Page 12 of His North Star
“Figured it wouldn’t hurt my cause. It’s too far of a walk to get my own,” he said. Except his voice wasn’t quite normal.
Furrowing my brows, I studied his profile. His straight nose. Square jaw. Full lips.
“Take a picture, Mare, it will last longer.” His gaze stayed on the TV.
I jerked my head away. A loud crack filled the room from a hit made by a Braves player. Ty groaned as the outfielder ran into the back fence, the ball soaring over it.
Why had he acted so weird lately? Only because of Lys? Or was there something else going on? Should I bring up his parents’ divorce? If I did, would he even talk to me?
Before I knew it, Ty said the popcorn—that I’d had two bites of—was gone, and the game was over. The Braves had won by two runs. I’d watched the last innings but didn’tseeany of it.
“You were pretty quiet tonight. You all right?” Ty took the bowl to the sink.
“Yeah.” I followed him to the kitchen.
He turned to face me, resting his hip against the sink. “I’ve been told before that I’m a pretty good listener.”
True. Ty would be a great shrink if he ever wanted a career change. But it wasn’t me that we needed to discuss. “Maybe another night.”
I should research how to support someone whose parents had divorced. Knowledge was power, and if I was going to become a better friend, it started with me and Google.
He closed the gap between us and pulled me into a hug. “I’m here if you need anything. You know that, right?”
Warmth spread through me as if I’d been hugged by a real-life teddy bear. I nodded against his solid chest. His chin rested on top of my head. We fit perfectly together, like pie and ice cream. I hugged people all the time, but it was different with Ty. With him, I felt safe. Right now, his light was a little dim. And I was going to get him back to his full glow.
“You know that goes both ways?” I muffled into his chest.
He stepped back, releasing his hold on me. He nodded once. “I do.”
“Glad we settled that.” I met his eyes, offering him a small smile.
“Want to watch a movie?”
I checked my watch. With a scrunched nose, I said, “I’d better head home. It’s later than I realized.”
“Man.” He hung his head. “Some nights I miss being a teenager. We used to stay up way past midnight doing whatever we wanted. This adulting business isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
I chuckled. “There are perks to being a teen, that’s for sure. But I can’t say I’d rather be one again. Adulting has its freedoms.” And heartaches.
Nope.
Not going there. I deserved a day to be free of the misery Blake provoked.
“Name three.” Ty challenged with a raised chin.
“I don’t have to worry about curfew. I can spend my money how I want.” A slow smile spread up my cheeks. “And I can make out with whomever I want without worrying it will spread through the school gossips like wildfire.”
“Ha,” he shot out. “We didn’t have a curfew, so that doesn’t count. But I will concede your other two points.”
I raised a shoulder and lifted a hand in a cocky,told you I was rightmotion.
He ran a hand through his hair. His words came out stilted. “You haven’t been kissing anyone, have you?”
“I was referring to my life pre-Blake.”
His shoulders slumped in relief. “Phew. For a second there, I thought you were keeping things from me.”
“Me?” I batted my eyelashes and clasped my hands under my chin. “Never.”
