When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark 2)

I pinch the bridge of my nose. The weather, that’s what she goes with?

“This wine is fantastic.” My mom points to her glass. “I’d offer you all some, but it’s mine.” She cradles the bottle like a baby.

I cover my face with my hands.

Please, tell me this is a nightmare?

I open my eyes and she’s drinking straight from the bottle.

I think I might die.

“All right, that’s enough. You’ve embarrassed him sufficiently.” My dad grabs her arm and forces the bottle from her mouth.

She sets the bottle on the table and gives us all a big grin. “I think so too. That was good, right?” she asks my dad.

“What?” I say, exchanging a look with Thea.

“After this little stunt, you deserve to be embarrassed a lot worse than this, so hold your tongue, Xander.” I press my lips together. “And start talking. I thought you guys were dating, when did you get married?”

I glance at Thea with a what the fuck expression. I feel like I’ve slipped into a parallel universe or something. But it looks like my mom has just been fucking with me, because she can.

“Vegas,” I answer. “We got married in Vegas.”

Fuck, it sounds stupid when I say it, and I guess it is. It took getting drunk in Vegas for me to finally get the girl. Where was my game at?

My mom glares at my dad. “At that stupid convention you sent them to?”

Dad raises his hands innocently. “Don’t look at me. Getting married wasn’t on the to-do list there. These two went off and did that all on their own.”

“But you told me you guys were dating when you came to dinner. Can you see how I feel a little hurt?” She frowns, picking up a piece of bread and slathering it with butter. “God, bread makes everything better,” she says after taking a bite.

“I know, right.” Thea laughs in agreement.

I clear my throat. “We figured that was easier than coming out and saying we were married—and I guess, we worried it might fizzle out and wanted to spare everyone the heartache of knowing.” I look at Thea and the love I feel for her, there’s no way that’s ever going away. I take her hand beneath the table. “But I think we’re in it for the long haul. I have faith in us and I hope you do too.” I look at my parents, waiting and hoping for their approval.

My mom sniffles, tearing up a bit. “Of course we do, but you got married without us,” she cries. “You’re my oldest baby, don’t you think I wanted to be there?”

“It was kind of a spur of the moment decision,” I mutter. My voice growing in volume, I add, “I don’t take it back, either, because if we hadn’t done it we wouldn’t be together today and I wouldn’t give this up for anything.”

Thea lets out an audible exhale of, “Aww,” beside me.

“You guys will have a real wedding, though? Right?” my mom asks, her eyes pleading. “Renew your vows or something, so we can all be there?”

I shrug. “Maybe, in time, if Thea wants.”

My mom zeroes in on Thea like a vulture. “Thea?”

Thea nearly chokes on her water. “Um, I wouldn’t be opposed to it, but right now my primary focus is what happens once I start college again and Xander’s gone all the time.”

My mom presses her lips into a thin line and exhales heavily. “Think about it, please. It’s something that would mean a lot to us, and I think, down the road, it would mean a lot to you both to have a real wedding.”

I glance at Thea. “We’ll think about it.”

I wish she’d shut up about this before she sends Thea into a panic. Thankfully, Thea doesn’t seem to care, or if she does then she’s not showing it.

The waiter comes back and takes our order, giving us funny looks, probably because of the bottle of wine my mom still has beside her. He’s probably worried we’re all a bunch of crazies and are going to bail on the crazily expensive meal.

Luckily, the rest of the dinner goes smooth, and I’m glad to have worked things out with my mom. I can tell she’s still slightly hurt by the situation, but she’s not pissed anymore, so I’ll take that as a win. I’ll make sure to stop by the house with lunch one day this week so we can chat just the two of us.