Starcrossed

by Brenda Hiatt

  Ditto, I thought back with a grin. Rigel was heart-stoppingly gorgeous in his black three-piece suit. I was irresistibly reminded of Homecoming, my last (and first) dance with a date: Rigel. Everything had seemed absolutely perfect then, the bad guys vanquished and any Sovereign duties still comfortably far in the future. What a difference a couple of months had made.

  “So, dance?” Sean asked, looking down at me with almost as much admiration in his eyes as I felt from Rigel.

  It was a fast song, so I had no qualms about agreeing. Rigel and Molly hit the floor nearby, and a moment later Bri and Deb and their dates joined our circle, all of us exchanging compliments along with greetings.

  By the end of the song I was feeling much less weird about the whole “first date with Sean” thing . . . but then a slow one started.

  Even as I tensed, Sean put his arms around me with a grin I was sure would make Rigel want to punch him.

  Yeah, but I won’t. I don’t think.

  I resisted the urge to look around at Rigel’s thought, instead murmuring to Sean, “Don’t overdo it, okay?”

  “C’mon,” he said, still grinning as he moved me in time to the music. “It’s me.”

  “Exactly.” I tried to force myself to relax again.

  Though now and then I felt one of his hands slide an inch or two up and down my back, Sean was a gentleman, never straying into questionable territory. As for me, I kept one hand totally motionless on his shoulder, the other on his upper arm.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Sean murmured when the song ended.

  I rewarded him with a grudging smile. “I guess not. Thanks.”

  Several fast dances followed. Since it was common knowledge Molly and Rigel had come as friends, she was soon asked to dance by various upperclassmen and we barely saw her again. The rest of us swapped off occasionally, too, Rigel, partnering mostly cheerleaders—including Trina, once—as well as a dance each with Bri and Deb. More than an hour into the formal, he came up to me as I finished a dance with Jimmy Franklin.

  “Just one, you think?” he asked softly.

  I glanced at Sean, talking easily with Amber, the cheerleader he’d just danced with. “Sure. I don’t think one dance counts as cheating, do you?”

  His smile answered me just as another slow number started. Though it was bound to piss off Sean, I went ahead and put my hands on Rigel’s shoulders as his went around my waist. We just can’t get carried away, I thought to him, as much as I wish we could.

  Got it. You feel incredible, though, M. I love you so much!

  We spent the dance carefully not clinging to each other while we exchanged increasingly passionate thoughts, so that when the music stopped, I was flushed despite our (physical) restraint.

  As expected, Sean was frowning when came up to us a second later. “Had to be a slow one, huh?”

  “We didn’t plan it that way,” I told him. “Anyway, it’s over now.”

  Another slow song began and his frown disappeared. “This one’s mine, then. C’mon.”

  This time he held me tighter than for the last slow dance, and once I had to nudge his hand upward when it strayed a little too low on my back. Rigel, partnered with Molly again, sent something like a growl into my mind. I hoped he wasn’t being too obvious, watching me while dancing with other girls.

  “Thanks, M,” Sean said when the song ended. “That was great. You’re great.” He still had his arms around me, his bright blue eyes sparkling down into mine.

  I smiled back and something in his expression changed. Deepened. Slowly, he lowered his face toward mine. I realized just in time what he intended and pulled back, alarm shooting through me.

  “Sean!” I hissed. “That’s not in the bargain. Not now, not ever.”

  He straightened abruptly, frowning again. “I just . . . Sorry. Just wanted to make it look good?”

  I shook my head, not buying that for an instant. “We don’t have to make it look that good. Got it?”

  “Yeah,” he said heavily, an intense, hopeless longing painfully clear on his face. “Got it.”

  I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of . . . of something. Because I did like Sean and hated hurting him, even unintentionally. But not nearly as much as I would hate hurting Rigel.

  “Okay, then,” I said. “Let’s get some punch.”

  Nothing else happened to put me on edge for the rest of the evening, other than the occasional frustration I felt from Rigel—and definitely shared. I knew he was remembering Homecoming, too.

