Free Second Chance (Cruiser & Lex, Book 2) by Dee J. Stone Page B

tighten.
    Mom shakes her head but doesn’t say anything. She resumes chopping the vegetables.
    Dad pats my cheek. “Rosie will be okay. We’ll all be okay.”
    I nod again before sitting near Rosie on the living room couch. She’s not as upset as she was the past few days, but she’s pretty down. I pick up the second controller. “I bet you can’t beat me in this game.” I nod to the screen.
    Rosie snorts. “I can even beat Cruiser, and he rocks at the game.”
    It’s so nice to see a small smile tugging her lips again. I put my arm around her and hug her close. And because I care so much about her, I kiss her cheek.
    “Ew! Gross.” She wipes it away.
    “I love you, Rosie. You know that, right?”
    She rolls her eyes. “I know.”
    “Now let’s see if you can whoop my butt in five minutes.”
    “You’re on!”

Chapter Thirteen
    Cruiser
     
    Someone jumps on me. Rey.
    My head’s buried under my blanket. It’s Sunday. My day to sleep in late. I shove him off.
    “Cruise.” He yanks off the blanket.
    My eyes are shut, but the sunlight blinds me. I roll onto my other side. “We’re not five.”
    That’s how we used to wake each other up when we were kids. Jumped onto one another. We haven’t done something like this in years.
    “Once you hear who’s here, you’ll race me downstairs.”
    I crack an eye open. “What?”
    “Gran and Gramps!”
    He runs out.
    I spring up. Gran and Gramps? My grandparents from New York. I bound out of bed, throw on a shirt and jeans, and dash down the steps. They’re in the living room. Gran’s got her arms around Rey. Hugs him close and kisses him. Her gray curls hang down her shoulders. Gramps stands next to them, hands behind his back and smiling. Mom and Dad are sitting on the recliners.
    I haven’t seen Gramps and Gran in over a month. Damn, I miss them. I step into the room. Gran raises her head. “Cruiser!” She holds out her arms.
    Next thing I know, Rey and I are squeezed together in Grans arms. I laugh. Last time we were like this was when we were twelve years old. Rey and I haven’t spent a lot of time with Gran and Gramps. But when we did, it was crazy-ass fun. They took us to the park and the zoo. Let us stay up late watching scary movies. Gran baked her awesome oatmeal cookies. They’re more laid-back than Dad’s parents, even though Gramps is a retired Navy captain.
    The one thing I loved about them growing up is that they never compared Rey and me like my other grandparents did. They treated each of us like we were our own persons.
    Gramps steps forward and holds out his hand. I shake it. He grins and pulls me in for a hug. “Cruiser, Cruiser.” He pats my back.
    “What are you guys doing here?” I ask.
    “Well, your Gran and I realized we haven’t been down south in a while.”
    “And we hadn’t seen Rey in forever,” Gran adds.
    “Did you bring your oatmeal cookies?” Rey asks.
    Gran nods toward one of the suitcases. Has a twinkle in her eye. “Have a look.”
    Rey and I shove each other as we pry the suitcase open. I feel like I’m ten years old again. Feels good. With Rey’s recent crazy-ass behavior, it’s nice for things to feel normal.
    I find the cookies before Rey. Grab ‘em. The four adults in the room laugh.
    “Mom, Dad, please sit down.” Mom gestures to the couch. Gran and Gramps sit. Rey squeezes in between them and I half-sit on the armrest.
    “How have you been doing, Rey?” Gramps asks. “Weren’t you supposed to be in some prestigious music school?”
    Bro’s cheeks turn red. He scowls.
    Gran pats his hand. “It doesn’t matter, sweetie.”
    The room gets quiet. Except for Rey and me munching on the cookies.
    “I heard you’re no longer getting into trouble.” Gramps taps my thigh. “New York must have been good for you.”
    “And he has a girlfriend,” Mom says.
    Gramps gives me an impressed look. “Oh? Do we know her?”
    “Lex Woods from next door.”
    “The girl with the wavy, black hair