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I hated the look in his eyes. As if he was pitying me. Once again, I was the sad loner.

“Come help us set up.” He said. “We could use an extra hand since we can’t find Sebastian.”

I chuckled.

“He’s in the kitchen with my friend Stella.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Of course he is.” He muttered before motioning for me to follow him.

They were packing the instruments onto the makeshift stage. Liam nodded in acknowledgment before sorting the twisted strap on his bass. Asher avoided my gaze. He kept his focus on strumming a few chords, tuning his guitar with focused intensity. A subtle tension hung in the air as he dodged any attempts I made at eye contact.

“Sorry, I’m late.” Sebastian said, followed by a giddy-looking Stella.

I nudged her, and her face burned.

“We’re about to start.” Asher muttered before walking away to take his position.

Sebastian looked to us for answers, but none of us could explain his sudden behavior change. He shrugged and reached for his guitar and stood by the microphone.

“Hello, everyone.” The music from the stereo and the conversations hushed as the band took their places. “Happy Birthday, Elsie.”

Cheers filled the room, but I couldn’t tell who they were for. Benjamin established the rhythm as the room fell into darkness, with only a few lights shining on the stage. His voice soared, filling the air with raw emotion. Even more than he did during practice.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I kept stealing glances at Asher. He focused solely on his instrument, disregarding everything else in the room. A mix of nervousness and excitement coursed through my body. His gaze shifted and met mine. My stomach fluttered, a feeling I’d only experienced once. He smiled at me, but it faded as fast as it appeared. I jumped as a hand touched my arm.

“Are you having fun?” Josh yelled into my ear over the music.

I nodded my head as the beat flooded through my veins like a boost of adrenaline. He offered me an amiable smile, not moving from his spot beside me. I was unsure of what to say or do. I’d never had a guy approach me before. Our eyes met in fleeting glances, leaving my cheeks ablaze with nerves.

The song ended, and the roaring applause broke me out of my thoughts. Sebastian grinned, exchanging knowing glances with the rest of the band. As if they’d had a telepathic conversation, they dove into an encore, reigniting the adrenaline.

The pulsating energy faded as my hand brushed against Josh’s. It was subtle, but enough to make me shiver in humidity. Unspoken words charged the air between us.

“Want to get some fresh air?”

Unsure if my face betrayed me, but Josh intuited my desire for solitude. I agreed.

The porch creaked as we stepped out into the night sky. The gentle breeze cooled my burning face. We settled into the porch swing. I couldn’t help but admire the starlit canvas above. No noise from inside could disrupt the peace.

“You know, I’m glad you moved here.” Josh broke the silence.

“I’m glad I moved here too.”

The tranquil night embraced our shared smiles.

“I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”

I sat up straighter, waiting for his question. As he opened his mouth to speak, laughter and loud whispers interrupted the moment. Ava and Elsie stuck their heads through the doorway.

“Stop being a buzzkill and come and play Never Have I Ever with us.”

Frustration flashed in his eyes, but he mustered a smile and stood up. He offered his hand to me, and I took it. A stampede of bulls filled my stomach. I felt sick.

As the group gathered in a circle, I fidgeted with the red cup Ava handed out. The prospect of revealing personal experiences made me uneasy, especially since I didn’t have many experiences. With a hesitant smile, I glanced at Asher as he took a seat beside me. He held out his cup.

“What’s this?” I asked.