When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) (21 page)

She shakes her head and frowns. “No, they’re meeting us there. I think Cade wants an escape vehicle in case things get ugly.”

I clench my jaw and look away. “Right. Of course,” I mutter. Prue brushes against my leg and I bend down to pet her. “We’ll be home later, girl,” I tell her. “We’ll miss you.”

She tilts her head as she looks at me and I swear she knows every word I’ve said. She gives my hand a lick and then jumps up on Thea’s bed, lying down, and almost completely disappearing in the cloud of pink blankets. 

I hold my hand out to Thea. “Should we go then?”

She nods. “Yeah.”

We step out into the hall and I call down to the other end. “We’ll see you guys there.”

“We’ll be right behind you,” Rae says back. Cade says nothing, but I’m not surprised. 

Thea gives me a sad look before we start down the stairs. I know she feels responsible for the strife between her brother and me, but she’s not. It is what it is.

Thea and I head out to my truck and I open the door for her, offering her a hand so she can get in the truck.

I close the door and jog around to the other side. I start the truck and sit there for a moment, not moving. 

Thea places her hand on my knee in comfort. It’s like she’s telling me everything will be okay. I want to believe that. 

I back out of the driveway and start the twenty-minute drive to my parents’ house. They moved out of the house I grew up in—the one across the street from Cade and Thea—a few years ago, into a house my dad designed.

“Are you afraid to tell them?” Thea asks. “About football?”

“Afraid? No. Nervous? Yes.”

She wrinkles her nose. “What’s the difference?”

“I guess being afraid implies that you’re scared, but I’m not scared I’m just … apprehensive of what their reaction will be.”

She nods. “I can understand that, but everything will be fine.”

“I hope you’re right.”

We make it to my parents’ house and I park beside my little brother’s beat-up Honda Civic. 

“Is Alexis coming?” Thea asks, referring to my older sister.

I shake my head. “I don’t know. My mom wanted her to, but I’m not sure she could get out of the office in time.” 

Thea frowns. “I hope she can make it. I was looking forward to seeing everyone. At least Xavier is here. I love him.”

I narrow my eyes. “Better not love him more than me.”

She laughs and reaches for the door handle. “Of course not.”

We get out and head in through the garage. My mom would have a fit if we went to the front door. She’s always wanted us kids to feel like we’re always welcome at home. I know if she could she’d keep us here forever.

“Sarah,” Thea calls when we enter. “We’re here!” 

My mom comes around the corner and her smile lights up the whole house. Her glossy brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail and her apron is covered in something that makes me think she’s baked a cake. She’s one of those people that loves to cook and bake but always makes a mess of herself and the kitchen. 

“Thea, I’m so happy to see you! It’s been too long!” She hurries over to Thea and takes her face between her hands. “My God, you get prettier every time I see you. I keep telling my son he needs to wise up and make a move on you before someone else does.”

I snort, pressing my hand against Thea’s waist. My mom notices and her eyes flicker from my hand, to my face, to Thea, and back again.

“Wait,” she says slowly. “Are you?”

“We’re dating, Mom.” For some reason, I can’t meet her eyes.

She lets out a shriek and hugs us both tight. “Cooper!” she yells to my dad. “Why didn’t you tell me Xander and Thea were a couple?”

“What?” he yells back.

“He doesn’t know, Mom.” I laugh, reaching for Thea’s hand.

“Oh.” She covers her heart. “I just assumed with you guys working there that he did. My bad.”

My brother chooses that moment to walk by, phone glued to his hand as he types furiously. “’Bout damn time.”

“Xavier,” my mom hisses. “Language.”

“About fucking time,” Xavier amends with a crooked grin. We look a lot alike. We both have the same messy black hair and are tall, although I’m taller, much to his chagrin.

My mom tosses her hands in the air and mutters. “Why do I bother?”

“I don’t know,” Xavier says back. “I can’t be controlled. You know this.”

My mom shakes her head and turns to Thea and me. “Why don’t you guys hang out in the kitchen? I need some entertainment that isn’t in the form of this doofus.” She points a finger at my little brother.

Xavier frowns. “I feel like I should take offense to that, but doofus is a pretty accurate description of me.”

“You know what else is?” I ask and before he can respond, I say, “Court Jester.” I ruffle his hair as I pass but I don’t get far before he tackles me and we tumble to the floor.

