Page 77 of Stardusted

I was right to question him. Iknewit. My palms were damp and my stomach churned, but I wasdonebeing jerked around.

A heartbeat later, the door swung open again, and even though I’d expected it, I jolted like I’d been shocked.

Sky stepped out into the wind and rain. He did the same thing I had: scanned the space to confirm we were alone. His shoulders lowered a fraction. Still, tension hardened the lines of his face when he glanced my way.

“Rae,” he said in greeting.

I tried to act cool and leaned back against the table again, but my pulse was doing a wild drum solo. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could hear it from there, especially when he strolled closer. The door slammed shut once more, and he stopped in front of me, crossing his arms to mirror my pose.

“Did anybody see you come out here?” I asked. Last thing I needed was a rumor about a rendezvous with the bartender.

“I don’t think anybody was paying attention. Why?” he asked dryly. “Embarrassed to be caught meeting me by the dumpster?”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I pressed my lips into a line. His jaw was tight, like he wasn’t looking forward to this, either. Like he wasn’t looking forward to talking with me.

Should that feel like a victory? I wasn’t sure. It felt kind of like a blow.

I summoned a scowl, despite the blush trying to rise. “Maybe Iamembarrassed to be caught meeting you behind the dumpster.”

“Right.” He smiled faintly. When I just stared at him, trying to decide where to start, he tipped his head to the side and arched an eyebrow. “Well, what’d you need to talk about? Need another ride somewhere?”

Was he still toying with me? My anger flared like a struck match.

Maybe he was just ET-obsessed. Maybe he was one of Kelly’s FETR weirdos. But whatever the reason, he’d been digging. And I’d been too stupid, too giddy over the attention to realize it.

He’d played me.

That match hit dry tinder, and righteous fury burned bright. I shoved off the picnic table so fast Sky gave a start. I didn’t stop. I marched right up to him and thrust out my hand flat between us.

Lightning crackled like a cue. The strange pearlescent glyphs on my palm shone silver in the flash.

“If you want to know my secrets so badly,” I said, waggling my fingers, “then here. Why don’t you tellmewhat the hell this is?”

His gaze dropped…and widened. He flinched like I’d slapped him.

His wariness vanished, and in its place was pure, unadulterated shock. His lips parted. His face paled. The mask was gone, cracked apart to reveal…

Alarm?

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but it wasn’tthat. I’d expected denial. Smugness. Notfear.God, I wasn’t sure if he was even breathing. For a second, the world seemed to hold its breath along with him. I did, too.

Unease shivered through me.

He slowly raised his head, blinking rapidly. Then, as if he couldn’t help it, his attention drifted back to my hand.

“How…?” he breathed.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I was still absorbing his shock.

The rain hammered above us, filling the tight silence. He stepped forward suddenly, hands lifted like he meant to grab my wrist.

The quick movement sent me skittering back a step. Sky checked himself in time and didn’t touch me. His fingers hovered, though, close enough I felt their heat.

I whipped my gaze back to his, and I found it dark and searching and full of questions. More questions. His whisper was hoarse. “Where did you get this?”

“Where did Igetit?” A bubble of incredulous laughter spilled out. My open palm hung awkwardly in the space between us. I curled my fingers. “Oh, you know. Picked it up at Willow Mall. BOGO palm tattoo day.”

He didn’t smile.