The Stars Are on Our Side by Jennifer Hartmann

Author:Jennifer Hartmann [Hartmann, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

Oliver is buzzed.

An hour has rolled by, the sky darkening to dusk, and my stepbrother is slouched beside me on the couch, trying to be philosophical.

“What if the only reason we cannot pass through mirrors is because our own reflection is stopping us?”

I sigh.

Part of me wishes I was still drinking, but I tossed my last beer the moment I realized I was going to be on Tabitha-duty tonight. We couldn’t both be intoxicated.

I need to keep an eye on her, make sure she’s okay.

“It’s perplexing to me.”

“Life is perplexing,” I agree mindlessly. “So are mirrors.”

“Perhaps it’s a metaphor for every hindrance we endure in life. We, ourselves, are the only thing standing in the way of achieving true greatness.” Oliver’s eyes narrow, deep in thought.

“Perhaps.”

Sweeping a hand through my humid-damp hair, I lean forward and watch as Tabitha and Sydney stand a few feet apart in the kitchen and toss Cheetos into each other’s mouths. They haven’t succeeded yet, so my floor looks like a lava pit of flaming-hot Cheeto failures.

Darius strolls over in my periphery and collapses beside me. “You look positively sober, Mason,” he notes, knocking his knee against mine like I’m being scolded. “Very unlike you.”

“I guess I’m not feeling it tonight.” My eyes are still locked on Tabitha as she doubles over with laughter when a Cheeto bounces off her forehead and gets tangled in her hair on the way down. “More important things on my mind.”

“Ah,” he says, nodding slowly, his own eyes finding the source of my distraction. “Can’t blame you there. That girl is a ten.” He glances at me. “You hit that, yet?”

My skin feels itchy. Darius and I used to talk about women and hook-ups all the time, but lowering Tabitha to the same meaningless category feels wrong somehow.

I shake my head, jaw tensing. “It’s different with her. I want more than that.”

“I hear you, man. Some women make you want to leave all the bullshit behind and never look back, you know?” He sighs, getting more comfortable as he dangles a beer between his thighs. “Thought Lexi was the one. I felt it. I should’ve given her a ring.”

Tabitha drags Sydney out to the center of the living room when a new song comes on. It’s one of Syd’s moody nineties songs. They start dancing in front of us, arms raised high, swaying in slow motion as their bodies move suggestively with rhythm.

The star ring glints off my ceiling light.

She’s still wearing that fucking ring and I have no idea why.

“So, give her a ring,” I mutter, sparing Darius a quick glance as he watches the girls dance. “Why not?”

He purses his lips. “Too late for that.”

“Nah.” My eyes slide back to Tabitha. “Time is relative. Action is what matters. People don’t remember how long it takes for you to do the thing; they just remember if you do it, or if you don’t.”

Oliver perks up beside me, half listening. “Pragmatic of you, Gabe.” He discards his empty cup and stands from the couch.

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