“
Boys
,” my mom scolds, and I’m sure she’s shaking her head at us as we roll around. To Thea, she mutters, “They’ll never grow up.”

We break apart and laugh, smiling up at our mom. “You love us just the way we are,” Xavier says.

She sighs, blowing her bangs away from her eyes. “You’re right, I do, but I don’t know why.” She lifts her hands in the air and then walks down the hall to the kitchen.

Thea stands over us, shaking her head. “Silly boys.” Then she passes us by. 

“So, you and Thea, huh?” Xavier waggles his brows.

“Shut up.” I push his shoulder and stand.

My dad comes down the hall from his office and glances from me to Xavier, who’s still sitting on the floor. He shakes his head and mutters, “I don’t want to know,” before heading into the kitchen.

“Come on, little bro.” I hold my hand out to Xavier.

He avoids my hand and stands on his own. “You know I hate it when you say that.”

“Which is exactly why I keep saying it.”

He sighs. “So, what’s up with you?” I ask him. “Ready for Yale?”

Xavier doesn’t act like it, and it’s not something he likes to talk about, but the kid is practically a genius. Prestigious universities clamored to get him and he’s so uninterested in it all. I think all he wants to do is play video games. He finally decided on Yale, but I don’t know how excited he actually is to attend. 

He shrugs. “Eh, it’s just college.”

“It’s
Yale
. That’s a big deal.”

“It’s still just a school,” he counters. He sighs and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “It’ll be weird being so far away from home, but I think I need the change.” 

“I’m going to miss you.” It’s the truth too. The kid might be annoying as fuck, but I actually kind of like him.

“Don’t go getting all sentimental on me, Xander. It’s weird.”

I shake my head. “Maybe I won’t miss you
that
much.” I laugh and we finally join everyone else in the kitchen. 

The meal is almost done, so my mom has Xavier and me set the table. We only manage to break one plate so I take that as a win. My mom, not so much. When she sees the broken plate, she presses a hand to her chest and mutters, “Not again. So many plates lost over the years.”

I make a mental note to buy my mom a new set of plates to make up for all the ones we broke. 

“I thought Cade and Rae were coming?” my mom asks as we carry the food to the table. 

Right on time, the door opens. “Speak of the devil,” my dad says and leaves us to greet them.

I inhale a deep breath. I suddenly don’t feel ready for this dinner. 

We place the food in the center of the table and take our seats. 

Cade and Rae enter the room and stop to say hi to my mom. Cade doesn’t even look at me, and maybe it shouldn’t, but my blood boils. 

Stay calm, Xander. It’s one fucking dinner. You can do this
.

The problem is it’s
not
one fucking dinner. It’s so much more. 

Thea finds my hand beneath the table and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

Idle conversation is made as we shovel food onto our plates and I contemplate when the best time will be to tell them about football. 

I rub my hands on my jeans. My palms are suddenly sweaty. 

The door opens again and I hear my sister call, “I’m late, but I’m here!”

She breezes into the room, her dark hair spilling out of the up-do she has it in and her work clothes are ruffled like she’s been in a hurry, which I’m sure she has been to get here in time. She taps my head and Xavier’s as she passes and then hugs our mom and dad before taking her seat. 

Thea glances at me as Alexis piles food on her plate. Her look tells me she thinks it’s time to spill the beans. I haven’t eaten that much, but what I have sits like a lead weight in the middle of my stomach.

I take another bite of macaroni and cheese but I don’t taste it. 

Breathe in. Breathe out
.

Thea bumps her knee against mine and gives me another look.
Just do it
, this one says.

I clear my throat and shuffle in my seat. I feel like I’m suffocating. Cade gives me a funny look from where he sits across the table from me. He looks almost worried. 

“Xander,” Thea whispers under her breath.

I scrub my hands over my face. By now, they’re starting to notice my odd behavior.

“Xander?” My mom asks hesitantly. “Are you feeling okay? Should you go lie down?”

I smack my hands against the wood table and blurt, “I made the team. I’m on the Denver Broncos.”

Silence. Absolute
silence
.

I’m sweating so bad now that my brow is damp. They all stare at me and I look up at the ceiling. I don’t want to see their faces. I don’t want to see the hurt there.

“Can you repeat that?” my dad asks.

I breathe out and lower my head, looking directly at him. I’m shocked to see not disgust but … but
pride
in his gaze. 

