When Constellations Form (Light in the Dark Book 4) Read online

  I don’t recognize any of the people around me, but I notice I get a few looks, especially from the girls.

  As Xander’s football fame has grown, we’ve garnered more and more attention. Especially when the media caught wind of our Vegas wedding. That story broke almost a year after we were married, but people ate it up. I think the only reason it stayed buried so long is because we had a ‘normal’ wedding at the end of the summer so our family could be there, so a lot of people thought that was our actual wedding. But people have been fascinated by us—I think because we’re young and fun. Plus, I have no filter, which makes things interesting. Girls, however, seem to be extremely jealous of me—I guess because Xander’s hot, because it’s certainly not like they actually know him. Honestly, I’ve never understood why people get jealous over other people’s relationships. I’ve known Xander since we were kids, and I can’t help that we fell in love.

  They finally get everyone in line and we file outside.

  I take a deep breath, holding my head high as I walk with confidence.

  Right now, all my worries are fleeing and I feel silly for freaking out earlier.

  We descend the steps into the stadium. I scan the stands for Xander, my brother, my mom, her boyfriend, and Jace, but I don’t find any of them, which isn’t surprising considering the amount of people in attendance, but I still wish I could spot them.

  The line snakes around in front of the seats and we all stand until they tell us to sit.

  The summer sun beats down on us, and beneath the cheap polyester gown, I begin to sweat.

  Gross.

  Several speeches are given, but I zone out for most of it. Sadly, it’s not very interesting. Besides, my thoughts are occupied with daydreams of where Xander’s taking me. Now that I’ve warmed up to the idea of leaving I’m actually kind of excited.

  It’s overseas—I know that much, since a passport is involved. Although, it could be Canada, but I find that doubtful. My guess is something tropical, perhaps in South America.

  “Go,” the person beside me nudges me with a disgusted hushed whisper.

  I jump, realizing that everyone has stood and the line is moving. I hurry into action, holding my head high like I wasn’t daydreaming.

  The line snakes around and up onto the stage.

  “Thea Elizabeth Kincaid.”

  When I get my diploma and my tassel is moved from one side of my cap to the other, I finally spot my family in the crowd. Xander stands, whistling, and clapping. I smile up at him and wave as I descend the stairs. It’s funny, for once he’s in the stands cheering me on. I kind of like this reversal.

  I stick out my tongue and grin at him. He winks back and my stomach flutters.

  I see everyone else with him and wave at them all before hurrying to my seat.

  It takes a good while longer for them to finish calling all the names.

  I fan myself quietly, drowning in sweat. My stomach rolls and I worry that maybe I really do have a bug or something. But I know in reality sitting in the sun, dehydrated, isn’t the best idea and this is probably all tied into that.

  Suddenly, caps are flying in the air, and I realize belatedly that I haven’t thrown mine.

  I’m not with it today.

  I pretend to toss mine off, but I really just lift it off and drop it back in my lap.

  Everyone stands and the crowd in the bleachers descends onto the football field.

  I lift my head in search of Rae and Nova. I spot Nova headed back toward me from the front so I wait for her.

  “We did it.” She smiles widely and hugs me. She steps back, her brown eyes bright and her freckles standing out across her nose.

  “We did,” I echo.

  “Let’s find Rae.” She loops her arm through mine and pulls me through the crowd.

  We finally meet up with Joel and Rae, and then we all look for everyone else.

  I spot Xander and take off running into his arms.

  “Whoa.” He chuckles, catching me.

  He lifts me up and I take his face between my hands, the scruff rasping against my palms, and lower my head to kiss him.

  “What was that for?” he asks, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

  “Because I can,” I answer as he sets me down.

  He wraps his arms around me, and I turn to see Rae kissing Cade, and Nova and Jace going at it in a way that is not at all appropriate for the public. It makes me laugh, though, since those two were so anti-relationship, but now might be the worst of all of us when it comes to PDA.

