“Like what? I need more context.” I laughed.
He nodded his head and looked up, and I followed his gaze. My breath caught.
“A few more hours with the light on, and they’ll glow tonight once you go to bed.”
“You gave me the stars?” I asked, dropping my stuff and rushing towards the bed.
“I got you the stars.”
I launched myself towards the bed, throwing my arms around him as we collided. The hundreds of times he’d been in my room over the years, this felt different. It feltmore.
“Merry early Christmas, Aimes,” he whispered.
I pushed myself up, so I was hovering over him. I brushed his blond hair back from his face.
“You gave me the stars for Christmas.”
His fingers ghosted over my lips, my cheek before tangling themselves in my hair.
“They’ll never outshine you,” he breathed as he pulled my face down to his.
The day was shotwhen I finally woke up.
My eyes and head ached, my throat was dry. I hated the aftermath of crying myself to sleep. It was never fun, and having Asher plague my dreams—the day he gave me the stupid, fucking stars. I was exhausted and weary.
I rubbed my hands over my face and drew in a breath that was a little too shaky, but I forced myself out of the bed and into the bathroom down the hall.
Splashing cold water on my face, I stared at my reflection—the dark circles under my puffy eyes and the hollowness that seemed to echo in them. Splashing my face again, I let the water drip down while I fixed my hair into a neater messy bun before making my way down the stairs. The soft hum of whatever show or movie my parents were watching filled the quiet descent. The last step creaked as I hit the main landing, and I knew both of my parents heard it.
After filling a cup with water, I padded my way into the family room and sat on the far end of the couch. Pulling my knees to my chest and sipping on my water, I waited for one of them to talk. I hated that our quiet moments were like this anymore. There never used to be quiet moments, but now, they echoed loudly through the house.
“There’s leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry,” Mom said.
“Spaghetti,” Dad added.
I hummed my acknowledgment as the silence grew loud once again.
“You said you wanted to talk about something earlier?” I asked, my voice quiet.
An explosion lit up on screen, people were screaming as buildings crashed down around them. I watched the action movie as I waited for whatever they’d wanted to talk about. Tension pulled at my shoulders and dread started to fill my stomach.
“Did Eloise not tell you?”
I hummed a noncommittal noise, not wanting to admit that I’d hung up on her before giving her any kind of chance. The guilt that they went to her thinking I would talk to her when I wouldn’t talk to them…I owed my best friend an apology and a phone call.
“Your father and I have some work out west—Colorado, so we decided to extend it with a family vacation. A little over four weeks in December—over the holidays and new year. It’s a lodge in the mountains, on the smaller side, but with a lot of activities to keep everyone occupied.”
I gripped my glass as my heart rate spiked. I tried not to fidget as the panic started to build.
“It’ll be the three of us, Orion, Annalise and Eloise—a low stakes family vacation. Your father and I will have to work for some of it, but I’m sure the four of you can find ways to occupy and entertain yourselves.”
“I-I’m not sure…” I started.
“Sweetheart, it’s already booked. We leave in two weeks,” mom said firmly, but gently.
I set my glass down as my hands started to shake—thinking about all the people who would also be there, who could know who I am. I rubbed my knee, remembering all the harsh words and comments from the online voices. I tried to take a steady breath, but failed. Mom came over and sat next to me, taking my hands in her soft, warm ones.
“We know that this is going to be hard, but all we’re asking is for you to come and do one family activity with us. If somethinghappens and you want to spend the rest of the trip alone, you can. We think a change of scenery will be good for you.”
