Page 62 of The Star

The elevator dings, so I turn and step through the doors once they’ve slid open, leaning against the wall after I’ve hit the button for the ground floor.

Carson’s face has gone red. “Dude, what the fuck?!” he grunts to Hayden under his breath just as they’re all stepping into the elevator, and Hayden laughs.

“Chill out, Carson. We’re just fucking around.”

“I mean…” Levi says, looking at the floor, “Carson probably has PTSD from when I rearranged her guts, man.”

I bark out a laugh at his phrasing but turn to address all three of them at once.

“Listen,idiots. I’m no one’s property. I wanted to fuck Levi, so I fucked Levi.” I center my gaze on Carson. “If I want to fuck Hayden, I’ll fuck Hayden. I am not yours.”

Levi laughs under his breath, trying to hold it in, and Hayden just gives me that smirk he seems to have coined as his own. Carson, however, is gritting his teeth and balling his fists. I wouldn’t be surprised if steam started shooting from his ears.

He takes a few steps toward me on the moving elevator, so his face is right in mine. “Don’t fucking push me, Logan.”

I cock my jaw. “And if I do?”

The sides of his lips curl. “We’re both stuck at this hotel together. You’ll have more to worry about than the monsters under your bed.”

A laugh slips free from my lips, making his smile grow bigger as I run my hands down the lapel of his suit. “Don’t worry, big brother, there’s only one person who will be fucking me tonight.”

He steps closer to me, putting his mouth right at the lobe of my ear. “Oh?”

I push his shoulders, making him take a couple of steps back. “Yeah,me.”

All three boys chuckle, but the elevator doors slide open as we reach the ground floor before they can say anything in retort. I smile. “See you in there, boys.”

* * *

The night moves along without any issues. I’m introduced to a lot of Sara’s relatives and friends, and I don’t miss how there isn’t one single person here from my dad’s side of the family. Not an aunt or uncle, grandparents, cousins – nothing. It makes me curious as to why, because if none of them are here for the rehearsal, will they be here for the wedding?

My dad has always been close with his sister, I think, so it’s weird that even she isn’t here.

I find a moment where my dad is alone at the bar about halfway through, so I sit down on a stool next to him and give him a smile. “Having a good time?”

He puts an arm around my shoulders. “Sure am, are you?”

He smiles so wide that wrinkles spread at the corner of his eyes, and I wonder the last time I’ve seen him so happy. Definitely long before my mom passed, maybe even years. “Yeah, food was great.”

“Thank you for being here, Logan.” He grabs his glass, taking a sip of the clear liquid inside. “I know I haven’t been around much lately, but I really appreciate you supporting this huge life change.”

His words hit home, making heat spread across my chest and down my arms. “I just want you to be happy, Dad.”

He nods. “I know you do, sweetheart. And I want the same for you.”

I wave over the bartender, and when he reaches us, I order some water to help my sudden case of dry throat. Once he’s set it down in front of me, I take a long mouthful, and then turn to my dad again.

“Why isn’t anyone from our side of the family here?”

He downs the rest of his drink, like my question has made him darken a little. He sets the glass down, waving for a refill, and then he looks at me. “They all have their own reasons.”

“Which are?” I question, eyes on my glass.

He clears his throat. “Most of them negative… some of them valid excuses. I decided I didn’t need anything to sour this day for Sara or myself, so I just accepted that they think I’m making a mistake.”

When I look over at him, he’s smiling sadly, which makes my heart swell. Whether they have their own opinions on his choices, they should be here to support him. I put a hand on his arm, making him turn his head slightly to look at me. “Fuck ’em, then.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “That mouth of yours, Logan Briar.”

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