Page 102 of A Summer of Stars

“Making sure you’re all right, of course.” Based on his tone, the words that seemed to be missing from the end of his sentence were:Why else would I be here?

“Why wouldn’t I be all right?” she asked.

He took a step back, glancing up at his father. “Dad called and said you were in the hospital—that something was wrong.”

She turned to look at her son-in-law. “It’s just a routine checkup. Why would you say that?”

Kieran’s father already appeared to be over the conversation, not an ounce of excitement to see his son. “I didn’t say that. All I said was that your abuela was in the hospital.”

Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose and mumbled something under his breath. “And how did you think I was going to take that? Honestly, Dad.”

I didn’t need to see his face to know there was a line between his brows, deep enough to catch sweat.

“It’s your own fault for not waiting to hear what I had to say.”

“Youknewwhy I was coming. You had every chance to call or send me a text on my flight here.”

His father shook his head. “Maybe it’s a good thing you pay your family a visit anyway.”

Kieran’s fists curled. I had no idea how he was staying so calmwhen my own irritation was climbing. “Why did you call me, then?” he asked.

“I needed someone to give Mila a hand with Lucila’s kids for the night. I also need you to stop by the restaurant to make sure the back door is locked.”

He called his son to handle ato-do list?

Kieran’s mother spoke up for the first time, not before rolling her eyes at her husband. “Hi, sweetie, it’s good to see you.” She smiled, stepping around the bed to finally greet Kieran, laying a kiss on his cheek. She was a tall, slender woman with a gray bob and a kind smile that mimicked her son’s.

A tang of bitter disappointment rested under my tongue. Was that her only response to how her husband was acting?

“Hola, Madre,” he responded warmly before separating from the embrace.

“Abuela needs X-rays, but they had to inject her first, so it’ll be a few hours before they can actually take the X-rays. Personally, I thought your sister was fine on her own, seeing as she’s an adult, but I guess your father thinks otherwise.” She gave her husband a look, one that I assumed evolved during a marriage. I wouldn’t know. “I’m sorry about the trouble, I had no idea you were coming all the way here. I am happy to see you, though, mi hijo guapo.”

“It’s fine. I’m just caught off guard. If you needed a hand, you could’ve just told me, I would’ve come in less of a rush. Especially since I dragged Luna—” His words stopped, and he turned.

My back stiffened. “Hello.” I crafted a grin as everyone’s gazes landed on me.

“Luna!” Kieran’s grandmother gasped. She got up from the bed and wrapped her frail arms around me.

“It’s so amazing to finally meet you,” I said into her floral-scented hair. “Kieran’s told me so much about you.”

“I can only imagine what that included,” she snorted before pulling away, making room for Kieran’s mother to greet me.

“I can’t believe we’re seeing you in the flesh,” she beamed, taking hold of my arms. “The neighbors and I get together every week to talk about you and my son—it’s all anyone wants to talk about. None of us knew much about tennis, but we’ve been following your matches. You’re just as talented as Kieran says.” Her sweet tone warmed my heart, comparable to a stream of morning light coming through a clean window.

“All right, thank you, Mom, you can let go of her now.” His hand rested on my lower back. She let go of my arms and her husband extended his hand, not too dissimilar to what my own father would do.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Alexander.” I shook his hand firmly.

His brows furrowed and his eyes followed a path behind me before looking forward again. “Mr. Alvarez,” he corrected.

“Oh, my apologies.”

“We should get going,” Kieran spoke up, saving me from whatever awkwardness was about to fill the room.

His grandmother opened her mouth, but he got his words out first. “You can pester her with your questions when you get home.” Changing his focus to his mother, he said, “Let me know when you’re on your way back.”

This should be easy. I had already met his parents and grandmother, which, realistically, wasn’t in the most ideal place. But thesilver lining was that it couldn’t get more uncomfortable! Yet, that didn’t calm the restless shake of my foot as Kieran pulled the car into the driveway. His childhood home consisted of a white house with a red roof and an ocean for a backyard.