Starry Eyes(78)

“How would she know?”

“Do your parents know that we’re alone right now?”

He hesitates. “Yeah, actually. They’re pretty happy about it.”

They are?

“Look,” he says, “they know your parents don’t realize you’re here with me, but they wouldn’t go run and tell your mom that. They know we’re safe, and that’s all that matters.”

“Then it must be the photo book,” I say.

“Was Joy upset?”

“Not particularly. She sounded . . . disappointed.”

He doesn’t say anything for a while. “Look, if you want my opinion, I’m betting she already suspected something was up with your dad a long time ago. So if she found the photo book, then she found it. But there’s nothing you can do about it now.”

I know he’s right. Worrying won’t do me any good. It’s just hard to make myself stop. I don’t like feeling unsettled.

But I try not to think about it, shutting off my phone and stuffing it in my pocket. Then I lie on my back and look up at the stars.

Lennon lies down next to me, shoulder to shoulder.

“We’re under the same starry sky,” I say.

“We always are.”

“Not together,” I argue.

“I think we’ve always been together, even when we were apart,” he says, slipping his hand around mine.

“I know it’s a cliché, but sometimes I would look up at the stars and wonder if you were ever looking at them at the same time,” I admit.

“When I looked up at the stars, I saw us. You were the stars, and I was the dark sky behind you.”

“Without dark sky, you couldn’t see the stars.”

“I knew I was useful,” he says.

“You’re essential.”

He makes a happy sound and tucks his arm behind his head. “When we were apart, I would always try to find constellations and imagine you talking about them. Like the Great Cat.”

“The Great Cat? You mean the Great Bear . . . or Leo?”

“Which one is Felis Major?”

“There is no Felis Major. There’s Ursa Major, and that’s the Great Bear. It’s the one with the group of stars that make up the Big Dipper.”

“I could have sworn there was a big cat constellation. The Great Tomcat.”

“Tomcat?” I say, exasperated.

“Could have sworn there was a tomcat constellation with a long tail. Right there.”

“Where?”

He points upward. “Standing on the fence.”

“You mean Taurus?”

“Is Taurus a cat?” he asks.

“It’s a bull!”

“I know,” he says, rolling toward me. “I just wanted to hear you get riled up about stars.”

“You’re a jerk, you know that?” I say with a laugh, poking his ribs repeatedly.

He jumps and tries to grab my finger. “Such a jerk. If I were you, I wouldn’t put up with this crap.”

“Oh? What should I do about it? Leave you out here to find cat constellations while I go back to camp?”

I pretend to get up, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back down. “Noooo.”

“You’re going to make me squish my telescope.”

He picks it up and moves it behind him. “There. Better?”

“Well, now I can’t use it.”

“You weren’t using it anyway. Unless you had plans to spy on the Bible Camp kids up the hill. But I doubt you’re going to see anything sordid, and we both know you like a little skin when you’re spying on—Hey!” He shields himself with one arm, laughing. “Ouch! Stop hitting me! I didn’t spy on you when you were naked. I’m the victim, here.”

“You weren’t naked.”

“Five more seconds and I would’ve been. Would you have looked away if I hadn’t caught you?”

I wait too long to answer.

He grabs me around the waist and pulls me closer. A lot closer. My boobs are pressing against his chest. “Or would you have taken photos?”

“You insult me, sir. I don’t use my telescope like some peeping Tom.” Usually.

“And I’m supposed to take your word on that? For all I know, you’ve already secretly photographed me with your spy lens,” he says near my lips. “Should I be worried?”

“From what I saw, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

“You shock me, miss. Have you been watching me do bad things in my room?”

“You always shut the blinds. Spoilsport.”

He chuckles in that deep voice of his, and the sound vibrates through his chest and into mine. “Zorie?”

“Yes?”

“God, I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“I’m going to accidentally kiss you now.”

“Okay.”

Softly, slowly, his lips graze over mine. His mouth is soft, and his hand is roaming up my back. I exhale a shaky breath, and he kisses me: Once, briefly.

Warmth flickers in my chest.

A second time, longer.

Melting heat, uncurling low in my belly.