Page 17 of Only Some Stars Fall

“We’ve been swamped all night, I can’t leave. Why don’t you go?” I start to wipe down the bar, removing empty glasses and sliding my rag over the remnants of liquid as people depart and new customers sit down.

A pretty blonde who I haven’t seen before and two of her cute girlfriends slide onto some empty barstools. I notice bikini strings peeking out beneath their tank tops, and I flash aforced smile in their direction. Right now, the idea of untying the blonde’s strings and finding the warm skin beneath with my mouth sounds almost too enticing to handle. I need a damn escape.

“You know my vision is terrible at night. Plus, you have a knack for finding that old son of a bitch.” He looks around to see if anyone heard him swear and spots Everly.

“Everly! Any chance you’d help your boss out? I’ll pay you double?”

“No way!” I protest. “I’m not leaving the bar with her behind it. I don’t care if she is only bussing. We don’t have the budget to replace all the glasses.” Everly shoots me a glare that makes me laugh despite my crappy mood.

“Of course, Mr. Anderson, what do you need?” Her tone is sickly sweet. Too sweet. Suck up.

“Be an angel and accompany my dumbass son out on the lake. We have a longtime guest who hasn’t returned from fishing. Hux will need someone to work the spotlight.”

“Are you kidding?” I choke out. I used to think my dad truly loved me, but right now, I am starting to wonder what kind of evil spirit has taken over. Since I was in diapers, I have been speeding up and down this lake. There is absolutely no need for Everly to tag along, but as I’m about to open my mouth to argue my case, I catch a glance at Nick’s expression. That shit-eating grin has been wiped clean, and he looks pissed. Maybe my dad isn’t the devil.

“It’s darker than a pocket out there, Hux. For once, don’t argue with me.” I catch his eye as he winks at me. He’s up to something; I’m just not sure what. I huff dramatically, throwing the towel down onto the bar and walking toward the back door. Everly hasn’t made a peep; she hasn’t moved a muscle except for her eyes darting back and forth between my father and me during our exchange.

I reach the back door, holding open the screen, and look back at her. “Hellooo? Let’s go. We don’t have all night. I have plans… Remember?”

I let the screen door slam behind me, not bothering to see if she follows.

EIGHT

EVERLY

The sun has fully gone downbehind the mountains as we make our way down the path to the marina. There is tense silence between us. I’m starting to regret the defiant gut reaction I had to Hux’s rudeness about me coming along. I don’t get this guy. Last night, he acted like my protector, I dare say maybe even a little sweet, and now, today, I’m again just some nuisance he’s been stuck with.

What did I do? On top of that, for the second night in a row, somehow, Hux has managed to come between Nick and my plans. Here I am, trying to hang out with my best friend, have a carefree, fun summer, and get to know the nice guy for once, and yet I’m constantly derailed by this jerk. And look, here I am, following him down the trail like a lost puppy.

What is it about him? Or, for that matter, what is it about me? I have always been a people pleaser. Maybe I just can’t let it go that he doesn’t like me.

We walk out on the dock to a well-loved but nice-looking sports boat with “The Anderson’s” logo painted on the side.Hux jumps down into the bow and then turns around, holding out a hand to me. The soft light from the fixtures atop the dock posts highlights the muscles in his toned and tanned forearms.

“Let’s go. I’d like to find him before he turns into a fuckin’ fossil.” His eyes meet mine, and I swear, there is a glimmer of humor behind the sarcastic tone. My cheeks flush, and I roll my eyes, hoping he assumes I’m just frustrated and not secretly wondering what his touch would be like.

Snap out of it, Ev.

I place my hand in his, and the butterflies attack my stomach so viciously I feel disoriented, and without meaning to, I let out a small giggle. His hand is weathered and rough in the most perfect way. I imagine what it would feel like if those hands were to wander all over my body. Caressing my bare skin and most sensitive places. I giggle again, a little embarrassed at the burning tingle I’m feeling below the waistband of my shorts.

“Ha.” Hux smugly snorts, quickly letting go of my hand once my feet are firmly planted on the boat.

Talk about embarrassing. I freaking just giggled because a guy touched my hand, a guy who has absolutely no interest in me. My thoughts drift to my ex, Austin, as Hux points the boat out onto the lake. The engine softly purrs as the boat cuts through the glass-like surface, causing ripples in the perfect reflection of the emerging starry night sky. Since being in Silsby, my thoughts of Austin have been limited. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since the end of winter break. Even going to different colleges and the fact that he has a new girlfriend didn’t stop me from keeping the door just barely cracked—just enough contact to keep me hooked. Something about the uninterested tone in Hux’s voice has brought on the painful insecurity again of not being enough. I will never be the girl a guy can’t live without. I lack the effortlessly cool-girl, confident vibe like Ashlee or Alex possess to attracta guy like Hux.

With Austin, I was always so damn nervous. I loved him so much that my bones ached. I’ve never been a risk taker; I’d rather play it safe, make my dad proud, and never disappoint anyone, but if Austin had asked me to marry him the day I turned eighteen, I would have. Without knowing all the details and terrible things Austin put me through, my dad still never trusted his intentions, and I guess his intuition was right.

It was a rainy, cold fall day when he yanked my heart, lungs, and anything else that kept my heart alive. Yet, just this Christmas, I ended up hooking up with him in the back seat of his mom’s car that he was borrowing while he was home on break from his Ivy League college.

What a cliché I am.

“Earth to Everly.” I tear my gaze from the barely visible horizon and blink back the moisture in my eyes caused by the emotional scab I’ve just picked. I look over at Hux, who is setting up a spotlight next to where I sit. “Remember, you’re here to help, not just take a starlight cruise,” he grumbles. “Pretty simple, just stay here in the bow and keep the light on the shoreline. Knowing Big Earl, he usually stays in shallow water.”

For over an hour, we slowly cruise along the shore, looking for the missing tin boat. We linger near a few camps where people are sitting out by a fire or at the end of their docks stargazing. Everyone instantly recognizes Hux as we approach their docks, but there is no sign of the lost fisherman. Working our way to the far end of the lake into one of the remote coves, Hux explains this is a popular fishing location for the locals and long-time guests. It’s clear the spot is secluded. It feels like ages since I’ve seen the flicker of a campfire along the shoreline.

If I were with any other guy I barely knew, I would start worrying that I am going to end up on one of those crime documentaries. Yet, for some reason, I feel safe and protected in themiddle of this massive lake, surrounded by mountains, pine trees… and Hux.

I feel the boat abruptly slow, and then the motor shuts off. With the reduced noise level, I can hear Hux talking into the radio.

“Are you fucking kidding me? We’ve been out here for almost two hours! That bastard, tell him he owes me.”

---