Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) (10 page)

“But you aren’t on your own, you have us.” She isn’t moving so I set the bags down. I need to make her understand.

“I know . . . but I needed to do this.” She looks me over from head to toe, gives me a small smile, and then jumps. Her arms and legs wrap around me and she squeezes. I should be used to her doing this by now, but every time, she catches me off guard. I return her hug.

“You okay?” she asks as she leans back to look me in the face.

“Of course I am!” I give her one of my signature smirks and her eyes narrow as she studies my face.

“Leila said you didn’t look so good when she saw you.” And on that note I put her down.

“Seems to me that Leila needs to mind her own business.” Picking up the bags, we walk into the house together.

“Are you ever going to tell me what happened between the two of you?” I know she is still watching me, but my eyes are taking in the colossal size of this place. Placing my bags at the bottom of the stairs, I walk toward the back of the living room. The entire wall is made up of windows and I take in the view.

“Why do you want to know?” Staring out at the ocean, I contemplate just telling her everything. I’ve never told anyone everything. The thought terrifies me, and I can’t do it. I don’t want to be brought back to that time and I don’t want to tell her what her friend did to me. This is between Leila and me, and no one else.

“Because, I happen to love you both and I don’t understand. When the two of you are together, there’s this crazy vibe running back and forth. It’s confusing. I see the way she looks at you and the way you look at her, and I think that the two of you would be perfect together.”

Turning to face her, I glance over and see Matt sitting on a stool in the kitchen. He’s listening to this conversation too. “Let it go, Ali. It’s never going to happen.”

“But why?” I know she doesn’t understand, but I just can’t go there.

“She’s not the person I thought she was, okay?”

She studies me again.

“She’s coming this weekend,” she says nervously.

I don’t want Ali to feel like she can’t have her friend around. She doesn’t have a lot of them. She’s so busy with dance, school, and Drew, and as for Leila, I know first-hand that when she’s someone’s friend, she is a really good one.

“Of course she is,” I say, adding a little sarcasm to my tone.

She frowns and then I smile.

“Whatever, I’m used to her being around. I’m glad you invited her. It’s your birthday and she’s your friend. It’s not like we don’t get along and cause problems.”

“I know, I just wanted to tell you before she gets here.”

“No worries, okay?” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and give her a squeeze. “Where’s Drew?”

“He went to pick up your mom. Come on, let me show you and Matt to your rooms.”

“Tiny! Did you know that cows have four stomachs?”

She giggles. “No, I didn’t. Did you know on average that Americans consume 18 acres of pizza per day?”

“You know, I think it’s evil for you to utter the word pizza in front of me and then not deliver.”

“Really, is that so?” She’s mocking me.

“You know it is.”

“Well, it just so happens that every Saturday here, there’s a farmer’s market right down the road. It is supposed to be the best in the Hamptons and I was thinking that you might wanna go with me to pick up some vegetables.”

Frowning at her, I let out a pouty sigh. “Vegetables? So not the direction I was hoping you were going.”

She giggles again. “I thought you wanted pizza? I’m gonna need some things, like tomatoes.”

“Homemade pizza!” I tighten my grip on her shoulder and squeeze again. She has just made my day, no matter if Leila is going to be here or not.

Ali nods her head, smiling.

“And this farmer’s market is officially my favorite farmer’s market.”

Matt decided to stay behind to go for run on the beach, while we headed to the market. This market is pretty cool. It reminds me of the street fairs we see in the city, with the white tents, but instead of prepared food, it’s produce, cheeses, oils, soaps, and breads.

“So how do you like the city so far?” Ali asks, while sorting through the tomatoes.

“I actually like it a lot. It's different than what I expected.” She hands me the basket so both of her hands are free.

“That's what Drew said too. The lights and the noise.”

“Yeah, those things, but it's the lack of openness. You can't really see the sky.”

Ali looks over at me but I keep looking down at the different vegetables.

“You miss the stars.” It isn't a question, it's a statement.

“No.”

She punches me in the arm. “Liar.”

"Maybe," I smirk at her. The truth is I'm trying to forget the stars. After Leila left, I would stare out the window at night and watch them twinkle and move across the sky as the hours passed. Every night, I wondered if she was looking at them too. Did they remind her of me? Did she ever think about me?

I pay for the food and we head to the cheese tent.

“She said that you met Charlie. What did you think?”

“What’s there to think? He seems nice enough. How long has she known him?”

"They met at a party right after we moved here."

My stomach drops. I was right, they aren't new friends. They've known each other for a while.

“Oh,” is all I can think to say.

“Speaking of meeting someone, there's someone I want you to meet.” She bats her eyelashes at me and grins.

“Please tell me you're kidding, right?”

“Nope. I'll set it up soon.”

“I really don't want to meet anyone, I just want to get settled and play tennis.” I’m irritated, not so much at her, just at the idea of some chick being shoved down my throat. I’ve never had a problem meeting girls, so why she feels the need for this bothers me.

“I thought you were settled, that's why you moved here and didn't tell anyone.” She mirrors the irritation in my voice with hers.

