When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark 2)

I nod. “Time,” I repeat. “Okay.” I stand, hoping he’s going to say more, but instead, his gaze returns to the setting sun and I know that I’ve been dismissed.

I sigh and head inside the house. Xander’s not back yet and Rae’s still in her room, so I set about making dinner for the four of us. I keep it simple, opting for spaghetti and garlic bread. Hopefully, there won’t be any food throwing because it could get messy quick.

Xander comes back just as I’m finishing up and Prue bounds into the house and over to me. She licks my leg and then runs over to her cushion and lies down. Xander smiles when he sees me by the stove and kisses my cheek as he passes.

“I brought you a McFlurry.” He holds up the cup and heads to the freezer.

I laugh. “Tonight is definitely ice cream worthy.”

He frowns as he closes the refrigerator door. “Did it not go well?”

I sigh and glance toward the deck door. “It went okay, I guess. I think he’s more mad at us keeping it a secret than actually being together.” I shrug. “I think he realizes that his actions were wrong, but ours were too.” My voice grows soft. “It sucks. I don’t want him mad at us—at you. If he should be mad at anyone, it should be me, but it seems like he’s placing all the blame on your shoulders.”

Xander smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re his little sister, so it’s easier for him to be mad at me than you.” He shrugs like it’s not a big deal, but it is. He comes over to me and wraps his arms around me. “It’ll be okay. Just give it time.”

I laugh, the sound muffled against his massive chest. “That’s what Cade said. That he needs time.”

Xander steps back, leaning his hip against the counter. “See, we’re all on the same page.” He rubs his hand over his stubbled jaw then and I wait for him to speak. “We’re having dinner with my family this Friday,” he tells me. “Cade and Rae need to come too.”

“Oooh, is this the big reveal?” I wag my brows.

He chuckles. “Yeah, I guess so. I want to tell my parents about us too, if that’s okay?”

I bite my lip, hating that I hesitate for even a second, but I still have doubts about this actually working. Right now, it’s new and exciting and that makes things seem perfect, but what about when summer ends and the real world begins? I’m going to have to go back to school—and I still have no idea what I actually want to major in, so yay me-and Xander’s going to be playing for the NFL. His practices are going to get longer and more intense and he’s going to be gone. Throw in media attention on his end and it’s a recipe for disaster.

I swallow thickly and nod. “Yeah, we can tell them.” I don’t know if that’s the right decision, but after keeping it a secret from Cade and having that blow up in our faces, I feel like we have no choice.

Xander smiles. “Great. You know my mom’s going to be thrilled.”

I laugh. “Your mom’s the best.” And she is. She’s always been like a second mom to me.

I hear footsteps behind us and I turn to see Rae. “I smell food and I’m starving.”

“It’s almost ready. Why don’t you grab Cade and we can all sit down and eat together?”

Rae nods and heads out back.

I look up at Xander. “Showtime.”

We set about placing the plates and everything on the table and we’re almost done when Rae and Cade come inside and sit down. I end up across from Cade with Xander beside me.

We all shovel spaghetti noodles onto our plate in silence. It’s weird. I’m used to someone always saying something and not this eerie quiet.

After a few minutes I ask, “So, Rae, photograph anything interesting lately?” It’s possibly the worst question I’ve ever asked, but I don’t know what to do to break this awkward tension.

Rae bites her lip to hide her laughter but answers anyway. “Nova’s been teaching me how to do more conceptual photos like she does. It’s not really my favorite thing to do, but it’s interesting and a skill I need to work on.

I nod. I don’t understand a word she said. It all sounded like gibberish to me.

More minutes pass and I say, “I think I might join a gy

m.” I loathe exercise, but Rae runs every morning, and Cade usually joins her, and Xander always goes to the gym, so maybe I’m missing out on something.

Xander snorts. “I bet you’ll go once and never go again.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “Challenge accepted.”

He grins back. “We’ll go tomorrow.”