Page 20 of Only Some Stars Fall

“If you think Hux can be a dick, Storm made him look like a saint. Sarcastic as shit, I was always a little scared of him, to be honest, but he loved it here. He never had big dreams of leaving; he couldn’t wait to take over the family business and spend his whole life here, even as a teenager. In no way was Storm astraight-and-narrow kind of guy. He had flaws, but he also had this toxic attraction that was hard not to be blinded by, like looking directly at the sun. The details of his unraveling are still pretty unknown to me, and it seems very taboo around here.”

Alex stops short, and I follow her gaze to the path that leads to the beach. Ashlee, in what looks more like lingerie than a bathing suit, and two of her similarly dressed girlfriends pick a spot a few feet away from us to start laying out their towels. Ashlee looks over our way, giving a small half-wave, and Alex returns a smile.

With all the money Ashlee’s father has, you’d think they would have bought their own lakefront mansion, like Nick’s family has, and a larger bathing suit. But no, there is one cabin at Anderson’s that is nicer than the rest, and her family has it locked down every year. A beautiful log structure that must have been remodeled before the resort started to get into financial trouble, it’s by far the largest cabin we have, with two large bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a full kitchen. It’s so big that it is the only cabin I clean on Thursdays, taking my whole shift. Rhonda maintains it daily with a light clean and making sure it’s well-stocked for Mr. Calloway and his daughter.

I won’t even begin to guess what they pay to stay all summer, but I know Mr. Calloway and Mr. Anderson go way back. I’m sure that Mr. Calloway knows how important the business income is to his good friend.

What drives me nuts is I know that their cabin has a beautiful, secluded,privatebeach. It even has the same kind of pebbly rocks. So, she obviously has come here to show off her ass-sets. I roll my eyes and hold my book up high, blocking out everything else.

I can’t focus on the page inches away from my face though. I don’t even know where this jealousy is coming from. It’s not like I can lay claim on Hux. I don’t even like him. Yes, that kiss wasfrom a different galaxy and still has me spinning like one, but he is a grumpy, arrogant ass. Plus, I’m the one who walked in on him going to pound town on her. I think it’s pretty safe to say he is all hers.

“I missed you at tennis this morning.” I overhear one of her friends say, a bit of suspicion in the tone.

“Shut up. Don’t act like you don’t love all the attention being on you when I’m not there, Carley.”

“Well, that’s true, but why were you dragging so bad this morning? It’s not like it’s the first time you and Hux have pulled an all-nighter.” All three girls laugh, and the grip on my book tightens. I need to stop listening to this conversation.

“He was all worked up. I wasn’t sure he was ever going to be tired enough to go to sleep.”

I sigh loudly, throwing my book down and rising to my feet. I can’t stomach another word about Ashlee and Hux’s sexual escapades last night. I glance their way and find that Ashlee is peering at me over the top of her phone, a sly, knowing smile painted on her pouty lips.

I feel as if lava is starting to bubble in the pit of my stomach. So what if he told her about our clumsy, sloppy kiss, probably made fun of me too, probably told her about how inexperienced and embarrassing I am? So what if then he still slept with her? As much as I don’t want to care, tears unexpectedly well at the corner of my eyes. I turn my face to the sun, shutting them tight.

Get it together, Everly.

I have always had a talent for making things into something they aren’t. I blame my chronic anxiety for that one. But I’m not a girl that kisses strangers. It’s never appealed to me, so by the time I get that far, it’s a surefire sign I’m catching feelings and thinking those feelings are mutual. It was my downfall with Austin, thinking he loved me. When really, I’m not even sure he ever even liked me.

I walk to the shoreline, and as expected, the water instantly makes my toes numb. I walk deeper in and finally sink beneath the surface. The biting water immediately assaults my body and takes my mind off my frustration.

Here’s to hoping that maybe, just maybe, these arctic temperatures can permanently freeze these unwanted emotions I’m starting to feel for Hux.

“I’m sorry,but I can’t allow you to stay home feeling sorry for yourself all night.” Alex grabs the book from my hands and carelessly throws it across the room. I cringe. I don’t like when my book pages get bent.

“I won’t be alone, your dad’s home.” I reach for the remote, but Alex is faster than me.

“Oh, okay. So you’re going to stay home alone instead of spending the Fourth of July with your best friend? Who, by the way, in less than two months, will fly away to the West Coast, and you may never see again.”

“I think that’s a bit dramatic, don’t you?” I cross my arms across my chest. Envisioning I am cemented to this couch. I will not be dragged off for anything.

“Everly, even my father, who is in his late fifties with very iffy hearing is going, come on!”

“I heard that!” her father yells from the kitchen, where pots and pans clink and clatter. Mr. Croft has insisted on making us fish tacos before we… Well, Alex goes to the annual concert at the town park.

Alex rolls her eyes. “No, what is dramatic is you staying home to avoid a guy you haven’t even spoken to in a week. You say you’re over it and don’t care, but if that’s true, you would gladly get up, brush your awful hair out, and come with me.” Irun my hand over the knot on top of my head. She’s probably right about the brush.

I know it’s been a week since the boating incident, and she’s right, I did say I didn’t care. But until that kiss, I didn’t think I would ever find another guy whose presence made me aware of every single cell in my body.

I was wrong.

“I’m not avoiding him; I’ve seen him plenty. I talked to him yesterday, for your information. I’m justchoosingto stay home with my books and imaginary boyfriends.”

Alex raises one eyebrow.

“Yes, I have multiple.”

“First of all, passing him at the resort when you’re working and saying thank you when he placed your meal in front of you at the bar is not considered ‘talking.’ If you don’t get your ass off this couch in three seconds, I’m going to drag you off it. This is your final warning.”

“Ha, I’d like to see you try.” I turn over and face the cushion.

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