Page 47 of Only Some Stars Fall

“I need to check a few things in the office, but I’ll put a burger with extra fries in for you?”

“That would be wonderful.” I smile up at him as he heads to the back office. Ashlee is already gone from my mind until she exits the bathroom, sliding onto the seat beside me.

“I realized we’ve never really officially met. I’m Ashlee.” She gives me a little wave that could be interpreted as both a greeting and a truce.

“I know who you are; I clean your cabin here. We also met once at Hux’s cabin. Everly.” I take a sip of the soda Elle placed in front of me without me even asking her.

A knowing smile takes over her lips. “Did you know, in all the years I have come here—which is pretty much my whole life, you are the only person to fold the toilet paper into a pretty little point every day.” I can tell by her tone that she’s not being snotty. There’s a friendliness in her voice that makes me lower my defenses.

“Well, you know, it’s the little details that set someone apartfrom the rest of the cleaning staff,” I joke, finally making eye contact with her.

“Listen, I’m not sure how much you know, or for that matter want to know, about Hux and my history, but I want you to know that in no way am I your competition. Hux and I have been friends since we were kids, and at times, we have filled voids in our lives for one another.” She looks toward the office, clearly wanting to keep this conversation between us.

“From the minute you guys kissed on the boat, anything with us ended. He would kill me for telling you this, but that entire night, I sat on his couch eating a bag of chips while he paced his cabin, trying to get a hold of his emotions.”

I fidget with my straw wrapper, trying to tame my embarrassment that Ashlee has known about that kiss. “Thank you for telling me,” I say quietly. “It’s been so hard to read him, but I do really care about him.” I have no idea why I am opening up to the girl I watched having sex with the man I am actively falling for, but I can sense she gets it, in a sisterly way.

“He more than cares for you. I’ve never seen him like this… ever. Hux might be somewhat of a man-whore, but when it comes to love? It’s been complicated and painful for him.”

The girl. The one he mentioned when screaming at Nick. It has to be her.

“He commented last night about something that happened in the past. I asked about it, and he said he would tell me, but I’m still so in the dark. I wish he trusted me enough with whatever has made this place so tortuous for him.”

“It’s not that he doesn’t trust you, his story takes vulnerability and requires opening up wounds which he’s been bandaging for a long time. If I had to guess, he just wants to keep you from it all a little bit longer. I suspect you’re his medicine. Give him time, and let him tell you how he got here. Ipromise it will be worth it, and it’s a part of the healing he needs.”

It might seem unwise to trust her, but I do, so I will wait for Hux. No matter how long it takes.

TWENTY-TWO

EVERLY

My palms are stillsweaty as I straddle my bike and peddle away from Nick’s “summer cottage.” Alex coached me until the early hours of the morning, but no matter how much I knew it was the right thing to do, I’ve never liked confrontation. Even worse, I hate that I hurt someone’s feelings.

In the end, Nick let me off easy. When I rang his doorbell, I thought I was going to throw up in the bushes. When he opened the door with his easygoing smile and windswept hair, I was sure the dreaded anticipation of this conversation might cause me to pass out. When I finally spat out some semi-coherent words, I think the exchange went something like this:

“I like you… but… um…” I looked down, fidgeting with my hands a lot. “I have had a lot of fun times with you… but um, I just…” I stopped to take a few shallow, panicked breaths like I was having a near-death experience. “I am feeling like… um… I can’t fully… um, you’ve been so nice…”

Nick’s ears must have been bleeding from the torture oflistening to my pathetic excuse for conversation, and finally, he put me out of my misery. He put his hands on my shoulders and lowered his head to the same level so we were eye to eye.

“Everly, it’s okay, I get it.” That same easygoing smile was still plastered on his face.

I had let out a nervous laugh that more resembled a hyena than someone of the human race. I’m still not sure what was more humiliating, me trying to speak words while sounding like I was having a stroke or that awful laugh. It’s going to remain a toss-up forever.

“Are you sure? I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just this thing with Hux…”

“Look, I think he’s an ass, I always have, but I can’t say this comes as some big surprise. I am pretty sure all of Aurora Lake can tell something is going on with the two of you.” His eyes briefly darted out to the shining lake behind me. “I was probably the fool for thinking I could intervene.” A halfhearted chuckle escaped his lips, proving maybe he was a little more disappointed than he was letting on.

“I know no one ever wants to hear this, and you have every right to tell me to leave and never talk to you again, but do you think there is a chance we could still be friends?”

Deep down, I knew Nick and I wouldn’t have a big romantic future, at least not once Hux entered the picture, but I still really enjoyed his company.

“For sure. I mean, we still have Boston, right?” I could tell his comment was meant to be a joke, but I also knew there was some truth behind it that made me slightly uncomfortable. Nonetheless, at that moment, I was so relieved that I nodded my head yes before jumping back on my bike and escaping.

Now, safely on my way back to the house, I chew over the one word he had mentioned that made my stomach uneasy.Boston. In the beginning, I missed the city so much, missed my dad and brother, missed the constant noise of traffic and people, and missed visiting my mom in the local cemetery and giving her all my life updates, no matter how small. I missed streaming services, the newest binge-able shows, and the multiple coffee shops within walking distance of my dorm.

For the last six weeks, the only java I have had has been from Mr. Croft’s Keurig maker or from the main lodge. During my first week here, I was told that a cup of joe from Anderson’s was some of the best in northern Maine. People travel from all over specifically for their coffee. Now that I have had time to investigate this information, I think the real truth is it has nothing to do with the actual quality but the fact that it’s just actual coffee in Maine’s North Woods. That stuff is indescribable, and not in a good way.

Even with the horrendous brew, I know deep down I love it here. I love the stubborn old locals, and I love the creaky resort porch and its chipped paint where the rockers have sat for years. I love the cold mornings that take your breath away and the dead silence at night when the lake goes still. As I ride this old camp bike down the dirt road, which I have ridden almost every day for six weeks, I realize I love Hux Anderson most of all.

---