  I spot my mom and her boyfriend, James, hovering behind the group.

  I was so happy for my mom when she finally started dating again. What she had with my dad was a toxic and unhealthy relationship and she deserved to find a good guy. I think James is that guy, but if he turns out not to be, I’ll kick him in the balls.

  My mom is in a better place now. She’s not the same quiet and meek woman she used to be. She’s absolutely radiant. She smiles and cracks jokes. She bakes us cookies and drops them by the house. She calls regularly. She’s there.

  I extract myself from Xander’s arms and go to hug my mom. She squeezes me tight.

  “I’m so proud of you, Thea,” she whispers in my ear.

  “Thank you.” Hearing that means more than she’ll ever know. My first year of college I had no idea what I wanted to do. I think that’s true for a lot of people. It’s hard to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. But I finally decided that I wanted to help kids and women affected by domestic violence. Social work isn’t the most glamorous of jobs. I know it’ll be long hours and hard work for little pay, but if I can make a difference in only one person’s life then I’ve done my job.

  I let her go and hug James.

  “Come here, little sis,” Cade says, opening his arms.

  I smile and dive into my big brother’s arms. I might give him hell and vice versa, but at the end of the day we really love each other. I think our bond is even stronger for having lost our little brother. When you lose a sibling like that, and at a young age, it makes you band together more.

  “I love you,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

  “I love you, too.” I don’t know what I’d do without my brother. He’s the one person in the whole world beside Xander that I know I can count on.

  I let him go, feeling overcome with emotion.

  We’re all about to go separate ways. I’ve known it for months, been dreading it for days, and now the time has come.

  Xander’s hand slips into mine and he lowers his head to my ear. “Are you okay?”

  I nod, because if I open my mouth to speak I might cry, and I really don’t want to hear Jace make a snide comment about me being emotional. I swear, I must be about to start my period because I’m not normally such a weak ass bitch.

  Xander looks at his watch. “I don’t want to rush you, but we need to go if we’re going to make our flight.”

  “I’m ready,” I tell him. There’s no reason to linger.

  “So, I don’t get a hug? I see how it is,” Jace jokes.

  “Since when do you not cringe like you’re being boiled alive when some tries to hug you?”

  “I’ve never cringed,” he defends. I tilt my head, looking at him like he’s crazy. “Maybe a small cringe,” he acquiesces. I open my arms to hug him and he holds up his hands. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to hug you.”

  “Too late now, buddy,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.

  He laughs and hugs me back. He lets me go and I step back. “Thank you and you—” I turn to Nova “—for taking care of the move and Prue while we’re gone. You didn’t have to do that.”

  “We wanted to help.” Nova smiles. “I hope you guys have fun. You deserve this.”

  “Thanks.” I hug her, then Rae. “I guess we’re out of here, then?” I ask Xander.

  He nods. “Yeah, we have to go.”

  “All right, let’s get moving then.” Cade claps his ha
nds together. “Come on, come on.” He corrals us toward the stairs.

  We return our gowns and then head out to the parking lot together. Jace and Nova make plans to meet up with everyone at a restaurant for dinner after Cade and Rae drop the two of us off at the house, since we need to change our clothes and get our car.

  I hug my mom goodbye. “Have a safe trip,” she tells me. “I love you.”

  I watch her and James head off toward their car.

  Cade’s Jeep appears in the distance and Xander places his hand on my waist, guiding me forward.

  I can tell he’s getting nervous, probably worrying about the traffic leaving the school, and then at the airport. I don’t know exactly what the time our flight is, and I haven’t bothered asking since he wouldn’t tell me anyway. There’s no point in wasting my breath.

  Cade starts the Jeep and we pile inside.

  By the time we arrive at the house, Xander is about ready to jump out of his skin. He all but pushes me out of the car with a grunt of, “Go, go, go.”

  I’d like to see him go in six-inch heels, thank you very much.

