Page 103 of A Summer of Stars

It didn’t settle during our silent drive and stop at his father’s restaurant either. Neither of us knew what to say. What was even allowed? I had so many questions. Questions about his last name. Questions about his relationship with his father. Questions about us.

But the idea of loading them all onto his shoulders made me flinch. Jeremiah’s voice rang in my ears.Stop badgering me.

The car door at my side clicked open. I jumped, not realizing that Kieran had stepped out of the car.

Before I could get out, he held on to the doorjamb and leaned in. “I know we have a lot to talk about, and I want to talk about all of it, so much so that it’s eating away at me right now. But I don’t want us to be cut off, and I’d prefer if we were alone—not surrounded by my family and their children. Is tonight all right?”

His words fizzed in my chest, settling low in my stomach, like the sweet hum of a saxophone. Warm and rough. It could only be described as blush pink. The same as my cheeks as I looked into his eyes, searching for some type of trick of the light. But there was none. It was only him. No trick about it.

“That would be nice,” was all I said, gazing up at him. He was so close. All of him. Just as he was last night.

“I also feel that I should prep you for what’s inside. But, honestly, I don’t think there’s anything I can do to change what’s about to happen.”

“What’s about to happen?”

“You’ll see.”

He gave me his hand, and we crossed the pathway to the door. The ocean wind whipped my hair across my face. It made me long for the sand under my toes and saltwater in my palms.

The front door creaked as we entered a living room that looked over the beach. He announced, “Hello!”

Loud footsteps sounded as I closed the door, anxiously waiting for what was about to—

“Luna Aldridge!” A girl who shared the same blue eyes as Kieran, paired with short, curly brunette hair, gasped. It was immediately obvious that she was Mila. She also happened to have a toddler in her arms, making gurgling noises. Then two identical twins with matching long brunette hair, who looked to be nine or ten, ran in behind her.

“Here we go,” Kieran sighed.

“You’re the tennis player!” one of the twins inhaled.

“Oh my God, you’re Luna Aldridge,” Mila repeated.

“She heard you the first time when you blew out our eardrums, Mila,” he pointed out. “Give me Drusilla.”

Kieran took the young girl out of his sister’s arms and bounced her. “Hi, Dru Dru.” His nose scrunched, and he nuzzled his face in her neck. She giggled.

More footsteps came, and suddenly, there was a girl with cotton candy blue hair beside Mila, looking at me with eyes as alert as an owl’s. “Holy shit, you’re Luna Aldridge.”

Kieran stepped in between all of us, bouncing Drusilla. “Luna, this is my sister Mila.” He pointed to Mila, whose mouth was still open. I took a few steps forward to shake her hand, seeing as she was in no condition to do anything more. “This is my sister’s girlfriend, Anica.” He gestured to the girl with the blue hair. I shook her hand as well, feeling like a US ambassador. “And these are theneighbor’s twins, Isabella and Isla, and their baby sister Drusilla. Rosco is somewhere,” he said, looking around the room.

“Rosco, no!” Isabella—or Isla—screamed. A dog—Rosco—ran into the room with bread in his mouth.

“You left food on the table,” Kieran guessed, looking at his sister.

“No, I left Franny in charge of that,” Mila argued.

“And where is Franny?” he asked.

“Obviously not with the food,” she grumbled.

“Just take the dog outside. Anica, can you make sure Franny is actually in the house? Girls, help Anica. While you look, I’ll make you a new sandwich, Isla. Luna, you can follow me. Mila and Anica, stop staring at her like that,” he ordered, taking my hand and guiding me to the kitchen with his only free arm.

The kitchen was made of sunset-colored floor tiles, a long countertop, and a circular kitchen table that faced the ocean.

Before I could glance at the view any longer, Kieran began opening cabinets.

“Why don’t you let me help?” I commented.

“Because I’ve dragged you all the way out here. I’m not making you babysit on top of that.” He spoke without turning, opening another cabinet with Drusilla in his arms, grabbing a plate.