Page 27 of Stardusted

If I was going to be trapped in this circus of conspiracy theorists, I could at least entertain myself.

“What, you don’t think it’s aliens, Raven?” Emily asked softly, peering at me through her thick-framed glasses. Herstraight-cut bangs bounced when she tilted her head. “How come?”

“Rae-bae here is too scientific for aliens,” Kelly answered for me, rolling her eyes like having a logical mind and a healthy amount of skepticism was a tragic personality flaw.

“Right,” I muttered through gritted teeth, then turned back to Emily with more patience. “I just think there are better explanations than little green men zipping around One Willow.”

Kelly waved a hand like I was a lost cause. “Whatever. You closed last night, didn’t you? You see anything on your way home? This all happened right around that time.”

I hesitated. Just for a second.

But in that second, the image of that glowing fireball bearing down on me blazed to life behind my eyes. My mouth went dry.

I started to deny all of it?—

And then my gaze snagged on a pair of dark blue eyes watching me intently from across the room.

The knot in my stomach unspooled into something light and floaty. Faintly effervescent, like I’d chugged a glass of champagne. Which, if true, would also have explained my thoughts blurring. But alas…no champagne.

Just Sky. And the effect he always had on me.

He leaned against the edge of the bar, a good ten feet from the group. Far enough not to be involved, but close enough to be clearly listening. His arms were folded over his chest, his gaze on mine. There was no smile, just that quiet, unreadable intensity—the kind that made my pulse skip and brain short-circuit.

And, naturally, I stared back with my classic deer-in-headlights look.

Somehow, in the past twenty-four hours, I’d managed to forget just how absurdly attractive he was. His gray button-down hugged his sculpted chest like it had been tailored for the occasion, sleeves rolled to his strong forearms, collar undoneenough to show the hollow of his tanned throat. Dark jeans. He was also very much looking in my direction.

And I was checking him out again. Subtlety wasnotmy middle name.

I slammed my mouth shut and forced my eyes away. Tried to focus on whatever the hell Kelly was saying. I could feel him watching me.

I couldn’t help it. I risked another glance Sky’s way. This time, a slow sliver of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Not full-on smirk level, but close. He’d noticed my fluster.

Fantastic.

I turned stiffly back to Kelly. “Sorry. What?”

She rolled her eyes, huffing. “I asked if you saw any lights last night since you closed.”

I was shaking my head before she’d even finished, because denial wasn’t just a river in Egypt; it was also my middle name. “No. I didn’t see anything last night.”

For a split second I wondered why I couldn’t just admit it, but then Kelly made a sound like a squeal, and I nearly gasped.

“Oh my God. Rae-bae, you’re aterribleliar!” She pounced and snatched up my wrists. “Yousosaw something! What was it?”

“I didn’t…” I tried to dislodge her. She clung like a pair of pink-painted handcuffs.

I slumped, biting back a slew of curses. I was useless at lying. Everyone knew it. The glint of triumph in her eyes said it all.

Something about it made me dig my heels in.

“Youhaveto tell us!” she said, grip tightening. “What did you see?”

I ground my molars. “Nothing.”

A bright light where there shouldn’t be light. Ball lightning. A hot bartender. I glanced Sky’s way again.

He hadn’t moved. He was still watching, arms now uncrossed, hands tucked into his back pockets like he was settling in for the show. Unease twisted in my gut.