Trailing Stars (Trailing Stars #1)

Chapter 18

When Kate and I walk through the doors to Poems and Tales, Nathan and Clara glance over from the counter. They both smile and say hi to Kate, but Nathan is the one that looks at me over her head with a questioning look. He pulls me aside to the other side of the room while Clara keeps Kate distracted.

"You brought Kate," he notes. I nod, not quite looking at Nathan. But I don't have to look to know he has a gentle expression on his face. "You know you don't have to read your poem with your sister in the crowd if you don't want to."

I laugh, running a hand through my hair. "Honestly, I don't want to share the poem at all, but it feels like I need to."

"Trailing star."

I nod, echoing, "Trailing star."

Nathan takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "If this trailing star is particularly irritating to you—" I make a face, making him laugh, but he keeps going "—then I think you should try to grasp it. Especially since it's in reach."

I glance over my shoulder at Clara and Kate. Clara props her head up on the counter, smiling and nodding at whatever Kate is telling her. Kate is not so subtly gesturing in our direction and sneaking glances at us. When she sees me watching, she sticks her tongue out. I roll my eyes and mouth "gremlin" at her. She makes a face and turns back to Clara.

I turn back to Nathan. He smiles at me, an amused look on his face. It makes his eyes shine like stars. I have to look away to remember what we're talking about. When the memory comes back, I say, "That's the plan."

He nods. "I'll be here if you need anything."

I nod. "I know."

His eyes flicker to my lips and a blush blooms across his cheeks. "Can I kiss you?"

I pull my hand back. "Not in front of my sister."

I turn away before I can completely ignore what I just said and give in to him, returning to Clara and Kate. Clara listens and jokes with Kate, making my sister laugh and smile and talk. And talk and talk and talk. I don't hear most of what she's saying, focusing on reading my poem over and over again in case I decide I want to change anything. Nathan keeps reassuring me that it's fine, but now that I know Kate will be in the crowd, I think the definition of "fine" has completely changed.

Sometimes I'll hear snippets of Clara and Kate's conversation, my ears pricking up. But the closer we get to six, the harder I focus on my poem. I hold my head up with both hands, threading my fingers through my hair. I'm vaguely aware of Clara asking Kate, "Are you excited to hear Mona's poem?"

Kate turns to me. "You're reading a poem?"

I shoot Clara a pointed look before turning to Kate. "Yeah. I am."

Kate makes a face. "Why?"

"Because Nathan is making me."

Nathan looks up from his own journal, giving me an amused look. "What happened to feeling like this is a trailing star?"

Clara glances between us. "You guys are really weird, you know that?"

Kate nods. "Mona's always been weird."

I push Kate's head to the side with my fingertips. "That's what happens when you have annoying little gremlins bothering you all the time."

Kate huffs at me, but I see the smile forming on her face before she turns to Nathan and Clara. "When is Mona reading her poem?"

I shrug. "I haven't put my name on the list—"

"I did it for you," Nathan says. He shuts his journal, tucking it back into the inside pocket of his jacket. "I put you in the second slot, so unless you want to go first, you go after me."