Under the Summer Sky by Michelle Stone (jenna bush book club TXT) 📖

beer bottles. He handed Star and Brady a beer then said to me “Hey, do you want to come inside to the kitchen with me?” I looked at Brady and Star who, by the looks on their faces, were entertained by this. They both were smirking and trying to hold back laughter.
I followed Nolan into the house and we came into a kitchen that was mostly stainless steel appliances. He walked over to the freezer and opened it up to reveal a couple different half gallons of Liquor. He pulled one out that had Captain Morgan across the side. He looked at me then said “You look like a liquor girl to me. Am I wrong?” I then replied “Actually, I am.” “Great.” He said as he went over to this cabinet that had a couple glass cups in it. He pulled out two foam cups from the back and tops with straws to add to them. He poured and then added coke and mixed our drinks up and handed me mine. “You guys are seasonal, aren’t you?” He started swigging his drink down. “Yea, were here until the beginning of August.” I took a drink and it went down with ease. I barely tasted any alcohol. “Cool, you should come over with Star more often. My parents own this house right off the edge of the lake and we have a couple jet skis and a speed boat with tubes. Maybe we can make a date of it.” He smiled. “Yea, maybe.” I said thinking about spending a day on the lake with him. It can’t be that bad.
Nolan and I talked for about a half hour more. We both finished our drinks and were on round two. I started feeling lighter and when I talked to him I felt at ease. He was funny and, my gosh, oh so cute. His eyes were really blue and he had such a white smile. I could tell under his shirt he wasn’t that built but I didn’t really like guys who were.
We walked outside just as the sun started retreating below the trees. The night air started cooling off as the mosquitos started coming out in full force. Nolan sprayed me down with an insect repellent. I saw Star sitting next to the bon fire in a conversation with some guy.
When Star, Brady, and I pulled up over and hour ago there was only about 5 cars parked. Now there was well over 30. People were everywhere outside. I walked around the back and saw that there was a pool with about 15 people in it splashing around. I walked around the yard and finally found Brady up on the deck playing beer pong. I walked over to him just as he made a cup and starting high fiving his partner. “Hey,” he said smiling looking red faced. “Star was looking for you like ten minutes ago. She said if I found you to tell you she’s by the fire.” He finished then turned back to his game when someone made the cup in front of him. I sucked down the last of my cup and walked over to the coolers and helped myself to a couple beers.
Star was sitting with her legs out stretched in front of her sitting on a tree trunk about 2 feet wide. She was sipping on her beer and looking at the empty bottles sitting next to her I guessed she was feeling it too. I looked at her as the light of the fire flickered against her skin. She finally looked over at me and I walked over and sat next to her. “Hey, I brought you another beer.” I handed her one of the beers I got from the cooler. She took it and sat it next to her as she took another swig from her beer. I opened my other beer up and feeling slightly unsettled I tipped it back and didn’t stop drinking until it was gone. I threw the bottle in the fire and saw out of the corner of my eye Star watching me. “You want to go swimming?” She asked me smiling. I looked at her and thought about it. “I don’t have a bathing suit.” I said. “I have an extra one in the back seat of my beetle. Come on.” She said as she got up and held out her hand to help me up. I took it and stood easily as she pulled me up and walked over to her car.
Star shuffled around in her back seat. I saw clothes everywhere. I wonder how Brady ever fit back there. On the floor were about 4 pairs of shoes, all ranging from wedges to flip flops. She finally came up moments later holding two bikini bathing suits in her hand. She handed one to me and then went behind her car and started stripping her clothes off. She was turned away from me but the skin on her back looked so smooth. She turned around as she got the top of her bathing suit tied, still wearing her jeans. I walked behind the car where she was and started taking off my top and bra. My heart beat a little faster as I pulled the bathing suit top over me and she came up behind me and tied the back for me. Her hand lingered by my back. I pulled my jeans off facing away from her. I could feel her watching me as I pulled the bottoms up. I looked back at her as she was smiling a bit with her bottoms on already.
