Page 73 of Starcrossed Colorado

“If it can hold me, it’ll hold you. It’s solid.” He put a hand on my lower back, steadying me. I held on to the hand rails and climbed. At the top, I came out onto the flat roof of the building. Someone had laid out squares of fake grass, topping them with two faded lawn chairs. Planters with fake flowers completed the impression of a backyard garden. It was nowhere near fancy, but something about the colors and the cheerfulness, even at night, made it endearing.

He was right. I loved it. “This is adorable.”

“Lori set this up.” Ashford led me to the chairs. He pushed them as close together as possible, and we sat, our arms pressed together and hands clasped. “But the best part is when you look up.”

I sat back, my gaze drifting upward. And my jaw dropped with a gasp.

Stars. Millions of them. They seemed infinitely far, yet also close and bright enough I could touch them. The Milky Way stretched directly overhead, a gauzy ribbon waving its way across the sky.

I had noticed there were a lot more stars visible in Silver Ridge than Southern California, but somehow I hadn’t been in the perfect time or place to see them in such spectacular fashion. Until now.

Maybe I’d been waiting for just the right moment. The right person to share it with.

I gripped Ashford’s hand. “This is amazing. Why aren’t you up here every night?” He probably didn’t want to leave Maisiealone, but surely he could spare a few minutes to sneak away. That girl was a deep sleeper. And this was too incredible to miss.

“Too focused on other stuff.” He squeezed my hand back. “Lately, the sweet, beautiful music teacher who lives down the hall.”

“I thought you didn’t like that music teacher,” I teased.

“I tried not to like her. But it turns out she’s irresistible.”

I leaned across the arm rests of our chairs to put my head on his shoulder.

For a while, we took in the view together. It was so quiet here. Dark, but the darkness felt comfortable and peaceful instead of threatening.

But I didn’t forget for one second that Ashford and I needed to talk.

“So,” I prompted. “That pink card someone sent to Maisie…”

His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “Lori’s younger sister sent it. Maisie’s aunt.”

“Is she dangerous somehow?”

“In a way, yes. Very dangerous. If she wants to be.”

“Okay.” I tried to imagine what he could mean, but my mind drew a blank. “Ashford, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. It’s all right.”

His brown and gold eyes pinned me. “No, I need to. But it’s going to sound strange. You might not even believe it. So I’d better just spit it out.”

I nodded, ready to listen with an open mind to whatever he was about to tell me.

I waited.

“Lori’s sister is a famous singer. Ayla Maxwell.”

I wished I could say I had a calm, mature reaction.

“Shut. Up. You’re not serious.”

“See? You don’t believe me.”

“No, I do.” I shook my head, trying to catch my brain up to this new reality. Becausewow. “You mean, cover of Vanity Fair Ayla Maxwell? Grammy for best album of the year? Face of a billion-dollar makeup brand?ThatAyla Maxwell?”

“Yes. That’s the one.”

“You’re sure.”

His lips pressed flat together. Zero humor in his expression.

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