  At ten forty-five on the dot, we met the Stuarts at the side door and headed out of the school to find snow falling thickly.

  “Sean, look!” Molly squealed, and I suddenly remembered they’d never seen real snow before.

  “Pretty, isn’t it?” said Dr. Stuart. “We may have a white Christmas after all. I’m glad we brought the four-wheel-drive.”

  I glanced up at Sean, who had stopped dead at the sight, and saw he was looking paler than usual. “You okay?” I asked, trying not to let the least trace of laughter betray itself in my voice.

  He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, then nodded. “Yeah. Sure. It’s just . . . There’s so much of it!”

  Now I did laugh, as did everyone else, even Molly. “Rain comes down a lot harder, and that doesn’t seem to bother you,” I pointed out.

  Sean shrugged, starting to look sheepish. “Yeah, well, you didn’t see me the first time it rained in Ireland after we got there.”

  “He was a mess,” Molly told us, earning a glare from her brother. “I mean, all of us had to get used to it, but Sean—”

  “Yeah, so I have a thing about stuff falling from the sky,” he cut in. “Sue me. I’m getting over it. Mostly.”

  I put a hand on his sleeve, feeling guilty now for laughing, especially since he’d mentioned his near-phobia to me once before.

  “Hey, it’s okay. I guess it would take some getting used to after living your whole life where . . . well, stuff never does fall from the, um, sky.” I still couldn’t quite imagine living under a fake sky, even though I’d seen lots of pictures by now.

  “Thanks.” He put his hand over mine and I resisted the urge to pull away, even though I could feel Rigel’s irritation radiating from Molly’s other side. “I hope I can show it to you someday.”

  Now I did take my hand off his arm, but casually, not like I was jerking it away. “I hope so too,” I said lightly. “Someday.”

  And I did. As long as “someday” was years away.

  Or decades, Rigel added to my mental comment, with a touch of that all-too-familiar sadness.

  I did my best to ignore it, determined to think positively. Everything would work out for the two of us, one way or another. Someday.

  CHAPTER 47

  toachai (TO-uh-kay): future; destiny

  The formal marked the start of winter break, which was both good and bad. Rigel and Sean and I didn’t have to pretend at school for the next two weeks, plus I was spared Trina’s endless barbs about my “fickleness.” I was used to Trina being mean, but her sniping was a constant reminder that my compromise was hurting Rigel—which made me feel mean.

  The downside was, now I only saw Rigel every couple of days, at the O’Garas’ house, though it did mean more time for me to safely think about stuff I had to guard from him—like those Grentl aliens. Not that I really wanted to think about them, the idea was so terrifying.

  Even so, Rigel sometimes sensed there was something I wasn’t telling him. He pretended to accept it when I finally said, Sorry, I can’t. I would if I could, but I knew it bothered him. I also knew he suspected it had to do with Sean, no matter how much I insisted it didn’t.

  Christmas Eve, the O’Garas had a small party and invited me, my aunt and uncle, and the Stuarts over, as well as the two Council members who had recently moved to Jewel, Breann and Malcolm.

  Because my aunt and uncle were there, no Martian politics were discussed. That made it feel much more like a
normal, festive occasion though, with my aunt there, Rigel and I couldn’t hold hands like we usually did at the O’Garas.’ Still, we were together, and given how close we’d recently come to never seeing each other again, that was good enough. Almost.

  I hope we can get some real alone time soon, Rigel responded to that errant thought, reminding me just how attuned he was—and how careful I needed to be. Maybe we can meet at the arboretum sometime this week?

  Let’s make it happen, I thought back firmly. With our less frequent contact this week, I was missing him even more than I’d expected to.

  Around nine-thirty, Aunt Theresa started making noises about how late it was getting. As if that was a signal, Mrs. O’Gara exchanged a significant look with Breann, then turned to my aunt.

  “Theresa, I have a favor to ask of you. I saved it for tonight, hoping it might be a sort of Christmas present for Marsha.”

  “A favor?” Aunt Theresa was clearly surprised. So was I.

