Page 21 of Only Some Stars Fall

I should know better by now, Alex always keeps her word.

Before I have time to even let out a scream, Alex grabs both my legs and drags me off the couch. My head hits the floor with a hard thump.

“Ouch! Seriously?” I yell, cradling the back of my head.

“Don’t underestimate me, bitch.” She smirks and walks into the kitchen, yelling over her shoulder, “Be ready in thirty minutes or you won’t like what I have planned next.”

Her threat scared me,and the back of my head is still a bit sore, but my hair is brushed and pulled into a ponytail. I mustered the energy to throw on some cutoff shorts and a plain tank top. I might have agreed to go out, but Iam most definitely not dressing up. Alex has stacked my wrists with red, white, and blue glow stick bracelets and applied stick-on glittery star-shaped gems to the corner of my eyes.

At least one of us is feeling festive.

After finding street parking, we walk along the sidewalk downtown on our way to the park. It’s refreshing to be on actual pavement and not a dusty dirt road. I haven’t come into town as much as I expected, and it feels good to see life outside of the resort. Up ahead, I can see the park with a small stage set up in the center, and a decent crowd already gathering. Food trucks line the street at the entrance, with the lines already a few people deep for drinks and carnival food.

“The opening bands are normally locals. They get better the later it gets, and the headliner is always a surprise!” Alex loops her arm through mine; she has always loved live music. “Come on, let’s get ice cream!” I can’t help but let my bad mood melt away with her childish excitement.

I order a chocolate caramel ice cream with gummy bears, and as soon as it’s in my hands, I pop a big spoonful into my mouth. I turn to leave the counter, my eyes closed, and a joyful moan escapes my lips.Damn, that’s good,I smile to myself.

“Wow, maybe I should order what you’re having. Sounds like you’re enjoying it.” Once again, I can feel his dumb smirk before I even open my eyes.

Hux stands directly in front of me, his hair still wet from the shower and a loose-fitting white button-up with the sleeves rolled up his arms. Every time I think he can’t get any hotter, he proves me wrong.

“Hilarious.” I don’t make eye contact while grabbing a few napkins and searching the crowd for Alex. I see her chatting with Elle and Ashlee. Awesome, my only escape is talking to my mortal enemy number two. I knew I shouldn’t have come. My newfound good mood is quickly evaporating.

“Lighten up, would you?” He laughs. He’s laughing at me.

“I should lighten up? You’re continuously Mr. Grumpy, and I’m the one who needs to be in a better mood?” I ask, exacerbated.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re the one who has been actively ignoring me for the last week. Clearly, you didn’t like our evening cruise.” His eyes bore into mine as he speaks. He is trying to make me as uncomfortable as possible.

It’s working.

I immediately feel my cheeks flush, but I find the courage to look up and lock eyes with him. “I don’t think it was me who was unhappy with how that night went. As I remember, someone else stormed off with better things todo.” Losing my courage, I look down into my bowl. My heart is pounding against my ribs so intensely that even the cold ice cream can’t stop the feeling of heatstroke.

“Yeah, about that…” He rakes his hand through his hair and wets his lips. For the first time, he looks a little nervous. Is there a hint of remorse in his eyes?

“Evie Baby! Let’s go! The show is starting, and we want to get a good spot!” Alex yells from her place with Ashlee and Elle.

I look up at Hux, whose lightheartedness has instantly disappeared and has been replaced with his normal look of annoyance.

Without another word, I walk past him and link my arm through Alex’s again.

“You okay?” she asks, even though I can tell from the concerned look on her face that she already knows the answer.

I only nod. I can feel tears threatening to make their way out. I can’t explain why I feel a sad ache in my body as I get farther and farther away from Hux. It feels as if something is over, something that never started.

TEN

HUX

“For hick-hop,these guys aren’t too bad,” Kenny says as he takes a swig of his beer.

“I guess so.” I look at the time on my phone. It’s getting close to ten p.m., the show will be over soon, and I need to get back to the bar. Anyone staying with us will be sure to stop in for a nightcap.

I’ve barely heard any of the bands tonight, my eyes rarely leaving Everly’s body as she laughs and dances to the music. That kiss last week messed with my head, and I haven’t been able to figure out my shit ever since. Something about her sass, and yet her complete lack of confidence in herself, has me pulled to her despite anything I do to shut it down.

The problem is, I can tell without her even saying the words that she is not a friends-with-benefits kind of chick, and I am most definitely not a relationship kind of guy. It’s just not in the cards for me.

“All right, man, I need to get back to the resort. Do you want a ride?” I nudge Kenny with my shoulder.

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