Free Star Crossed (Starlight #3) by JS Taylor Page A

are having a deep effect.
    I can’t deny that h aving Adam as a mentor is an incredible experience. It’s like he knows just the right time to intervene, and when to let me make mistakes. I feel like I’m being held in a warm pair of arms, yet totally free.
    It’s a wonderful place to be in.
    Secretly I think he’s probably right about pushing myself further on the notes. And as the trust builds between us I decide to give it a go. He’s made me braver than I would otherwise be.
    After a full day’s hard work, I ’m really pleased with the progress. The song isn’t finished. But I can feel it’s going to be good.
    ‘ Summer,’ says Adam gently, as I pack away the guitar, ‘I want to tell you something.’
    He says it softly, but I can tell by his tone that this is serious.
    I turn slowly, signalling with my eyes that he can tell me anything.
    ‘ Well,’ he clarifies, ‘actually I want to show you something.’
    ‘ So show me,’ I reply.
    Adam hesitates. ‘We need to fly somewhere first.’
    Fly somewhere?
    ‘Not far,’ he adds, catching my expression. ‘It won’t interfere with the timings on Sing-Win.’
    ‘ As if I care about that!’ I say, stepping closer and taking his hand. ‘Adam, if you’re ready to open up to me, you could fly me to the other side of the world. I’d forget all about the music contest.’
    He looks down, smiling a little.
    ‘That would be a shame,’ he said, ‘since I think you wrote a winning song today.’
    I squeeze his hands tighter, not sure how to take his current mood.
    ‘Take me anywhere,’ I say.
    His blue eyes shift up to me.
    ‘Ok then,’ he says. ‘I want to take you to Ireland.’
    ‘Ireland?’ The full implication of this is hitting me. ‘To meet your family?’
    He’s met mine . But am I ready to meet his? Certainly I’m curious. But this whole situation seems to rest on this big revelation he’s got planned. Do I want to meet his family under those circumstances?
    ‘ You’ll meet my Mam,’ he says. ‘And my younger brother. They’ll love you,’ he adds, catching my fearful expression. ‘Like I do.’
    ‘ Whatever it is you have to tell me,’ I say, ‘Can you tell me here instead? I’d love to meet your family. But it seems like a lot of emotion to put on a single occasion.’
    Adam looks remorseful. ‘I know,’ he admits. ‘It’s part of my fucked-up old life. But I want you to see it Summer. I’m tired of being ashamed. I want to be honest with you.’
    I wrap my arms around him and hug him tight.
    ‘I love you Adam Morgan,’ I whisper. ‘Whatever you have to tell me won’t change that.’
     

Chapter 9
     
    A few hours later, we’re back in Adam’s plane, and everything feels slightly surreal.
    ‘ You know what?’ I yell above the plane noise, as we coast over the Atlantic, ‘I’m actually getting used to this. It feels normal.’
    Adam laughs. ‘First hazard of being a rock star,’ he says, ‘feeling normal when you’re in a private plane.’
    I laugh in return and stare out at the ocean. The atmosphere between us is light and playful, but it’s tinged with something else.
    Deep down, with both know there’s some emotion upheaval coming up. I’m trying not to second guess what Adam has to tell me, but it’s almost impossible.
    Trouble in his past, in Northern Ireland… Violence? Something else?
    My unease has grown as we touch down on yet another deserted airfield. Though this one is bordered by green grass and hills, rather than snow and forest.
    Adam helps me out of the plane, and breathes deeply as we take in the new landscape.
    ‘I always think there’s a certain smell in the air in Ireland,’ he says, inhaling again, ‘something about all the green grass.’
    ‘ Yeah,’ I say, breathing in. ‘It reminds me of Wales.’
    ‘ So,’ he says, his voice coming more seriously now. ‘Shall we go?’
    I’m suddenly too nervous to reply.
    What is it he means to tell me?
    Adam catches my expression, and