Page 19 of Only Some Stars Fall

I’m a deer in headlights, and from the gloating smile on Brian, the manager of the marina’s face, he definitely caught a glimpse of what we were up to.

“Rumor has it you two are having some trouble? But it looks to me like you’re doing just fine.” Brian chuckles. I, on the other hand, contemplate jumping overboard and sinking to the bottom of the freezing lake, this time willingly.

“Just throw me the cables, will ya,” Hux barks.

“You got it, boss.”

Brian tows us back to the resort, which is a deathly slow and quiet ride. I sit in the bow, hugging my knees to my chest for warmth while keeping my eyes on the dark shadows of the mountains ahead. There’s a feeling in the air between Hux and me, almost as if the closer we get to the resort, the further Hux and I become again. As reality comes back into view, I find myself doubting the last few hours.

When we finally dock, Brian offers me his hand and I climb back onto the familiarity of land. Hux secures the boat andthanks Brian for his help, patting him on the back as he walks by. Hux heads back toward the bar without so much as a nod toward me.

Brian eyes me cautiously. “What’s the rush?” he humorously calls out to Hux.

“I’m late,” he replies, never even looking back.

NINE

EVERLY

“He just walked away?You’ve got to be joking?” Alex peers at me over those heart-shaped sunglasses.

She has insisted we spend our first day off together in over a week on the little beach at the resort instead of at our beautiful, and might I add, private, beach at her dad’s house. I did my best to protest, but she swears the smooth, pebbly rocks at this beach are easier on her feet.

What a diva.

All I know is I sure as hell don’t want to run into Hux, so I’d much rather avoid this whole establishment like the plague.

“Yep, no goodbye, no nod in my direction, nothing.” I look over my shoulder as I say it. I know I’m being paranoid, but I can’t help myself.

“Hmm.” Alex turns her attention to the lake, seemingly lost in heavy thought.

“Seriously? ‘Hmm’ is all you have to say?” I mock as I sit up from my towel. “That is not the best friend reaction I need! Where is your anger? Your outrage? Once again, I betrayed myinstincts and gave the jerk a try in hopes that he’s magically, not a jerk. But nope. Jerk. Big, fat jerko.”

“Well, we can both agree, Hux is far from overweight, that man is shere muscle.”

I stare at her, my mouth open. I fling myself back down on my towel and dramatically stomp my feet on the damn pebbles.

“Listen, I know it seems like the typical asshole move, and we all know I am the first one to try and steer you away from those bad boy types you always seem to be pining after, but I know Hux, and I just feel like there’s more to the story that we don’t know.”

“Alex, we made out on a boat, and then he acted like a dick. I don’t think we are missing anything. Also, you knew Hux when he was what, fourteen years old? I’m sorry, but I am not sure I trust your eleven-year-old brain’s judgment.”

“Hey, I was a very mature eleven-year-old when it came to matters of the heart. Let’s not forget I witnessed firsthand the shit show that was my parent’s divorce.”

Alex has always been such a happy, sassy, spitfire. Acting as if her life is more of a comedic drama you might watch on TV instead of what I am sure was a heartbreaking and scary family breakdown. I’ve always assumed this is the root of her inability to be in a committed relationship. She’s broken hearts, but hers has never even been bruised.

“Okay, well, seeing that you’re an Anderson expert even after an eight-year hiatus, give me some backstory on this jerk who you claim has a heart of gold.” I stare at her, my arms crossed across my chest.

The more I think about it, the more I realize she really hasn’t given me any good insider information on him. I know we have been busier than we both expected, but it still seems weird how tight-lipped everyone is around here when it comes to the Anderson family.

“Well, honestly, I don’t have that much to tell. His mom, Diane, is a wicked talented wood sculptor, like you need to see the stuff this lady can carve with a chainsaw. Totally badass. And you already know Mike.” Tucking her hair behind her ears, Alex sits up, hugging her knees to her chest.

“I know a few years ago when the economy wasn’t doing so hot, Aurora Lake tourism took a pretty big hit, which put a lot of strain on the Andersons. They are considered one of the nicest and most popular businesses up here, but keeping a business afloat in northern Maine is never easy.” She rakes her hand through the soft pebbles, stopping to pick out a piece of green lake glass.

“Then, when everything happened with Storm, Elle told me Hux dropped out of college at NYU right before his senior year to stay here and help out.” She holds the small treasure between her forefinger and thumb, lifting it to the sun for a moment before tossing it into her beach bag.

“Storm? Hux’s older brother, right? I saw a picture of the two of them with Mike when they were younger in the lobby. What happened?” From the quiet tone of Alex’s voice and the fact that I’ve heard not even a murmur about him at the resort over the last month, I know it’s not good.

“I don’t know much about it; even my dad doesn’t like talking about it. I saw a few things on social media when I did some digging. I guess there was some kind of accident. It was unclear to me how involved Storm was, but it sounds like it destroyed Hux.” This time, she looks over her shoulder, sharing my paranoia about who might overhear.

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