When Constellations Form (Light in the Dark 4)

“Like craving lemons?” Jace asks from where he’s reclined in a chair. His eyes are closed and he’s not even pretending to watch the game.

I snap my fingers together. “Exactly like craving lemons.”

“I just really want to know her name.” Rae frowns.

I laugh. “How do you think Xander’s and my mom feels? They’re driving me nuts. Xander’s mom is worse. She texts me at least every day and she tries to be crafty about it.”

“How?” Rae asks, her lips lifting in amusement.

I sigh heavily. “Well, first she said she was getting a monogramed blanket and I thought that was so sweet but then she said she needed the name and I saw what she was doing. Then she said, just the initials, but I didn’t want to give those to her either. I think she’s kind of mad at me about it, but this is a decision Xander and I made together. The name is special and we’re waiting to reveal it until she’s born. The way I see it, we could’ve kept the gender a secret too, but we didn’t, so at least you all have that.”

Rae grabs my hand then. “Nova and I were talkin

g about it, and we want to throw you a shower. I’m sure you’re already going crazy buying stuff, but a shower is like a rite of passage when you’re having a baby.”

I purse my lips, thinking it over. A baby shower isn’t something I’d thought much about. “Yeah, I guess that’d be okay, but can you plan it for after the holidays? I can’t handle all these holidays and a baby shower. And your wedding,” I add. “I need time to breathe after all that.”

Rae laughs and glances at Nova. “I think we can accommodate that. But Thea?”

“Yes?” I hedge, not liking her tone.

“We’re planning this.” She wags a finger between Nova and herself. “So that means, no texts about colors, or food, drinks, music, games. None of it. Understand?”

I frown. “It’s like you’re intent on sucking all the joy out of my life.”

Rae narrows her eyes on me. “Promise me, Thea.”

“Fine, I promise,” I reluctantly agree.

I’m probably going to end up with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shower. That’s something those two would do just to spite me and my love of pink.

My gaze wanders back to the game and I look down to see us in possession of the ball again.

I jump up. “Run! Run! Run!” I yell again. “You can do it! Almost there! Yes! Touchdown!” I collapse back in my chair and let out a heavy breath. “Man, I’m exhausted now.”

Jace snorts. “Yeah, it’s like you were down there running the ball or something.”

I throw a lemon wedge at him, and it sticks to the side of his face.

“What the fuck is that?” he cries, since his eyes are closed, and he jumps, batting it away. “Oh, fuck, it’s just a lemon.”

The lemon wedge rolls away onto the floor and I sigh. It’s a shame to waste it, but it was too funny.

The other team captures the ball again and I hold my breath, but we manage to get it back.

I spend the rest of the game alternating between screams, gasps, and peering between my fingers, but somehow we manage to pull off a win.

“You all are all coming on Tuesday for the Halloween party, right?” I ask my friends. It’s more of a warning, but asking sounds better.

“Yeah, we’ll be there,” Cade promises.

“Even you guys?” I ask Jace and Nova.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Nova vows.

“Is Joel coming?” I ask. “What about his girlfriend?”

“They broke up.” She rolls her eyes. “But yes, he’ll be there. He’s coming as Zoro and he’s ecstatic. He’s such a dork.” She laughs.