“Here.” Connor handed me one of his sweatshirts. It smelled like his sweet shampoo and sunscreen, and I smiled to myself as I tugged it over my head.
Shoes were skipped.
“Wow,” I breathed when we stepped off the porch, the stars looking like spilled sugar against the inky sky. I’d seen themearlier tonight, of course, but I hadn’t reallynoticedthem until now. They glittered so brightly that I didn’t have to squint to see the Big Dipper. It practically waved hello to me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I also couldn’t help but mentally trace Connor’s perfect jawline, so stunningly outlined by moonlight.
“I should’ve grabbed a blanket,” he said once we’d walked halfway to the beach. The grass was cool and damp under our feet, but I didn’t mind. It reminded me of Annie’s Polaroid collection, especially the photo of her standing barefoot by the tractor.
Would I ever figure out where it had been taken?
“It’s okay,” I told Connor, reaching for his hand to thread our fingers together. His palm was calloused and warm, and my heart twisted when he pressed it hard against mine. “I won’t deduct that many points.”
“Oh, interesting.” He kept ahold of my hand, but teasingly bumped my hip. “Are you calling this adate?”
“No.” I hoped he couldn’t see me blush. “Not when it’s obviously a private astronomy lesson.”
“Taught by whom?” Connor asked, his voice suggesting a smile tugging at his mouth.
I comically furrowed my brow. “You didn’t coordinate with Nick?”
We both glanced back at the house; all the windows were dark, save for the dimmed kitchen lights.
“I took an astronomy class this spring,” Connor said once we went back to staring at the sky. “It was a disaster.”
“Really?” I asked. “Astronomy was known as one of the easiest electives at my school.”
“Did you take it?”
I shook my head. “I couldn’t get off the wait list.”
“I hope you weren’t too heartbroken.”
“I’m almost finished piecing it back together.”
Connor snorted and then wriggled out of my grip so he could wrap an arm around my shoulders. My stomach somersaulted as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, aching to lean into him. He was a safe haven from the briny breeze—and, in the moment, from everything else.
“I can feel your heartbeat,” I murmured after slipping my arms around him. “Hear it too.”
He laughed. “What’s it saying?”
I giggled. “It’s telling me that—” I dropped off, suddenly distracted by a bright flash on the horizon, a swift glimmer of light. “Look, a shooting star!”
“Make a wish!” Connor’s voice cracked. “Quick!”
I closed my eyes and mouthed something to myself.
“What was it?” he asked three heartbeats later.
Eyes still shut, I smirked. “Nice try.”
“Come on, tell me.”
“No,” I said. “Because if I tell you…” I trailed off, caught by Connor’s blue eyes within a single blink. His gaze was steady, but strong—I felt its pull deep in my chest. “If I tell you…” I swallowed hard. “It won’t come true.”
“Ah.” He nodded then moved away only to move close again. I felt one hand go to my hip, and flushed when starlight swirled in his eyes. “I believe I’ve heard that before,” he said as something in my chest sparked, hoping to catch fire. I felt his hand leave my side, only for goose bumps to bloom when he gently cupped my face. His thumbprint burned against my cheekbone. “Is it okay to wager a guess?”
“I suppose.” I breathed with tight lungs, my dry eyesscreamingat me to blink. There was no way Connor could be right or wrong, because right now I was so spellbound that I couldn’t really remember my wish. Like the shooting star, it was already gone.
