Page 45 of When the Stars Rise

Aiden can barely get the words out without cracking up. “He’s been warding off all the evil spirits—”

“And he’s so good at it that you don’t even realize he’s doing it,” Liam says.

“Magic,” Jules says dryly.

We’re all laughing at the ridiculousness of this conversation when I remember something. Caleb was the one who came to the hospital with me. He just sat next to my bed in a silent vigil, but his presence was calming, not creepy. And he did speak to me. He said, “Deep breaths. In and out. Exhale all the bad stuff.”

My phone buzzes with a message and I check the screen.

Noah: Took a few laps around the track and now I’m heading back to the city safe and sound. So you can stop worrying about me, okay?

Me: Pfft. I wasn’t worried.

With a smile, I pocket my phone and finish my sandwich while Aiden eats all the fries off my plate.

Who knows? Maybe Caleb is onto something. Maybe he’s found a way to ward off evil spirits.

“Perfect,” Jonathan announces, stepping back to survey his handiwork. Tonight my hair is sleek, blow dried into submission, bangs brushing my eyebrows and it looks great, but it feels like it took half a lifetime to achieve.

I love Jonathan, and I love Lauren who is setting my makeup with setting spray, but I just want a few minutes alone. The door flies open and Lucy rushes into the dressing room with knee-high Louboutin boots to match my dress.

“This is a lot of razzle dazzle,” I joke as I slip into the boots and Lucy zips them up.

“You’re blinding, doll,” Jonathan says.

“What are you wearing under that dress?” Lucy asks in horror.

“It’s fine,” I assure her. “I’ll put the Spanx things on before I go out. I just need a minute to breathe, okay?” I smile at my styling team who puts so much into ensuring that my hair, makeup and wardrobe are always perfect, and make a mental note to give them all a big bonus when the tour ends.

“We can take a hint,” Lauren says as she and the others file out, and I finally have a few minutes alone in my dressing room.

When they’re gone, I call Everly and cross my fingers that she’ll answer. I’ve put it off too long and now all I want is to make things right between us.

“I’m sorry,” she says as soon as she answers. “You have no idea how sorry I am and how much I regret that kiss.”

“It’s okay.” I drop onto the black leather sofa. “I’m not mad at you.” It’s true. I’m over it.

“You’re not?” She sounds surprised.

“At first I was… I mean, I think I was more hurt than angry. But Noah told me the whole story about how it happened and why, and I understood it better. I owe you an apology, too.”

“For what?”

“For that song. I should have talked to you about it. I should have asked your permission to write something so personal about the boy my best friend loved.Loves,” I add because I don’t think love ever goes away.

Even when the person is gone, the love lives on forever, and I should have understood that.

“Please don’t apologize. It’s a beautiful song, and you have every right to say whatever you need to say. Because that’s what your songwriting is, right? You’re telling your story, which is completely valid and totally different frommine.I love that song, and Zeke would have loved it too. I just miss him.”

The sadness in her voice makes my chest ache, and I swallow hard to get past the lump in my throat. “I know,” I say softly. I take a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a shitty friend. I’ve been so caught up in my life that I haven’t been there for you.”

“Hey. Stop. You’ve been a great friend. The best kind of friend. You were there when I needed you most. But life goes on. You can’t just stop living and let life pass you by. You have to grab it with both hands and even when it’s hard, even when it feels impossible, you just have to keep going. Keep followingyour dreams. Keep setting new goals and aiming high in the sky, apple pie. I’m saying this as much for you as for me.”

I blink back the tears and smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She hesitates a moment. “Are we good?”

Ever since that conversation with Noah, I’ve done a lot of thinking about that kiss. I know they both regret it, and I know they’re both sorry it ever happened, and while I don’t love that it happened, I don’t want to lose my best friend over it.