When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark 2)

“Thea,” he laughs, “what are you doing?”

“Making it more difficult for you, obviously.” Unfortunately, I begin to slide down his body and my butt hits the floor. “Fuck,” I curse.

Footsteps pad across the floor and my brother looks down at me. “Forget gross, you guys are just weird.”

Xander chuckles and looks down at me, waiting for my response.

“I like weird,” I say.

“Me too.”

Cade gags. “I’m out of here. I can’t take anymore.”

I pick myself up off the floor and Cade pauses before leaving. “We’re going tubing with Jace and Nova at twelve and Mom and Dad’s barbeque is at three,” Cade reminds me.

“I know,” I laugh. “You told me three times yesterday.”

“I don’t want you to forget.”

“Mhm,” I hum as he leaves this time. Before he can make it to the stairs, I call, “The barbeque is at five, right?”

“Three!” he yells back as I cackle. “Dammit,” he mutters.

I shake my head. “I love messing with him.” I wrap my arms around Xander’s body, laying my head against his back. “Well, we’ve made it to July, one more month to go.”

His body stiffens. “Why do you say it like that?”

“Like what?” I step to the side so I can see him.

He flicks his dark hair from his eyes. “One more month to go,” he mimics. “It sounds like you’re getting rid of me after that.” Hurt flashes in his gaze.

My heart pangs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that August is technically the end of our agreement.” I shrug. “Who knows what’ll happen.”

He shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“What?” My eyes widen in surprise.

“I thought we were doing good and here you are talking about the end of it.”

I touch his arm and he flinches away from me. “Xander,” I say firmly, forcing him to look at me. “That’s not what I meant. It was stupid of me to say that. I’m sorry.”

He swallows thickly and takes a deep breath. “It bothers me when you talk like that,” he says. “We’ve waited a long time for this and the thought of not having it anymore kills me.” He closes his eyes briefly. “I guess when I put that ring back on your finger I thought the agreement didn’t exist anymore. I shouldn’t have thought that.”

“You’re right,” I say, shaking my head rapidly. “It’s pretty much null and void at this point. What I said was stupid. I’m stupid—but we know this.” He chuckles. “I’m sorry,” I say again. “Forgive me?”

He smiles, and it’s not quite genuine, but almost. “I forgive you. But,” he starts, “if you start having doubts about us tell me. Don’t blindside me.”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to have doubts,” I tell him.

He stares at me for a moment and then nods. “Good.” He kisses me.

The atmosphere in the kitchen returns to more normal, happy levels as the tension from before leaves.

While he makes the eggs, I handle the toast and pouring of the orange juice.

We set everything out and Rae and Cade join us.

I smile at Xander beside me. I hate that we had a tiff, but I guess it’s bound to happen now and then. No couple has sunshine and rainbows moments all the time. You have to learn to move past things, and I think for our first kinda-sorta fight, we did pretty good.