When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) - Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,56
waves. Like always, she takes my breath away. More so now that she’s actually mine. Before, I had to admire her from afar and pretend I wasn’t looking when I was. And I always was.
She looks up at me and smiles, grabbing her purse from the bed. “Ready to go?” she asks.
I nod. “Are we all going in my truck?” It has a second row, but with the amount of tension that’s been rolling off Cade, I think the cab of the truck would feel stifling with all of us.
She shakes her head and frowns. “No, they’re meeting us there. I think Cade wants an escape vehicle in case things get ugly.”
I clench my jaw and look away. “Right. Of course,” I mutter. Prue brushes against my leg and I bend down to pet her. “We’ll be home later, girl,” I tell her. “We’ll miss you.”
She tilts her head as she looks at me and I swear she knows every word I’ve said. She gives my hand a lick and then jumps up on Thea’s bed, lying down, and almost completely disappearing in the cloud of pink blankets.
I hold my hand out to Thea. “Should we go then?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
We step out into the hall and I call down to the other end. “We’ll see you guys there.”
“We’ll be right behind you,” Rae says back. Cade says nothing, but I’m not surprised.
Thea gives me a sad look before we start down the stairs. I know she feels responsible for the strife between her brother and me, but she’s not. It is what it is.
Thea and I head out to my truck and I open the door for her, offering her a hand so she can get in the truck.
I close the door and jog around to the other side. I start the truck and sit there for a moment, not moving.
Thea places her hand on my knee in comfort. It’s like she’s telling me everything will be okay. I want to believe that.
I back out of the driveway and start the twenty-minute drive to my parents’ house. They moved out of the house I grew up in—the one across the street from Cade and Thea—a few years ago, into a house my dad designed.
“Are you afraid to tell them?” Thea asks. “About football?”
“Afraid? No. Nervous? Yes.”
She wrinkles her nose. “What’s the difference?”
“I guess being afraid implies that you’re scared, but I’m not scared I’m just … apprehensive of what their reaction will be.”
She nods. “I can understand that, but everything will be fine.”
“I hope you’re right.”
We make it to my parents’ house and I park beside my little brother’s beat-up Honda Civic.
“Is Alexis coming?” Thea asks, referring to my older sister.
I shake my head. “I don’t know. My mom wanted her to, but I’m not sure she could get out of the office in time.”
Thea frowns. “I hope she can make it. I was looking forward to seeing everyone. At least Xavier is here. I love him.”
I narrow my eyes. “Better not love him more than me.”
She laughs and reaches for the door handle. “Of course not.”
We get out and head in through the garage. My mom would have a fit if we went to the front door. She’s always wanted us kids to feel like we’re always welcome at home. I know if she could she’d keep us here forever.
“Sarah,” Thea calls when we enter. “We’re here!”
My mom comes around the corner and her smile lights up the whole house. Her glossy brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail and her apron is covered in something that makes me think she’s baked a cake. She’s one of those people that loves to cook and bake but always makes a mess of herself and the kitchen.
“Thea, I’m so happy to see you! It’s been too long!” She hurries over to Thea and takes her face between her hands. “My God, you get prettier every time I see you. I keep telling my son he needs to wise up and make a move on you before someone else does.”
I snort, pressing my hand against Thea’s waist. My mom notices and her eyes flicker from my hand, to my face, to Thea, and back again.
“Wait,” she says slowly. “Are you?”
“We’re dating, Mom.” For some reason, I can’t meet her eyes.
She lets out a shriek and hugs us both tight. “Cooper!” she yells to my dad. “Why didn’t you tell me Xander and Thea were a couple?”