I look down at her and see that she is still upset I didn’t call her or Drew when we got in.

“Why me?”

“Because, she just moved here and doesn’t have a lot of friends.”

“Then introduce her to Leila, she can be her friend.”

“Alright Beau, never mind.” Her irritation has turned to disappointment.

I hate the thought of disappointing her. She never asks anything of me and for whatever reason this must be important to her, so whatever . . .

“Fine, just tell me when and where.”

Her face lights up and this makes me smile. I would do anything for her and she knows it.

“Yay! Thank you. Let’s go pick out some cheese and tonight, I will make you your own pizza. You won’t even have to share it!”

“Geez, thanks. Nice to know that you were going to punish me if I said no.”

“When it comes to you and pizza, I know how to play dirty.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“You better.”

“ALI! OH MY gosh girl, I am so excited to be here. This house is gorgeous!” I say as I walk through the front door and hug her.

“I know right? Drew found it for us and it’s perfect. Just wait until you see the back deck. I’ve been spending most of my time out there. I’m so glad you are here.” She is beaming at me.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. Gee let’s see . . . it’s your birthday and it’s a weekend at the beach. Eeeek!”

Ali laughs as we walk through the house.

The home has an open floor plan and is decorated beautifully in light yellow, gray, and navy blue.

Walking out onto the back deck, I see what she means, and this is where I am going to be spending the weekend as well. The view is spectacular and it’s decorated just as lovely as inside.

Turning to take in the full view, the air rushes out of my lungs, because on the last lounge chair is Beau. His eyes lock with mine and my stomach falls. I knew that he would be here this weekend but seeing him again in person makes my chest and stomach ache. He’s so handsome. Neither one of us says anything.

“Do you see what I mean? Isn’t this the most relaxing space ever?” Ali says, interrupting the unspoken moment between the two of us.

Breaking eye contact, I turn my attention back to Ali. “Who owns this place?”

“The boyfriend of the girl we rent the apartment from in the city.”

“Wow. I can’t even imagine what he does for a living.”

“I know, right? Where’s Charlie? I thought he was coming.”

“He was but his parents called last minute and asked that he come home for a visit, so he did. He would have loved this.” I look around at the décor again and laugh to myself. I’ll have to take pictures and text them to him. He’s going to be so envious.

As much as I don’t want to, I can’t help it, and I look back over to Beau. He’s watching the two of us and his eyebrows are furrowed. He looks angry although I can’t imagine why.

Ali pulls on my arm, “Come on, let’s get you settled and then you can help me with the pizzas.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I give her a small smile, and I know she knows . . . seeing him is hard for me.

“Okay, lead the way.”

Not too long after we start the pizzas, Drew arrives with their mom, Diane. She gives me a big hug, and is every bit as polite to me as she usually is, but this time, I feel like there is an underlying edge to her. I used to think that she liked me, but over the years, she’s made me feel more and more like she doesn’t want me around. I don’t understand what I ever did to her.

Ali’s pizza dinner is delicious, as always, and I find it adorable that Drew has now added his own twist to the pizza, making them even more delicious—he grills them.

“So, I have some news.” The table stops talking and everyone turns my way. Why am I so nervous? This news is exciting.

“Oh, we like good news and this is definitely a weekend for celebrating. Can you believe that we are twenty-one? When did that happen?” Ali glances over to Drew and he winks at her.

Taking a deep breath, I look around the table and stop at Beau. He’s looking at me and I momentarily forget what I am saying.

“Spill it, Starling,” Drew says.

“Okay, okay. Last spring, I entered a contest hoping to be selected as the “Rising Designer” for this fall’s Fashion Week, and well, I won.”

Ali squeals and jumps up from the table to hug me. “That’s so amazing! I remember you talking about this months ago. Tell us more.”

“Well, I had to submit five designs, and they loved them all so much I get to do a full collection at the start of the show.”

“Who’s show?”

“BLK’s.” Ali gasps, and the table grows quiet. All five of them stare at me and I feel a blush spread through my cheeks.

“That’s who’s presenting you? Wow, this is huge for you! The exposure and possibilities could be endless.” Ali says to me.

“I know, Vogue called this morning. I’m going to get a two page spread in their Fashion Week highlight section.”

“Vogue! Oh my, I’m going to buy out the news stand and tell everyone I know.” Ali is bouncing in her chair.

I giggle at her excitement over this. Charlie already knows that I won, but I couldn’t wait to tell Ali.

My smile drops as Beau leans across the table and lays his warm hand on top of mine. He hasn’t touched me in over a year and this contact is almost enough to make me cry.

“I always knew you could do it. I’m so proud of you,” he says quietly.

I can see that he is too. The emotion in his eyes is a mixture of kindness and awe. These words coming from him, he’ll never know how much they mean to me. My eyes fill with tears.

“Thank you,” I say softly back to him.

He gives me a small smile but doesn’t say anything more. I know the moment is over but he leaves his hand on top of mine for a few seconds longer. I’m glowing on the inside.

The entire table has stopped talking and is watching the two of us but I just don’t care.