When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,4
flight leaves in two hours,” Cade warns. “Couldn’t you have done this yesterday?”
Xander shrugs. “There wasn’t any time.”
You know, because we were too busy getting drunk, married, and fucking like rabbits. Logistics, though.
Cade sighs. “I suppose we can go.”
Xander shakes his head. “Maybe you should go on ahead? That way—on the off chance we’d miss the flight, you don’t. I’m sure Rae would be upset if she didn’t get to see you soon.”
Cade purses his lips and his eyes narrow in thought. I expect him to argue but instead he shrugs. “You’re right,” Cade agrees. “Keep an eye on her.” He points a warning finger at Xander.
Despite the fact that I’m nineteen—almost twenty—Cade still treats me like I’m a little girl. He’s always been the protective type and while it can be annoying, I know he does it from the best place in his heart.
“And try,” he pleads, “to not miss the flight.”
Xander salutes him. “I’ll do my best.”
The two of us wheel our bags to the sidewalk and watch as Cade gets in the taxi and leaves.
“Stage one, complete,” Xander chimes.
“What’s stage two?” I ask.
His dark eyes squint from the bright Vegas sun and he looks toward all the buildings on the strip. “Finding the church.”
We leave our bags at the front desk, much to the irritation of the receptionist. She only agreed because Xander sweet-talked her while I stood off to the side trying not to roll my eyes.
Xander and I grab one of the waiting taxis and ask to be taken to the nearest church. It seems to be the best place to start considering neither of us knows the exact one where the deed was done. After talking about it, we were able to piece together enough about the interior that we’ll know when we find it.
The taxi parks in front of a tan-stoned building with a huge sign out front that says: Viva Las Vegas. Themed weddings. Themed rooms.
Xander and I exchange a look before sliding out of the car and into the heat.
“Wait here,” Xander orders the driver. When he huffs in irritation, Xander adds, “Keep the meter running.”
It doesn’t take long for Xander and me to run in and determine that this isn’t the chapel we got married in. It also only took the Elvis impersonator a few seconds to openly hit on me. It was gross, but the warning growl from Xander for the man to stay away made it worth it.
We stop at three more places and none of them are the one.
But the fourth looks promising. The outside is white, and it’s built more like a traditional church with a steeple. It looks nothing like the gaudy and gimmicky places we’ve already checked.
Xander glances at me, and I know he feels it too—this place is where it happened.
I slide out of the back of the car and Xander takes my hand. I don’t know if it’s because he thinks I need the support or he needs it. Either way, I don’t let go.
We head for the small white chapel and bits and pieces of last night flash through my memory.
Our laughter trickled into the air, and I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck, and kissed him. There was no fear or hesitation. I kissed him like I’d been doing it forever.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, sweeping his lips over mine.
“Yes,” I breathed, my mind foggy from him more than the alcohol.
His hands slithered to my waist and his thumbs rested on my bare skin at the space where my tank top had ridden up.
“You want to call me your husband?” he asked. His eyes were clear, happy, and wondering—like he couldn’t believe this was happening any more than I could.
“More than anything.”
He kissed me deeply, stealing my breath, and then we hurried into the chapel.
I glance up at Xander and wonder if he remembers too. His eyes betray nothing, though.
We enter into a foyer with white walls, tile floors, and beams crossing the ceiling. It has a Mediterranean feel to it that seems at odds with the gimmicky glamour of most places in Vegas.
Xander and I stroll further into the building and through an archway that opens up into a room with simple white chairs facing an altar. The building seems to be vacant but there’s a door to our right and Xander starts for it. Before we make it, it swings open, and a white-haired man appears. He removes his glasses and