When Constellations Form (Light in the Dark 4)

I get it, while this is the way I’d want to live, it’s what they wanted, so they must love it.

“Thanks.” Rae smiles at Cade, and sometimes I wonder how my idiot of a brother managed to bag such an amazing girl. “We love it. It’s small, but cozy.”

Rae hugs me before she passes, heading into the kitchen. There’s a big open window between the kitchen and living space, so we can all still see each other.

“Do you want anything to drink?” she asks, pulling a salad from the refrigerator.

“Water, please.”

“I’m fine.” Xander waves his hand in thanks and then sits down on the couch with Cade. There’s a college football game playing in the background.

I pull out one of the stools and sit down so I can face Rae in the kitchen.

She busies herself making me a glass of water.

She scoops some ice into the glass and then uses the filtered water from the refrigerator.

“Do you have any lemons?” I ask jokingly, but I’m kind of serious.

She shakes her head. “Sorry. I should’ve thought and picked some up for you.”

I shrug. “It’s okay. I probably shouldn’t have as many as I do,” I admit. “I don’t know why I’m craving them so bad.”

She slides the glass across the counter to me. I take it and gulp down half in only a few seconds. I’m finding that while I’m pregnant, I’m always thirsty, which means I’m always peeing. It’s quite the conundrum.

Rae stirs the salad in the bowl and then starts divvying it out onto six plates.

“How are you feeling?” she asks.

“Much better now—sometimes I still get nauseous, but it’s not as bad as it was in the beginning so I’ll take it. Still want to marry my idiot brother?” I ask her, leaning over and grabbing one of the small tomatoes and popping it in my mouth.

“I heard that,” Cade mutters. “Little sisters are so annoying,” he mumbles to Xander.

“I wouldn’t know,” Xander says back. “My sister is older.”

Rae laughs and finishes dividing the salad. “Yes, I still want to marry him. I kind of like him.” She winks.

“Kind of like?” Cade calls.

“I kind of love him,” she amends. “Even when he’s annoying.”

There’s a knock on the door and Rae jumps. “Ah, good, they’re here.”

She hurries to the door and lets Jace and Nova in. The apartment begins to feel extremely crowded now that there are six of us. Nova and Rae hug and Jace saunters past.

“What the fuck? Where am I supposed to sit?” he asks, looking around.

“The chair,” I point out in a dull, unhelpful tone.

“That chair is made for a child. I think I’d get stuck.”

I tilt my head, looking at the chair, and realize he’s right. It is pretty small and he’s a tall guy.

I pat the empty stool beside me. “I guess you’re sitting with me, hot stuff.”

Jace glances at Nova for help. “Nova, she frightens me.”

She pats his chest and gives him a pouty look. “Don’t be a baby.”