  I stumble inside. “Hey, Prue,” I greet the curly-haired dog who wags her tail happily when she sees us.

  “No time. We have to go,” he urges, pushing against my back.

  “Xander,” I groan. “I’m about to shove one of my heels in your eye-socket. Chill.”

  “We’re going to miss our flight,” is all he says in response.

  I reach our room and start taking my clothes off to change. Since Xander’s being a psycho I can’t even enjoy the sight of him tearing at his buttons like a mad-man. Normally, that’s a sight that leads to a whole heap of good things, but not today.

  I change into my yoga pants and a tank-top, slip my feet into my tennis shoes, and pick up my sweatshirt.

  “I’m ready,” I announce.

  Xander finishes tugging down his shirt. “Everything we need is in the car.”

  “Including passports?” I ask.

  “Fuck,” he curses, looking around. “Where the fuck are our passports?” He mutters to himself, opening the dresser drawers but of course, they’re empty. He suddenly freezes. “They’re in the car. I put them in the glove box.”

  I narrow my eyes. “Are you sure? That hardly seems like a safe place for our passports.”

  “I only put them in there a week ago. Chill.” He takes a deep breath. “We have to go.”

  We hurry through the house, say a quick goodbye to Prue, and head out through the garage.

  We pass my Mini Cooper, a birthday gift from Xander, and head to his truck. He’s had the same truck for years. He could upgrade, but he loves it.

  He opens the passenger door for me, and I climb inside.

  I check the glove box for our passports and they’re thankfully there, so I pull them out and set them in my lap.

  Xander starts the car and winces when he sees the time.

  “Why’d you schedule our flight so close to the end time of my graduation?” I ask him. “It seems like you’ve caused yourself a whole lot of unnecessary stress.”

  “Because it was the last flight of the day for this location and there wasn’t another one for two days—and if I gave you that long you’d think of some very important reason for us not to go and I’d give in. I figured the less time you had to make up an excuse the better.”

  My lips twitch with the threat of laughter. “That’s funny.”

  “I’m serious,” he says, speeding down the road.

  “I know,” I agree. “That’s why it’s funny.”

  Xander presses the gas down and drives way too fast than is legally safe, but we manage to make it to the airport in record time and without getting pulled over.

  Xander pulls a blindfold from his pocket. “Sorry, Thea,” he mutters, reaching to put it on me.

  I smack his arm away. “Don’t you dare come anywhere near me with that thing,” I warn him.

  He narrows his eyes. “Yes, because if I don’t then you’ll know exactly where we’re going in about five minutes, and that’s no fun.”

  I groan. “Honestly, this honeymoon is coming with way too many stipulations. Give me the damn blindfold.” I snatch it from his hands and his lips twitch with amusement. “You’ll mess up my hair if you put it on me,” I defend. I slip the blindfold on and frown at the complete blackness. “I swear to God if you let me run into a wall I’ll not speak to you the whole vacation.”

  He laughs. “Like you could go that long without talking.”

  I hear him open the car door. “Fine, then you better learn how to give yourself blowjobs. I hope you’re a contortionist.”

  He snickers. “I love you.”

  “Right now I hate you.”

  His car door closes and mine opens a moment later. I feel shaky as he helps me out of the car into the parking garage. It’s disorienting not being able to see a thing.

  “Stay here,” he warns, and I’m sure he’s holding his hands out in a placating manner.

  “Xander?” I call out. “How are you going to guide me and wheel both our suitcases?” He’s silent. “You didn’t think about that, did you?”

  “Of course I did,” he replies, his voice spiking—a telltale sign that he’s lying.

  “I’m gonna die,” I mumble to myself.

  Finally, he says, “You’re going to have to wheel your suitcase.”

  “What if I trip over it?” I counter.

  “Your legs aren’t tied together, Thea. You can walk fine.” He sighs in exasperation.

  I sigh too. “If I die, I want to be buried in that ivory dress I love and my six-inch black Louboutins? Okay?”

