Page 119 of With Stars in Her Eyes

I grabbed my phone and tapped on Demetrius’s number. It went straight to voicemail, so I texted.

I need to set up a meeting with the whole band as soon as possible.

I headed to Sam’s to tell her the full story of what Jeremiah was threatening to do and explain why I had nearly fallen for it.

CHAPTER 43Thea

Tears streamed down my face as I drove home. I was hitting an emotional wall. And somehow moving here had finally given me the capacity to set firm boundaries—even boundaries for the people I loved.

I nearly hit a mailbox on the corner because my brain was being too loud. Once I pulled into the parking lot next to Marshall’s driveway I could breathe again. I reached for my phone, hoping to buffer and dissociate for a few minutes with cat videos or something equally mood enhancing before going to Marshall.

I’d been ignoring alerts all day because I had been in a rush since climbing out of Courtney’s window, but they weren’t just the typical junk emails or my mom.

A couple of my old concert and festival buddies were texting on a group chat that had been inactive for months.

Have you listened yet?

I feel bad listening since it was leaked

Duuuuude it’s so good.

Did you read the liner notes?

Just enough to know it’s really personal

Thea, have you heard it yet?

Where’s Thea?

Thea’s probably in a music coma right now.

Can’t wait to hear what she thinks.

She’s been waiting for this for yeeeeeeears.

“Holy frolicking turdballs.What?”

Courtney’s album leaked today?

I knew I probably shouldn’t listen to the leaked tracks, but I didn’t have enough self-control to stop myself either. I clicked the link they sent and cranked up the volume.

There were already thousands of reaction comments and videos. Most casual fans of the Trikes had no idea who Kestrel was or that she was often a cowriter with Demetrius. Some people were disappointed that what had been rumored to be a sister album was actually not that at all.

My heartbeat was treating my sternum like it was a snare drum.

The song people seemed to be losing their minds over was called “Astrolabe.”

Astrolabe, like the one in the studio.

But I had already heard this song. Part of it at least.

We were naked on the floor of the living room. Our legs were oriented in opposite directions like wheel spokes on the old shag carpet. Our faces were inches apart.

“Play something.” My eyes flickered to the cello on the stand in the corner.

“Now?” Courtney’s laughter reverberated through the floor.

“Yes…” I kissed her nose. “Please?”