Page 46 of His North Star
My fingers twisted around themselves. “Before you get mad, please hear me out.”
He eyed me skeptically. “If you have to lead with that, why are you even asking me to go?”
“Because I think it could really help you.”
“Helpme?“ He sounded confused.
I could do this. Stay strong. My voice came out timid. “A few months back, you said you couldn’t commit to Lys because of your parents. I found a support group in Kalispell for people who have divorced parents.”
He froze. “My problems with Alyssa had nothing to do with my parents.”
“But—“
“Those two items aren’t related. Just drop it. Please?” His distressed eyes bore into mine.
I slumped in my chair. “I’m only trying to help,” I whispered.
“I’m over my parents’ divorce.”
“Okay,” I said. My eyes watered. “I was trying to help based on the information you gave me. If I came to the wrong conclusion, that’s because you won’t talk to me, and I’m not sure why. I’m your best friend, Ty. Why can’t you explain to me what’s really going on?”
He ran a hand through his hair as he exhaled. Tense silence crackled around us. “Are you done?” he asked, pointing to my uneaten food.
“Yes.”
He grabbed my plate, placing it in the sink. “I’m going to take a walk before we leave.”
“Why can’t I ask about your personal relationships, but you can ask about mine? I’m only trying to return the favor and be here for you.”
He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I don’t. . . I can’t. . . I’ll be back soon.”
I waved him off. “Fine.” I shouldn’t have said anything. If he wanted to ruin his love life, that was his deal. Except, it wasn’t fair. He’d been there for me after every single breakup. Most importantly, after Blake. Did he think I was too weak to be a good friend to him? Too fragile?
A dull ache formed between my eyes. I rested my head on the table, letting the cool of the wood seep into my skin. How had I read him wrong?
An eternity later, the door opened softly and clicked shut. Ty’s footsteps were hesitant, measured.
A slanted view of Ty, with his hands shoved in his front jeans pocket, came toward me. “We need to go, or else we’ll be late.”
I sat up, wiped my face, then nodded. “I’m going to hit the restroom, then I’ll be ready.”
He wouldn’t look at me. “I’ll get the telescopes loaded up.”
It was going to be the longest night of my volunteering life.
CHAPTER 13
We drove in silence. Here I thought I was helping him based on the information he’d told me. His refusal to tell me what was really going on hurt. Friendship went both ways. Why wouldn’t he just tell me? I wasn’t broken enough that I couldn’t help him, or at least, wouldn’t try. I’d do anything for him.
Once we arrived, I spoke in short, clipped sentences.
“Where do you want the telescopes?” he asked.
“One there, there, and there.” I pointed to three different spots. I didn’t even thank him.
The sun dipped below the horizon, the sky slate blue. It was too bright for any stars to appear, but the planets would make their appearance any minute.
Facing south, I positioned the first telescope toward the moon. The half-lit globe was the perfect contrast of light and dark. If I’d had my Celestron AstroMaster PowerSeeker, we would’ve seen the craters up close. Through the scope aimed at Jupiter, the planet glowed pink as the white and red streaks blurred together. My favorite was Saturn. Albeit faint with the lenses I had with me, you could make out a ring.
