Second Chance (Cruiser & Lex, Book 2) (2 page)

Cruiser

My parents are eating dinner when I walk into the kitchen.

“Sup?” I grab a soda from the fridge.

Dad takes a bite from his dinner. “Elvis, your mother and I would like to discuss a few things with you.”

In the past, I might have said something rude. Something disrespectful. Things have changed these past few weeks. Not saying they’re great, but they’re better. My parents seem to listen to me, and Dad’s no longer afraid to speak his mind. I’m more willing to hear them out.

I sit down at the table.

Dad wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Did you sign up for any extracurricular activities?”

I knew this conversation would come up at some point. “Still thinking things over,” I mumble.

“You need to start thinking about your future,” Mom says. “You’ll be applying to college next year. You need to pick up your grades—”

“Working on that.”

“—and you need to pick some activities that would impress potential colleges. Start thinking about your essay…”

I tune her out. Not because I’m a dick, but because I don’t want to think about it. Don’t want to deal. It feels like I’m just beginning to get my life back together. In a relationship with Lex, working on my relationship with my parents. Focusing on school. I can’t squeeze college in.

I stand. “Yeah, I got it.” I go for the stairs.

“Don’t brush this aside, Elvis,” Mom says. “Don’t wait until the last minute. You can be successful if you put your mind to it. Just look at Reagan. He’s attending a prestigious music academy—”

“Yeah.” One thing that hasn’t changed much is how Mom always compares me to Rey. Like it’s her goal to turn the screw-up into the golden child. I know she’s doing what she thinks is best for me. But there’s a thing about pushing someone too far.

I climb the stairs to my room and plop down on my desk chair. I grab my Xbox controller. It was my dream to join the Navy once I graduate high school. Be a captain like Gramps. Mom never liked it because it was hard for her growing up with a dad who wasn’t always around. I didn’t give a shit about that a year ago. The thought of leaving this place, to always be on the go and not be tied down to anything or anyone seemed like the perfect life. That was before Lex and I became a couple.

Not saying I gave up on my dream because of her. More like my dream changed. What’s the Navy compared to the girl I love? I’ll do anything for her. She’s my dream now.

I load in a shooting game.

Lex is the most important person to me. But I got no clue what I’m supposed to do with my life.

***

A tapping sound jerks me out of my sleep. I lie still for a bit, straining my ears. I don’t hear anything. I turn over to my other side and smash the pillow over my head.

Tap
.

My eyes fly open. What the hell is that?

Tap
.

My phone buzzes. I reach over and scan the screen. A few texts from Rey. Why’s he texting me at 2 AM? I don’t have a chance to read them because there’s another tap.

It’s coming from the window. Getting up, I walk over as I scroll through Rey’s messages.
Yo, Cruise. Wake up and get your ass to the window
.

I peer out, blinking a few times. Hell, I must be losing it. Someone who looks like Rey is standing out there. Damn, I must be hallucinating because I miss him too much. I press my forehead to the window and squint again. Shit, it
is
him. The same brown hair like mine, cut short. Same height. A black bag is slung over his shoulder.

What the hell is he doing here? I just spoke to him a few hours ago. He lied about going for Mexican. He must have been on his way to the airport.

I open the window and stick my head out. “Rey?”

“Let me in,” he half-whispers and half-yells. “Before they wake up.”

“What are you doing here?”

He motions for me to keep my voice down. “Just let me in.”

I’ve only got pants on. I grab a shirt and get downstairs, trying to be as quiet as possible. It’s not so easy when the steps are as old as hell and creak. Reminds me of the time Rey got drunk last month. He was so stressed because of the violin, Lex, his clubs, and who the hell knows what, that he got trashed. I got him upstairs without my parents suspecting anything.

I get to the door and open it. Rey’s expression is unsure. Confused. Worried. I hold out my hands. “What the hell, Rey?”

He laughs sheepishly. “Can I come in?”

I widen the door and take the bag from him as he passes me. It feels like he packed an elephant and a rhino in here. I close the door and face him. “Talk.”

He studies the house like he’s been away for twenty years.

“You flew in?” I ask.

“I’m beat.” He reaches for his bag.

I tighten my hold. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Later.”

“Rey.”

“Cruise, I’m beat.”

I can see on his face how tired he is. I hand him the bag. “I got no clue what you’re doing here, but it’s good to see you. Come here.” I give him a hug. He puts his arms around me and holds on to me for a bit before pulling away. “You good?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m cool.” He forces a smile. Something’s definitely up. “Wrecked my room?” he asks.

Usually, I’d crack a joke or say something like, “You know it,” but I just look at him. See how his eyebrows are creased and how his lips are pressed in a firm line.

He heads up to his room. I follow. It’s next door to mine. Used to be mine. Actually, it was originally his. My room is right across from Lex’s. When she and Rey started going out, Rey switched over to my room so they could see each other from their rooms. As soon as he left and Lex and I got together, I asked him if it was cool that I moved back into my original room. He agreed. Now Lex is the last thing I see before I go to bed.

His new-old room looks the same as when he left. Posters of things he’s into, like famous violinists. Books and games lined up neatly on his shelf. His Xbox is stored in its box. He’s probably the only person to keep his Xbox in its box when it’s not in use.

I drop his bag onto his bed and sit down. “Rey.”

He takes a few steps in. “Yeah?”

“What’s up?”

He goes over to his bag and unzips it. Rummages inside.

“Rey.”

His gaze jumps to mine. “We’ll talk in the morning. I need sleep.”

“I’m not gonna leave until you tell me what the hell’s wrong. You took a plane and came home. In the middle of the night. Without telling Mom and Dad. Do they even know you’re here?”

He fists his hands.

“You can tell me, bro,” I say.

