When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) (17 page)

“Oh, that one? It’s right here.” I pick up a folder from the table that sits behind my desk.

Thea’s shoulders deflate. “Oh,” she says softly. “I didn’t look there.”

I chuckle and smack the file lightly on top of her head as I pass. “It’s okay. You were flustered.”

“I still can’t believe I told your dad to go fuck himself.” She buries her face in her hands. “I’m the literal worst.”

“No, you’re not—maybe the funniest, but not the worst.” I wink and then head down the hall to my dad’s office. He’s busy on the phone so I lay the folder on his desk and he gives me a thumbs up.

Back in my office, I eat and catch up on emails I missed while I was at practice. It’s tedious and annoying, and yet another reminder of why I need to be honest with my parents. The fact that I’m twenty-two and acting like a scared sixteen-year-old kid is kind of hysterical. 

I pack up for the day, and Thea does the same. “Can I ride home with you?” she asks. 

I raise a brow. “Aren’t you worried about raising suspicions?”

She purses her lips. “I suppose I should, but I don’t really give a fuck. If I have to ride another hour in the car with Cade when I really want to be with you, I might die.”

I don’t call her on her melodramatics, frankly because I’m so pleased that she wants to be with me.

I nod. “You can ride with me then.”

Her smile is blinding and she runs over planting a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you,” she sing-songs, before running out and expecting me to follow. 

We pass by Cade’s office and she pokes her head in to tell him that she’s riding home with me. He’s so absorbed in what he’s doing that he merely nods and motions us on, mumbling that he’s going to be late anyway.

As soon as we enter the elevator and the doors close, she reaches for my hand. My chest fills with happiness at the gesture. It’s such a simple thing but I’m so used to being the one that reaches for
her
when we’re in public and in the last five minutes she’s kissed my cheek and now holds my hand. 

It’s small, but it’s progress, and it gives me hope for what’s to come. 

“You two look cozy,” Rae comments with a raised brow.

Thea and I sit on the couch side by side, under a blanket, watching
Charmed
. Her head is on my shoulder and I suppose we do look “cozy” in the way she implies, but we’ve always done stuff like this.

Thea glances at her friend with narrowed eyes. “I don’t miss your implication, Rae. We’re just watching a show, like we always do.”

“Mhm,” Rae hums, sitting down in the leather chair beside the couch. “I’m onto you.” Thea stiffens beside me and I swear she growls like a wolf. Minutes pass and Rae speaks again. “For the record, I’ve been rooting for you two since the beginning so if you
are
together now, don’t think you can’t tell me.”

With that, she gets up and leaves.

Thea looks at me and sighs and I look down at her with a questioning look. 

She shrugs and explains. “Rae picked up on something between us when she first started hanging around us.”

I chuckle. “I think most people have. Your brother is the only one who remains oblivious.”

“Eh, I don’t know if he’s as oblivious as he seems. I think he likes to pretend that there’s nothing there so he can’t feel bad for keeping us apart.”

I smile and run my fingers through her hair. “Have I told you lately that you’re smart?” She shakes her head. “Well, you are.”

She beams up at me. “Have I told you lately that you’re my favorite person?” This time, I shake my head. “Well, you are.”

I think I like being her favorite person. I think I want to be her
only
person. The one she thinks of first when something good
or
bad happens. The one who’s always there no matter what. 

“Shh,” I hiss. “We’re going to get caught.”

“No, it’s fine,” Xander growls, kissing my neck. “They’re not even up yet.”

My legs are wrapped around his waist and he holds me up, my back pressed into the shelves of the pantry. I came in here to get oatmeal for breakfast and he followed, shutting the door behind us. I’d be lying if I said the forbidden feeling that clings to this moment didn’t turn me on. It’s kind of exciting, the thought of getting caught doing something—or in this case some
one
—you shouldn’t be. 