“I’m playing for the Broncos,” I say again, and this time, I meet his eyes and then my mom’s, and finally Cade’s. Happy tears spring to my mom’s eyes and Cade looks—he looks surprised and hurt.

“I didn’t even know you tried out,” my mom says, clapping her hands together. “Oh, my God, this is great news.”

I laugh. “You don’t try out—they scout you.”

“Oh, right, of course,” she mutters, waving a hand through the air. “Oh, my God,” she says again. “I’m so proud of you! I have to hug you.” She jumps out of her seat and it thumps against the wall as it falls, but she doesn’t notice. In no time, she has her arms wrapped around me and she kisses the top of my head the same way she used to when I was a kid. 

“Whoa, you’re famous now,” Xavier comments as my mom releases me. 

“I’m not famous.” I laugh. 

“I’m just so proud of you,” my mom says, clapping her hands together and tears now falling freely.

I glance toward my dad. He’s been silent and that worries me. “Dad?” I ask hesitantly. 

“Wow.” He shakes his head. “I’m shocked, that’s for sure. I didn’t know you wanted to go down that path, but I’m proud of you. I really am.”

“You’re not mad?” I ask. “I know I kind of led you on with working for you, and I didn’t mean to do that, but I didn’t want to let you down,” I ramble.

He shakes his head rapidly. “Not at all. I mean, I’m certainly surprised, but not mad. This is a great thing for you, and you’ve always loved football, so if this is the path you want to go down, then that’s what you should do. Always follow your dreams.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I croak, getting choked up. 

Finally, I look at Cade, and it’s safe to say he’s pissed. Can’t say I blame him.

“Can we talk outside?” he asks, his voice gruff.

He might not have punched me before, but I have a feeling he’s about to now. 

“Cade?” Thea says softly.

He doesn’t answer her, simply pushes his chair back and stalks from the room.

I stand too, but before I leave Alexis calls out to me, “I’m so happy for you, Xander. You’re going to kick ass.”

“Thanks.” I give her a smile and then head out of the dining room, down the hall, and outside.

I find Cade sitting on the deck steps and I take a seat beside him. I stay quiet, waiting for him to speak first. A full minute ticks by before he speaks.

“What did I do to you?” he finally asks.

My head whips toward him. “Nothing.”

He shakes his head, laughing softly but the sound is humorless. “It must’ve been something, because not only did you think you couldn’t tell me you were in love with my sister, but you didn’t even tell me you made the fucking team.”

I wince. “I didn’t mean to piss you off by not telling you. I just …” I run my fingers through my hair. “It’s always been you and me since we were kids. And you were excited for that to continue with us working together for my dad, and I-I don’t know, I guess I didn’t want to burst your bubble. Stupid, I know.” I shake my head.

Cade sighs. “I guess we’re not kids anymore, huh?” He glances toward the night sky.

“No.” I laugh. “Definitely not.”

“Fuck.” He chuckles. “We’re adults, and it’s weird.”

I’m surprised to hear him laugh, and I do too. “Yeah, it is,” I agree. 

“You’re married,” he says, “playing football for a living, and I’m with the girl of my dreams, doing what I always wanted to do. I guess it was only inevitable that our paths in life divulge, but I wasn’t ready for it.” He inhales a deep breath. “I don’t like change.” He laughs loudly. 

“It’s not changing that much,” I tell him. “At the end of the day, we’re all the same people.”

He laughs, raising a brow. “People that keep secrets?”

“Touché.” Silence settles in the air, and after a moment, I say, “I’m sorry. I hope you know that.”

“I know,” he says, and looks at me. “I’m sorry too, you know.”

“Why?” I can’t help myself from asking.

He sighs. “It’s my fault you didn’t tell me. Especially about Thea. I was such a prick about that for years. I used to tell myself the reason I didn’t want you guys together was the obvious, she’s my sister, and if you guys got together and broke up it could put me in a bad position of having to choose between you. But I think now—” He pauses. “I think there was also a part of me that was scared that you two would run off and leave me behind. I always knew when we were kids that you two had a special bond, and I know it’s fucking stupid, but I think I was jealous of that and it’s just carried over through the years even as we grew up.” He shrugs. “Which is ironic, because I met Rae and fell in love and basically ditched you guys, so it’s the same difference.”