  “Yes. We’re planning to spend a month or two in Ireland this summer. Molly and Sean would very much like for Marsha to come along, and so would we. It would be a wonderful cultural experience for Marsha, as well. I’ve checked into study-abroad opportunities there, and I’m fairly certain she’ll be able to qualify. Will you consider letting her apply? Something like this on her resume could greatly improve her chances of a college scholarship.”

  A jolt of alarm from Rigel mirrored my own.

  Meanwhile, my aunt frowned, first at me, then at Mrs. O. “Ireland? For the summer? How much . . . that is, surely it would be very expensive?”

  “Not at all!” Mrs. O’Gara assured her quickly. “We’re staying with friends, and she would be able to stay with us. If her application is accepted, her travel expenses would be covered, as well. Your only responsibility would be to get her a passport.”

  Aunt Theresa looked at Uncle Louie, who, predictably, just shrugged. Getting no help there, she turned back to Mrs. O’Gara. “We’ll have to discuss it, of course, but I suppose she can apply. If she’s accepted to the program, we can work out the details then. I do appreciate you researching this opportunity for her.”

  In response to a glance from her mother, Molly jumped up. “Oh, thank you, Mrs. Truitt! I’ll have a much better a time if M can come! We’ll take super, super good care of her, I promise.”

  Rigel and I had been struggling to calm each other during the whole exchange. Was this yet another ploy to separate us?

  I won’t go without you! I promised him silently. Then, aloud, “Wow, that would be really cool! Ireland!” I hoped I’d injected a believable amount of enthusiasm into my voice.

  “Yes,” Mrs. O’Gara said, looking me directly in the eye. “Molly is very anxious to show you where she and Sean were born and grew up. I’m sure you’ll find it . . . fascinating.”

  Realization hit me like a splash of cold water and it was all I could do to keep the smile on my face.

  They weren’t talking about Ireland at all.

  “I’m . . . I’m sure I will,” I stammered, shooting a half-terrified look at Rigel, wishing more than ever we could be holding hands right now. “Someday” was suddenly much, much sooner than expected!

  I was stunned, outraged. But then excitement irresistibly bubbled up inside me. Because my compromise with the Council meant they had to let Rigel come along. Didn’t it?

  Mrs. O’Gara watched me shrewdly, possibly guessing my dilemma.

  “Perhaps Rigel can apply, as well,” she suggested to the Stuarts after only the slightest pause. “I’m sure Sean and Molly would enjoy that, given they’re all becoming such good friends.”

  Sean’s smile suddenly became a teensy bit less broad. “Um, yeah. That would be really great.”

  “We’ll look into it,” Dr. Stuart said so smoothly I could see she wasn’t nearly as surprised as I’d been. Ninety percent of my alarm disappeared, replaced by eager anticipation—which Rigel reflected back to me.

  “I can’t wait,” I said, no longer faking my enthusiasm at all.

  “Well, that’s just lovely,” Mrs. O’Gara exclaimed, beaming around the room. “Now, why don’t we all have some hot cocoa and sing a few Christmas carols?”

  AUTHOR'S NOTE

  Starcrossed is the second book in the STARSTRUCK series. If you enjoyed reading Starcrossed, I hope you will consider leaving a review wherever you buy or talk about books. For the latest information about upcoming books in the STARSTRUCK series or any of my other books (listed below), please subscribe to my newsletter, visit brendahiatt.com or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. As always, happy reading!

  Books by Brenda Hiatt

  Teen Fiction

  Starstruck - An orphaned astronomy geek dreams of escaping her tiny town and becoming somebody and then the hot new quarterback befriends her. But strange things happen: her acne clears up, her eyesight improves, and when they touch, sparks fly—literally! Soon she discovers secrets that change her humdrum life forever and expose her to deadly perils. The middle of nowhere just got a lot more interesting!