I lean my head back and his lips descend further toward the open collar of my shirt. My hands delve into his hair and I try not to get
too
lost in the moment, because getting caught making out in the pantry closet would
not
be the best way to tell my brother about us. I haven’t told Xander, but I know it’s time for us to tell him. It’s wrong keeping this a secret, and frankly, he shouldn’t give a fuck what we do. And I know, that there’s still a chance that we could get divorced at the end of the summer—and that’s what I think we
should
do, but continue to date—but tiptoeing around is getting old fast. I mean, we
live
with Rae and Cade. There’s only so much we can keep a secret for so long.

Xander’s lips move back to mine and his tongue brushes mine. I moan and my arms wrap around his neck. He adjusts his hold on me, his hands on my butt, and something on the pantry shelf falls to the floor. 

“I knew it.”

So much for not getting caught.

Xander and I jolt apart and he sets me down quickly, while we look into the laughing eyes of Rae. 

“You—” she grabs my arm “—are coming with me. And you—” she points at Xander with her other hand “—it’s about damn time.”

I glance back at Xander over my shoulder, giving him an apologetic smile, and he looks utterly confused as to what just happened.

A quick look around shows me that Cade still hasn’t wandered downstairs.

Hallelujah for small miracles.

Rae drags me into the laundry room and shuts the door behind us. 

Crossing her arms over her chest, she looks at me sternly. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were hooking up with Xander.” She frowns and the look of hurt on her face makes my stomach hurt. “I’ve known you guys were perfect for each other for so long. I don’t know why you thought you couldn’t tell me.”

I look away, nibbling on my bottom lip. “You’re my best friend,” I say, “but you’re also dating my brother.”

Her shoulders fall. “This is about Cade?” I nod. “You really don’t think he’d be happy for you guys? Give him some credit. He’s not a douchebag.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “It’s complicated. He’s always warned Xander away from me, and I get it, I’m his little sister, but I’m not that much younger than them. And who knows, maybe he
would
be okay with us dating now, but we’re not dating, we’re married and that’s complicated and—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rae cuts off my rambling. “Did you just say
married
?”

I smile weakly and nod. “Yeah—we … um … kind of got drunk in Vegas and ended up married.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal and something that happens to everyone.

She gapes at me and then laughs. “Yeah, you’re right; Cade would
so
not be okay with that.”

I sigh. “I know,” I mutter the words and look away. 

“So,” she hesitates. “Were you guys together before the whole Vegas thing?”

I shake my head. “No, that served as the catalyst. I wanted to get it annulled immediately, but Xander wasn’t having it. I promised him the summer to convince me not to get a divorce—and let me tell you, that boy does
not
fight fair.”

Rae laughs. “Well, tell Xander that I’m happy for you guys but mad you didn’t think you could at least tell me.”

“You’re not going to tell Cade, are you?”

She snorts and waves her hand dismissively. “Nah, you’re on your own for that.”

A puff of air leaves my lungs. “Great.”

“Oh, and we’re having a girls’ day today. I’m calling Nova and we’re going out to get our nails done or something.”

I have to laugh to myself. Rae demanding a girls’ day? I’m pretty sure that’s one for the record books. I remember how I used to have to
beg
her to go out. She’s grown a lot since we’ve met, and maybe it sounds weird but I’m proud of the person she’s become. 

“All right,” I say. “Girls’ day. Woo!” I shake my hands weakly.

Rae laughs at me. “Maybe the guys can do something too.”

I force a smile. “That sounds fantastic. Girls’ day and guys’ day. Fun times.”

Not
. 

I pace restlessly in Thea’s room, waiting for her to come up. I’m freaking out about Rae catching us. Not because of her finding out, but because of what her finding out might do to Thea. I’m terrified it’s going to send her back to where she was in the very beginning of this when she was apprehensive and scared and kind of standoffish. 

Prue lifts her head from the mess of blankets on the bed and watches me pace. She looks at me quizzically wondering what the fuck is going on, but I don’t have it in me to comfort her and tell her I’m okay, because I’m
not
okay. 

When the door opens, I immediately ask, “Are you okay?”

Thea looks up at me with wary eyes as the door clicks shut softly behind her. “Fine. Rae was cool with it.”

“I know, but are
you
cool with her knowing?”