Page 31 of Only Some Stars Fall

I place my hands on the side of the bed and look down at the floor, concentrating on taking in oxygen. When I finally stand up straight, I don’t get into bed. Instead, I turn and walk right out the front door into the cold breeze.

I need to cool the fuck down.

FOURTEEN

EVERLY

Birds are chirping,the familiar metallic sound of a dog collar, the gentle burble of the morning waves on the pebble beach in front of the cabin.

Wait… cabin. I look down to find a hairy man’s arm thrown across my body. A toned and tan man’s arm, but nonetheless, a man arm!

No, no, no. I wish I could blame the booze, but I remember everything. A slight giggle threatens to come out, remembering how Hux walked straight out of the cabin after we undressed each other and jumped into the lake.

At first, I was worried I had done something wrong. Instantly, anxiety had slammed into me, insecurity coursing through my veins. Then I heard the splash, followed by a hushed, “Fuck, that’s cold” as he swam out into the lake. A Silsby version of a cold shower, I guess, picturing the bulge straining to break free of his boxer briefs before he booked it out of the cabin. Happiness coursed through my body as I realizedhow much of an effect I had on him. A power I never realized I had over any other guy before.

But right now, in the bright morning light, this is not like those idyllic morning-after scenes in all the romance films. For starters, we didn’t have sex. We didn’t even kiss! Second, my hair is plastered across my face, and without even looking in a mirror, I know my mascara has run down my cheeks. Didn’t reality TV stars teach me anything? Not to mention that after the amount of puking that happened last night, there is no way my breath isn’t atrocious.

None of this is good. I need to find a way out. Right now. Scanning the room for my phone, I locate it sitting on the coffee table next to a half-eaten bag of chips. If Alex is back in cell service, or God forbid, home, she will be freaking out about my whereabouts.

I am not sure I want to tell her of my whereabouts.

I slowly remove Hux’s arm from my body and place it softly on the bed. He stirs a little, but otherwise, he still seems fast asleep. Pulling the covers back, I place my feet on the cold floor, and a shiver travels from my toes up my spine. I make my way to the living room area, remembering the thing about cabins: there isn’t one on this entire Earth that doesn’t have squeaky floorboards. It’s like a requirement or something. The second I hear the sound of loudly creaking wood, I sigh and let my shoulders drop. I know what’s coming.

“Sneaking off so soon?” Hux’s eyes are still closed. He hasn’t moved except for that smug smirk across his face.

“Were you put on this planet for the sole purpose of embarrassing me every single day?” I ask.

“Jeez, I sure hope so because it’s hella fun.”

I glare at him as I make my way to the coffee table. Fully aware that he is watching me in only his T-shirt, which probably only covers half my ass, I get closer to my phone. Again, ina movie, this would be an adorably sexy scene, but in reality? It’s harsh lighting, and there is a desperate need for a hairbrush.

I swipe my phone to the home screen and see I have only missed one text from Alex, about fifteen minutes ago.

Hey Evie Baby, I am on my way back to you. I just got service, but I still am about an hour from the house. I told Hux I would work a double today, but tomorrow, I am all yours!

I breathe out a sigh of relief. At least I may be able to keep the complete shitshow that was the last twenty-four hours from Alex.

For now anyway.

The last thing I need right now is to do the walk of shame with Alex cheering me on. She would be exceptionally proud of me, but I am not in the mood to unpack what all this is… or what it’s not.

I send her a text back, letting her know I went into town to grab breakfast with Elle and that I’ll wait up for her tonight. I’ll have to tell her what happened, but not right now. I shut my screen off and tap my phone against my thigh. What do I do with myself for the next few hours until I can be sure Alex is at work?

“Uh, would you mind if I take a quick shower? I think I’ll go into town for breakfast and don’t feel like going home first.” I can tell immediately that he sees through my excuse. He knows I would like nothing more than to run out of this cabin and escape. Surprising me once again, a genuine smile spreads across Hux’s face.

“Why, embarrassed by me?”

I just glare at him.

He chuckles before answering my question. “Of course,clean towels are in the closet. Help yourself with anything you need. I’ll make us some coffee.”

I loudly moan at the word. “You are a saint,” I say without thinking. I instantly slam my hand over my mouth.Why, Everly? Why?How do I make awkward situations more awkward? It seems to be a special talent of mine.

“Well, I’m glad you’re finally seeing me for what I am.” He laughs. I don’t even look back, knowing my face is the color of a cooked lobster.

I march straight into the bathroom and close the door. I slide down the wall and smile to myself as I sit on the floor. I’m mortified, yet the butterflies bouncing off my insides have never made me feel so eager to keep up this cat-and-mouse game. But who is the cat, and who is the mouse? I’m not sure.

I turn on the shower as hot as it will go and watch as the steam drifts and curls around the walls, filling the room with a haze similar to how my brain feels after the last twelve hours. I look in the slightly foggy mirror and smile. With my index finger, I lightly trace a heart in the top right corner of the mirror before pulling Hux’s shirt over my head and placing it in my bag. I’m not ready to let go of it just yet, and I’m not above petty theft in this situation. I step into the hot stream of water and let it wash over me.

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