Page 14 of Only Some Stars Fall

“Definitely.” I pour a big scoop of jungle juice into my cup, careful not to drop any down my white top as I take a long sip and follow him back outside.

After multiple roundsof beer pong, we are the undefeated champions, and with ample amounts of that cheap keg beer I swore I was going to stay away from in my system, I’m feeling much more at ease. The world around me has started to spin just slightly, making me feel giddy and playful. I try to act more sober than I am as Nick and I make our way down the long dock.

Nick has been very attentive all night; everyone likes him. He handles being the life of the party with ease yet has found a way to keep me the center of his attention. I almost feel guilty for peering over my shoulder every time the group hollers about the arrival of someone new. Cursing myself for getting my hopes up that Hux may walk in. I’m sure this kind of party is too juvenile for his liking, but for whatever reason, I can’t help feeling a little let down when I glance over and see that it isn’t him.

I really don’t understand my fascination. Here I am, sitting on a dock dipping my toes into the chilly lake water with an incredibly sweet and wicked hot guy who is nice to me, and I’mthinking about the douchebag owner’s son who barely even speaks to me.

But is he really an asshole? The way he looked at me that night outside the main lodge—was I wrong to have felt something? Something deeper, something almost a little sad. Even in the brief encounters we’ve had together, I can’t help but feel the buzz of an electric current running through my body whenever he is near. One that leaves me a bit breathless and depleted once he’s gone. It’s like my body reacts to him, completely betraying my brain, no matter how threatening it tries to be.

I feel Nick shimmy a little bit closer to me, bumping my hand and taking the opportunity to intertwine his fingers with mine. “I’m really happy you came tonight.”

“Me too,” I smile. All of a sudden, I feel shy, my nerves have reappeared, and I know I’m trying to avoid eye contact. “What a beautiful night. It really is peaceful up here.” Now that my eyes have adjusted to the darkness, I can make out the faint shadows of the surrounding shorelines—lights from the few boats still on the water sparkle on the horizon.

“I wish I could say I don’t miss the city when I’m up here. After a few weeks, this crowd gets a bit old. Doesn’t feel like anyone is going anywhere or even cares to try to make a better life for themselves, they seem content to be townies.” A bit of judgment is in his voice. “But it does have its perks.” Gesturing to the lake, he turns to me, his eyes finding mine in the dark, and smiles.

He leans toward me. I can feel his breath on my face, and I know he is going in for the kiss.I want this, right?My palms start to sweat. I mean, I knew where this was leading when I agreed to stargaze on the dock, didn’t I? Why do I suddenly feel so unsure? The dock feels unsteady now, that keg beer catching up to me.

Come on, Everly. I close my eyes, trying to push the uneasinessthat has made its way into my veins and try to steady myself.

“Uh, sorry to interrupt… Nick?” A thick voice comes out of the middle of nowhere, startling me. I don’t have to look at his face to hear the smirk as my body begins to vibrate like a car that’s just been jump-started.

Nick sighs and then replies in probably the un-friendliest tone I’ve heard come out of his mouth. “What?”

“Someone just puked all over what I’m guessing is a wicked expensive rug in your living room. Your mom’s probably going to be pissed, bub. Looks like it came from Europe or something,” Hux says with a bit of sarcasm in his voice as he leans against a dock post.

“Shit! Seriously?” Nick quickly gets to his feet as he drops my hand, and a bit of relief comes over me as I watch him jog back to the house. I realize I’m alone with Hux, who, as always, has that shit-eating grin plastered on his face.

He stands just under the first deck light in faded jeans. The kind that are faded from wear, not purchased that way. I see he’s still in a plain black tee, no doubt with an Anderson’s logo on the back, but it’s covered by an unbuttoned plaid flannel shirt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

“Of course, it would be you.” I huff as I stumble to my feet.

“Oh, forgive me for ruining your cliché movie scene kiss, but Prince Charming over there isn’t that great. To be honest, I didn’t even know you were here, didn’t take you for the party-going kind of girl, or that you would fall for the ‘look at everything daddy gives me’ routine.”

His comment stumps me for a second. Did he just insult and compliment me at the same time? Either way, he’s already irritating me like a bad rash. “Oh, because that isn’t the game you like to play. I see you with all those girls.”

He says nothing, letting out an arrogant chuckle andpushing his hair back off his face, the muscles in his forearms flexing in the little visible light. Eyes still resting intensely on me.

I attempt to shove past him. Hux has the ability to suck up all the air even when standing outside in the wide open, and I need to breathe. The dock is swaying now. Hell, everything is swaying. I try to keep moving forward and away from the edge but feel my foot slip, and there is nothing beneath it.

Oh no.

I brace myself for the fall, but nothing prepares me for the arctic cold water that completely engulfs me. I break the surface, gasping, the wind knocked out of me from the temperature, and frantically slap the water, reaching out for the edge of the dock.

The water is too deep, and I can’t touch the bottom.How is it possible for it to be this dark out?I try to wipe the water from my eyes, but it’s no use, it’s everywhere. The pain I feel from the frigidness is overwhelming. Why is any body of water this cold in late June? My panic picks up as I frantically splash around.

Hux’s hand grabs on to my flailing arm. “You’re all right, I’ve got you.” His voice is calm and hushed. “Swim a bit closer so I can pull you out.” Kneeling in front of me, he gently puts both hands under my shoulders and effortlessly lifts me out of the water. He brings his face close to mine when I am seated safely on the dock, my hair plastered to my face. “Are you okay?” Concern fills his eyes. I so badly want to be mad at him, but I’m a little too shaken. I lean my forehead into his chest, soaking his shirt, and attempt to catch my breath.

Once I feel a little more stable, I stand and take a few steps back from him, careful of my footing this time. “Thank you, I… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Ever since getting here, I seem to have forgotten how to use my feet.” I gather my hair to one side and wring the water out as a tremor of shivers runs through my body. I’m aware, but I don’t care that my nipples are rock-hard from the water and highly visible through my wet white shirt.Alex was right about white.In a way, the cold water is refreshing, clearing away the dizziness and the onset of drunken fatigue, but I have a feeling hypothermia isn’t far behind if I don’t get out of these wet clothes.

“Ha, well, I have a feeling that Ricky’s famous jungle juice probably played a factor tonight as well.” He smiles, and though it’s dark, I almost make out a bit of playfulness I have secretly hoped to see directed at me.

“You want a ride home? This party seems to be getting pretty sloppy, which is normally a good time to duck out. ” He looks back at the small group drunkenly singing the lyrics to a song that definitely came out long before any of us were born.

“Plus, if you don’t get into dry clothes soon, a trip to the Silsby ER will be in your future, and trust me, that’s a whole new experience you don’t want.”

“Um, well, I need to find Alex. She’s probably wondering what happened to me.”

We walk back up the yard to the house. Alex and Elle are sitting on the porch swing, Alex’s legs across Elle’s lap as she throws her head back, laughing hysterically. As we approach them, a few guys stumble out of the front door and almost run straight into me.

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