit ignore again and look back at Austin.

“Maybe.” I grin, taking another mouthful of beer.

He turns, sliding between my legs in front of me. “Maybe?”

He leans forward, putting his face in my neck as his hands slide up the sides of my thighs. “C’mon, Lo.”

I chuckle a little, but it’s interrupted by my phone buzzing with another phone call.

“Oh my God!” I groan in frustration, grabbing my phone from the counter to see the same unsaved number calling me. I answer it on the second ring, officially annoyed. “What?!”

“Are you thinking about me while he touches you?”

My gut falls to my ass, my throat clamming up when I open my mouth to try to answer him. Nothing comes out, and then Carson chuckles through the receiver of the phone. “Answer me,Lo.”

I grit my teeth, pushing Austin away from me and sliding off the kitchen counter back onto my feet. Austin gives me a look, but I hold a hand up to tell him to hold on and make my way back through the living room to try to find somewhere quiet.

“Logan,” Carson growls through the phone.

Making my way into a bedroom at the end of the hallway off the edge of the living room, I’m pleasantly surprised that it’s empty and dark when I push inside.

“Are you watching me?!” I ask breathlessly as I press my back against the closed door.

“Answer my question,” he demands, his words clipped like he’s biting down on the inside of his cheek in frustration.

I huff a laugh. “No.”

“No, you won’t answer my question; or no, you aren’t thinking of me?” he asks, and I picture the cocky grin that’s most likely gracing his face as he does.

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