Page 4 of The Star in Room 7

He laughs. “I’m not playing babysitter. I’m doing my job. You need protecting, and that’s exactly what I’m doing by taking you somewhere safe.”

“What about your partner?”

“I left him doing paperwork.” He drums his fingers against the steering wheel. “So, this movie you were in… Am I likely to have heard of it?”

I shrug. “Not unless you like teen movies.”

“Try me.”

“Confessions of a Teenage Jock.” I grimace at the title. “I played the teenage jock.”

“The lead role?”

I nod.

“Congrats. And, you’re right, I’ve never heard of it. Sorry.”

“I’m not offended.” I drum my fingers against the car door. “Are you sure it’s all right for me to go to this place?”

“Halo House? Yes. I wouldn’t have suggested it if it wasn’t.”

“It’s just… No one in LA knows I’m…”

“Gay?”

“Yeah. My family does, but…”

“You don’t owe me any explanations.”

I clamp my lips together.

“You’ve got to do what’s right for you. And you don’t need to worry. I won’t go telling anyone your business. Nor will anyone at Halo House.”

I’m not sure if I feel relief or shame. “Thanks.”

We lapse into silence. At some point, we turn off the freeway onto a more winding road. Occasionally, I catch glimpses of dark waves crashing against an even darker shoreline. Some time later, the lights of a town glimmer in the distance. We pull off the road before we reach them. An ornate gate opens for us, and we enter a paved driveway that leads to a three-story, colonial-style home, complete with white columns framing the entrance porch.

Officer Vale has to come around and let me out of the car. I’ve barely stepped foot on the driveway when the front door opens. A willowy man with long, platinum-blond hair and light, flowing clothing sweeps toward me.

He extends his hand. “I’m Phoenix. Halo House is my home. Aaron tells me you need somewhere to stay for a while.”

My throat constricts. Phoenix is beautiful. He has a fae-like quality. There’s no other way to describe his ethereal nature. But I have to speak, so I accept his hand, noting the lightness of his grip, and croak, “Yes. But, just for one night. Umm… Who’s Aaron?”

“Officer Vale.”

“Oh, right.” I rub the back of my neck. “It’s just my apartment got broken into, and I’m a little freaked out. I’ll be fine by tomorrow. I just… I couldn’t face sleeping there tonight.” I stare at the ground and shuffle my feet. “I’m sorry to impose, but Officer Vale suggested I’d be welcome here.”

“You are welcome here, and you have nothing to apologize for, dear. Come inside. Would you like me to show you around?”

“No, thanks. I think I just need to sleep. Or at least try to sleep, anyway.”

“Of course, I understand. Would you like me to take you to the closet, so you can pick out clothes and anything else you might need?”

My nerves are too fried to care about clothes or anything else right now. “Could… Could that wait until tomorrow, too? Please?”

“Absolutely. I’ll show you to your room. We can talk tomorrow.”

The next morning, footsteps and chatter float past the bedroom door, but I can’t bring myself to step foot outside to see what’s going on. It’s morning, and I’m still in yesterday’s clothes. I thought I’d fall asleep the moment my head hit the pillow, but the reality was very different. I tossed and turned, and when I did finally succumb to sleep, she filled my dreams. The scent of her perfume. Her voice, like nails dragged down a blackboard. Her touch. I woke, sweating, and then spent the rest of the night sitting in the middle of the bed, my knees hugged to my chest like a frightened child. I’m so pathetic.