  “You’re not going to die. Don’t be dramatic.”

  He takes my hand and wraps it around the handle of my suitcase. He then takes my other hand and entwines his fingers with mine.

  “Walk slow,” I warn him. “I’m not as tall as you.”

  He slows his steps to match mine.

  Somehow we manage to make it into the airport without me dying.

  “Isn’t it going to be weird going through security with me blindfolded?”

  “They’ve seen worse, I’m sure.”

  True.

  Security doesn’t take long, thankfully, since we’re already running late, but the people working it get quite a laugh at me and my blindfold.

  “All right, this is where we wait,” Xander tells me. I let go of my suitcase and he guides me to a seat. “I’m going to cover your ears with headphones and turn on some music,” he warns.

  I groan. “Now you take away my hearing too?”

  He laughs. “Yeah, sorry, sweetheart.”

  “Are you sure you love me, because this feels like torture.”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure,” he replies.

  A moment later the headphones slip over my ears and the music begins to play.

  I don’t know how much time passes before he taps my arm and helps me to stand. It feels like forever, but since we were running late it can’t be that long.

  We board the plane and take our seats. I hope that Xander is finally going to remove the blindfold and headphones, but no, he’s going to make me suffer.

  I can feel him messing with a carry-on bag and then he buckles my seatbelt for me before plopping in the seat beside me—I have the window seat, which I can’t even enjoy since I can’t see.

  Jerk.

  I lay my head against the window and settle in for the ride.

  Hours later, I wake up. I have no idea how much time has passed and at first, it’s extremely disorienting to open my eyes and be met with the blackness of the blindfold. It doesn’t take long for me to remember Xander slipping it on my head. The music continues to play in my ears.

  I tap Xander and he jolts awake beside me.

  He takes the headphones off my head. “What is it?” he asks, his voice groggy with sleep.

  “I have to pee.”

  “Oh, okay.” He undoes my seatbelt and helps me
out and to the bathroom. We don’t walk far.

  “Can I at least take the blindfold off while I pee?” I ask, shuffling around.

  He chuckles. “Sure. But it goes right back on before you come out.

  I sigh. He’s such a fun sucker.

  I close the bathroom door and rip the blindfold off, promptly letting out a little scream because the sudden brightness hurts my eyes.

  Xander hears and knocks on the door. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just fine,” I mutter, but I can already feel a pounding headache emerging.

  I pee and wash my hands, then unlock the door before slipping the blindfold back on.

  “I’m ready,” I say, reaching for him.

  “That’s my butt, Thea.” I can hear the laughter in his voice. The fabric of his clothes rustles as he turns around.

  “You have a nice butt, I can’t help myself, I also can’t see,” I hiss.

  He grabs my wandering hand before I can grip anything else and guides me back to the seat. “We have a layover soon,” he warns me.

  “Great,” I mumble. I’ve already slept all I think I can sleep, and if he’s got me blindfolded that means I can’t even watch a movie, and there’s only so much music I can listen to before I go crazy.

  Maybe that’s his plan—to make me go crazy. I’m already halfway to insane so it wouldn’t be a stretch.

  I lay my head back against the seat, and surprisingly, I fall back to sleep.

  It isn’t long until he’s waking me up to depart the plane. I’m pretty sure I growl at him. I don’t like my sleep disturbed.

  Soon, though, another problem arises. My stomach rumbles angrily.

  “I’m starving,” I tell Xander. “We need to eat something.”

  “We will,” he says. “Let’s just find our gate first.”

  After he locates our gate, he promptly drags me away and into one of the airport restaurants. I smell cheeseburgers and my mouth waters.

  Xander guides me to a table and removes the blindfold. “I’m putting this back on you before we leave.”

  I sigh. A small reprieve is better than none. “Fine,” I mutter reluctantly.

  “I’ll order our food,” he says, striding away. His hair is a mess from sleeping on the plane, but he still looks good to me.