  Mystery

  Out of Her Depth - After her husband leaves her for a younger woman, a newly divorced woman goes to Aruba alone for what should have been her 25th anniversary trip. To force herself out of her comfort zone, she signs up for scuba diving lessons. But when she finds a ring during her first dive that turns out to be a clue in a high-profile murder case, she finds more adventure than she bargained for.

  Traditional Regency Romance (teen-appropriate)

  Gabriella - A lost wager obliges a Duke to bring a pretty nobody into fashion for the London Season. Irksome duty turns into something quite different as he falls under the spell of his protege's innocent charm. Gabriella would rather help run her father's veterinary practice than fit into fashionable society but the more time she spends with the dashing Duke, the more conflicted she is. Could this be love?

  The Cygnet - A young lady would rather write poetry than make her London debut until she meets a handsome marquis and Cupid's arrow strikes. She transforms herself to attract him, only to learn he apparently has an aversion to her first love, poetry! Is all lost? (Originally published as The Ugly Duckling.)

  Lord Dearborn's Destiny - After a fortuneteller prophesies a statuesque blonde as his perfect match, a skeptical Lord Dearborn meets just such a woman. Blinded by her beauty, he barely notices her cousin, a lively, witty brunette. Though he has more in common with the petite and impoverished Ellie than the divine Miss Rosalind, she is not in his style at all. Will his eyes be opened in time to his true Destiny?

  Daring Deception - The new Earl of Seabrooke needs a fortune—fast! When a young buck cannot pay his losses at the table and offers his sister instead, Seabrooke agrees to wed her sight unseen. Appalled by her brother's bargain, Miss Chesterton infiltrates Lord Seabrooke's household as a servant to prove him a fortune hunter. But even as she gathers evidence, she finds herself losing her heart to the handsome Earl.

  Azalea - After an arranged marriage, Azalea's new husband immediately sails back to England, but she is already in love. When he's lost at sea, she's devastated. Six years later, Azalea sails to England herself and learns that her husband is alive but has no memory of her or their marriage. Worse, he is betrothed! Can Azalea force Christian to remember the truth before he breaks her heart again?

  Christmas Bride - Holly was so looking forward to Christmas! Not only is it her birthday, it's her first wedding anniversary. But now her husband Hunt, the Marquess of Vandover, is in jail, and it's all Holly's fault. Her attempt to help him advance his diplomatic career went terribly wrong and now her husband stands accused of treason. Somehow, she must save Hunt—and their marriage—and Christmas!

  Also

  (for slightly more mature readers)

  Time Travel Romance

  Bridge Over Time - A switch in time! An independent modern woman mysteriously trades places with a near identical ancestress in 1825. Each is desperate to get back to her own ti
me until she falls in love with the very man her counterpart most wanted to avoid. Is this destiny, or simply a cruel trick of fate?

  Regency-set Historical Romance

  Scandalous Virtue - An overprotected widow ready to kick up her heels meets a notorious rake trying to reform. Each sees the other as a shortcut to change . . . until the sparks fly!

  Rogue's Honor - First book in “The Saint of Seven Dials” series. A duke’s daughter in disguise is thrown into the company of a legendary Regency Robin Hood. Love is the last thing either of them needs just now, but when was love ever wise?

  Noble Deceptions - An American shipping heiress and the new Saint of Seven Dials find themselves trapped into a marriage neither wants. Even as passion turns to love, both hide secret identities that could lead to arrest. If they trust each other with the truth, will it lead to a lifetime of happiness—or to disaster? (Originally published as A Rebellious Bride.)

  Innocent Passions - A former spy takes on the role of the Saint of Seven Dials to hunt down a deadly traitor but finds himself distracted by a studious and opinionated young lady, newly arrived in London. Is she the innocent bluestocking she appears, or the very traitor he’s been seeking? And which is in more danger–his heart or his life?

  Saintly Sins - A penniless beauty assumes the identity of the Saint of Seven Dials to rescue her young brother from the streets. A nobleman with his own demons is both smitten and intrigued by the lovely enigma, but when he digs beneath the surface, he finds a secret that could ruin them both. But perhaps love is worth the risk… (Originally published as Wickedly Yours.)