Sunkissed, Kasie West [best authors to read TXT] 📗

said as though remembering something from the distant past. “What’s that?”

Mom gave Lauren’s arm a little shove. “You’re such a smart aleck.”

“Yes, I am,” Lauren said.

We continued walking as our parents went to check out the food offerings. We came to a large board that was propped up against a tree. “Look, it’s tonight’s lineup.”

Lauren let her phone travel down, stopping on each band name. About halfway down I saw a name that made me gasp. Two Thousand Bear Heads.

“What?” Lauren asked, panning her phone to me.

“I suggested that name. He used it.” A little hope bloomed in my chest with this revelation.

“And how does that make you feel?” Lauren asked.

“Good…nervous…ready.”

“You’re so ready,” Lauren said, then clicked off the phone and tucked it away.

I stood on my tiptoes and looked around, as if that would help me see Brooks in the crowd. The stage was empty and I realized it was canned music coming out of the speakers. “Do you think the bands are backstage?”

“I don’t know. I think they probably stay out here until it’s close to their time to go on.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I jumped.

“Was that you?” Lauren asked, patting her pocket like she wasn’t sure.

“Yes,” I said.

“Are you going to look?”

“Yes.” I pulled out my phone, hoping I was going to see a message from Brooks but it was from Shay.

I’m here. Where are you?

My heart skipped a beat and I turned in a circle as if she could see me where I stood.

“Where is he?” Lauren asked.

“No, it’s Shay. She’s here.”

I texted her back, telling her we were past the food trucks. A few minutes later, I heard her calling my name. She was in the grass area, like she’d been here for a while, heading my way.

“Avery!”

I faced her. She was Trent-less and that was a really good first step. “Hi,” I said when she reached us.

“Hi,” she said in a soft voice. “Thanks for inviting me. I wasn’t sure…”

“If we were ever going to talk again?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

“I wasn’t sure either. But I’m happy to see you.” And that was true. “Tonight is a new moon. It’s a chance to start over.”

“Tonight’s a new moon?” Lauren asked.

“It is. It’s been twenty-nine days since the last one.”

“Since when have you started keeping track of the moon cycle?” Lauren asked.

“Since twenty-nine days ago,” I said.

Shay smiled at our exchange. “I like new moons,” she said.

“Me too,” I responded.

Lauren was recording again next to us. “Take a look at the leading lady of Two Thousand Bear Heads.”

“What does that mean?” Shay asked.

“I have a lot to fill you in on.” I wasn’t sure everything was going to be exactly the same between us—that might take a while—but I was happy we were giving ourselves a do-over.

“But that’s going to have to wait,” Lauren said. “Because here comes Brooks.”

My heart sped up in my chest at the sight of Brooks. It got even faster when he gave me a tentative smile. I returned it.

Kai spoke first. “You’re here.” He gave Lauren a side hug, then looked at Shay. “I don’t know you.”

“This is my best friend, Shay, from home,” I said.

Brooks, who had been looking at me, shot his eyes over to Shay. Then he gave me a look of concern.

I cleared my throat. “Oh, um, Shay this is Kai, Brooks, Ian, and Levi.”

“The band,” Shay said. “Nice shirts.”

With her words, I glanced down at their shirts. They were the brightly colored tees from the back room at camp with the big bear heads on them. Brooks wore an open flannel over his and Kai a black blazer.

“Matching outfits,” I said with a nervous laugh. Seeing Ian all confident and decked out and happy made me feel guilty.

Lauren nudged me with her elbow and I took a deep breath.

“Can we talk?” Brooks said, his eyes on mine, and I swallowed the words that were about to come out.

“Yes,” I said. “I mean, no. I mean, in a minute? I have something I need to say first.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lauren hold up her phone. It made me more nervous. Kai in all his charismatic glory gave me a smile. “Speak away, Avery.”

I gnawed at my lip. This was supposed to be my moment, the “speak my truth and claim what I earned” moment, but unfortunately even though perspective could change in an instant, I was still me. I still didn’t like conflict. And this was hard. Harder than I wanted it to be. I liked Ian. He was a nice guy. But that didn’t mean I deserved this less, I reminded myself.

“I told him,” Brooks said. “You were right, I should’ve and now I did. I told all of them.”

I turned toward him, confused for a second. “What?” I said the word in the same moment I realized what he was saying. He probably thought I wanted to tell everyone about me and him. “Oh. That’s…good.”

“I’m so confused,” Shay said.

“We like each other,” Brooks said. “Well, I like her. And I don’t normally make public announcements about, well, about anything, but she…you…make me want to open up. I like you, Avery, and I hope you still like me.”

I melted a little. His public declaration was going to derail me because it was so sweet and it made me want to hug him and not make his life complicated with my demands. I fisted my hands. No. I was going to do this and possibly risk what was standing in front of me all vulnerable and cute.

“I do still like you,” I said. “A lot. But that’s not what this is about.”

“It’s not?” he asked.

“Avery, you got this,” Lauren whispered from my side.

I smiled at her and mouthed, “Love you.” Then I took a deep breath, looked at the band, and said, “I should be singing today. I want to sing today.”

Ian’s perfect smile faded. Brooks’s attention went straight to