He takes hold of his blanket and pulls it back. My ass is in the way. Doesn’t stop him, though. He squeezes in and lies down, turning his back to me.

“Are you in trouble?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer.

“Girl problems?”

A light scoff.

“Rey, whatever it is—”

“Don’t you know when to shut up, Cruiser?”

Feels like a slap in the face. A hard one. “Rey, please—”

He kicks me in the rib through the blanket.

I stand and stare down at him. His back still faces me, shoulders rising and falling fast like he’s mad. Or crying?

“’Night, Rey.”

At the door, I look back and watch him for a few seconds. I see his face now. His eyes are shut tight. He opens them and meets my gaze. He rolls to his other side.

I make it to my room and fall on my bed. I sit there, staring at my cruiser ship sitting in the middle of the room in its glass case. The ship Gramps and Gran gave me for my tenth birthday. The ship that gave me my name.

Something is wrong with Rey. Ain’t like him to act like this. He seemed so happy in L.A.

I lie down and stare at the ceiling. I’m not going to get much sleep tonight.

Lex

I shake my light blue and white poms and swing my hips before twirling around and throwing them in the air. I only catch one. When I look at my teammates, I find that most of them haven’t managed to catch theirs, either.

Coach Lewis shakes her head. “This isn’t coming out the way I envisioned. Let’s pick this up after school.”

We have a dance meet in a few weeks and have been squeezing in as much practice as possible. Before school, after school, sometimes during lunch period. I guess ever since we won first place at Hamilton last month, we’re on a mission to win every meet that follows, which will hopefully bring us to Nationals. We all want this very badly—my dream is to be a professional dancer, to get accepted into Juilliard and be on Broadway.

I gather my poms and walk toward the door. That’s when I see a tall guy with brown, wavy hair sweeping his shoulders. My whole body lights up. I bet I’m going to get the same fuzzy, jello-y feeling every time I lay eyes on him. Cruiser.

His face brightens when he sees me. I rush over and throw myself into his arms. He lifts me a few inches off the ground and does a small spin. I laugh. “We’re acting like we haven’t seen each other in months.”

His chest vibrates as he laughs. “That’s how I feel every second I’m away from you.”

I wrap my arms tighter around him and press my lips to his. He pulls me closer to his body as his mouth devours mine. I feel like I’ve been skyrocketed to the moon.

When we pull apart, I say, “I’m so wiped out. I have no patience for school.”

He fingers my bottom lip. “Been working hard?”

“You have no idea. Coach is putting so many hard moves into our routine and won’t give us a break until we get it right.”

He pecks my nose. “You’re the hottest, most talented Sharkette on the squad.”

Cheeks flushing, I lightly slap his shoulder. “Shut up.”

He puts his hands on my waist and spins me around so that my back is against the wall. “Never.” He digs his face in my neck. “You smell so good.”

“I’m all sweaty and gross.”

“Mmm.” His lips brush my skin.

When a moan escapes my lips, my eyes snap open and my cheeks get even hotter. We’re right outside the gym, not the busiest area in the school, but busy enough that some kids stare and giggle. Even though Cruiser and I have been an official couple for a few weeks, I still haven’t gotten used to being…“physical” in public. Rey hadn’t had much experience nor was he as passionate.

Ugh, I still compare them. I wish I didn’t. I know it’s normal, since Rey was my first boyfriend and he’s Cruiser’s twin. I push him out of my head.

When Cruiser lifts his head from my neck, his eyes are heavy and I can see the fire burning in them. It makes me feel…sexy that I evoke those feelings in him. I never felt this sexy with Rey.

Ugh, again.

He steps away and I immediately feel cold. I want to launch myself into his arms again and let him continue kissing me with those warm, soft lips that take me to places I’ve never been before. But we’re in school.

“So guess who dropped by last night,” he says.

“Who?”

“You gotta guess, darlin’. Actually you won’t guess. I’ll give you a hint. He has my birthday.” He rubs his forehead and frowns. “Well that just gave it away.”

“Rey dropped by?”

His face was so playful a few seconds ago, but now it’s laced in pain and worry. His hair falls over his eyes, shielding them from my view.

I push the hair away. His eyes look even more pained. “What’s wrong, Cruiser?”

“I don’t know,” he says, barely above a whisper. “He dropped in last night and was acting very weird. His door was locked this morning. I don’t think my parents even know he’s home. Something’s wrong, Lex. I can feel it.”

I run my hand through his hair. “Why do you think something’s wrong? Maybe he got off from school or—”

He shakes his head. “I
know
him. It’s hard to explain. I don’t think he’s in trouble. I mean, maybe he is.” He shakes his head like he’s telling a voice in his head to shut up. “The way he treated me and spoke to me. Ain’t like him.”

I hug him as tightly as possible. I hate being powerless to help. It hurts so much to see him hurting. His arms come around me and he holds on like he’s drawing in my comfort.

“Come.” I take his hand, and we sink to the floor. Cruiser doesn’t say anything, just stares at the space in front of him. I slide closer to him and rest my chin on his shoulder.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks.

I climb into his lap and put my hands around his neck, looking into his eyes. “Of course.”

He rests his forehead against mine. “Do you ever feel that because you’re so happy, everything will go to shit any minute? Like the anvil’s hanging above your head and will drop the next time you laugh or smile?”

“All the time. It’s okay to feel scared. Life’s unpredictable. But we can’t live in fear all the time.”

He nods. “You’re right. I guess I feel I don’t deserve to be happy.”

“Why not? Of course you deserve to be happy. You’re an amazing guy.”

He doesn’t say anything.             

“Whatever’s happening with Rey, it’ll be okay.” I take hold of his chin and lift his face until his eyes meet mine. “It’ll be okay.”

He nods, his face filled with doubt. “Hope you’re right.”