She took my hand and guided me through the yard over by the pool. I could hear audible whispers as we passed by a group of girls, I was almost positive Sandy was with them. We climbed up the ladder and eased our way in. The water was warmer than the air around us, and had steam coming up from it. Star went under and came back up by the edge of the pool and I waded over to her. She splashed me and I let a little scream out as she laughed. I splashed Star and she complained. “You’re going to smear my lipstick.” She said as she smiled wide. She came up next to me and then replied “you’re not going to get away with it that easily.’ She laughed. I said “Oh, like you didn’t just now?” We both started laughing and continued splashing each other.
After a while we just sat there both of our backs against the pool and our legs kicking slowly in front of us talking.
“So, what’s your home town like?” Star asked.
“It’s not really anything. It’s probably a little bit smaller than here.” I looked at her as she waited for me to elaborate. “It’s just a town Star. I’m not going to be there much longer anyways.”
“Why aren’t you going to be there much longer?” Star asked.
“As soon as I graduate I want to go to college in New York City. Maybe be an art major.” I looked at her as she thought about it.
“I want to major in English. I’ve always loved to write and maybe one day I can get published writing children books.” She looked at me smiling.
“That’s really cool, Star.” I smiled back at her.
“Yea, my mom thinks writing is useless and won’t get me a good job. But if I marry a rich, successful, extremely hot, woman than she can take care of me.” She laughed at the last part.
It was the first time I heard her talk about her sexuality. Even though, it was only our second day hanging out, it still sounded weird. I’ve never had a lesbian friend.
“It could be worse.” I added.
“Yea? And how’s that?”
“Your parents could just ignore you all the time and not care what you did.” I looked at her.
“Honestly, I would rather that sometimes.” She looked at her hand under the water.
I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking. What made her turn her eyes away from me? I tried to picture a scenario where I would rather be ignored but I couldn’t find one. Maybe it was because of her sexuality. Did her parents know?
Star stood up and started wading through the water over past a couple kissing up to the ladder. She got up and walked out of the pool and around the house. I sat there for a couple moments dazed and decided to go and look for her. I walked past a group of indie guys all wearing knitted beanies and sleeveless shirts. One of them called my name and as I looked back. They held up what looked like a cigarette. So, I walked back and standing next to the guy was Star.
“Hey Star. I was wondering where you went“. The guy looked back and forth between Star and I and then suddenly said “So, are you going to take a hit of the joint or what?”
I looked down at it and suddenly I was brought back to mason’s room.
“Just try it.” He pushed for about the seventh time now.
“No, I’m okay.” I tried to hold my ground, but I couldn’t. What’s so bad about it anyway I thought.
“Myra.” Star was saying. “Are you going to hit it or not?”
I looked up at her crystal clear eyes and replied “No thanks, I don’t smoke weed.” I turned around and walked away. While stumbling over to Star’s car to change I knocked hard into Nolan. He looked down at me and laughed “Whoa girl. Slow up a bit?” he said.
“I’m sorry” I laughed and then added “I’m starting to feel those drinks you made me now.”
“Why don’t we go and get another one?” He smiled this big giant perfect smile and I nodded.
We walked into the house and walked over to the kitchen. I watched him mix me another drink when he handed it to me. “So,” he said “Where did you go earlier? You disappeared.” I took a giant drink and it was a bit stronger than the last one and burned going down. “Yea, Star took me swimming.” I said looking down obviously to my bathing suit top and shorts. “Ah, that would make sense.” He laughed.
“Well, thank you for the drink.” I said smiling as genuinely as I could and went to turn around. Nolan grabbed my hand and asked “Are you a lesbian?” I looked confused and then started laughing. My laugh grew into hysteria and he joined in. Finally I was able to get a grip and started inhaling as much air as possible. I really need to stop smoking I thought. I finally replied “No, I’m not.” He looked at me then said “Well, I was just wondering because people were talking earlier and I really like you.” I felt my face grow red. “Well, I think you’re okay because I’m not.” He smiled another breath taking smile.
“Hey, do you want to go upstairs and talk some more?” He continued to smile.
“Sure.” I said still a little bit out of breath.
He turned around and we walked down a long hallway that led to a set of stairs. I followed him up them when we finally came to an open door. I looked down at my drink and realized that I’m almost