bEver /bbAfter /bbAwalts /b

    bChapter /bb56/bb: /bbLa /bbPOV /b

    bI’m /bin contact with Saxonsea for the rest of the week to discuss the way forward. The administrative office is frustratingly inflexible, insisting they need Michael’s written permission since he covered bmy /bfirst year’s tuition. The thought of facing him makes my stomach twist, but they’ve emailed me the forms to bfinalize /bbthe /bprocess if he agrees.

    He has bto /bsign them in person, which means I can’t avoid a confrontation. It’s a hurdle I’ll have to clear sooner rather thanter, and the looming inevitability of it hangs over me.

    To keep my savings from dwindling too fast, I’ve picked up extra shifts at Beantree. The coffee shop’s familiar chaos has be a refuge. The extra hours keep me busyb, /bmy hands moving on autopilot while my mind wrestles with everything else.

    By Friday afternoon, I’ve still not heard a peep from my mother, which doesn’t surprise me. But, deep in the recesses of my heart, I was holding out the teeniest kernel of hope that she’d at least try and apologize.

    I haven’t seen any of the guys again as their ss schedules are jam–packed, and my new routine hasn’t allowed me much downtime. We’ve been in contact with each other daily. From the casual “how bwas /byour

    day” to the most random memes that bring a much–needed smile to my face. And, at night, while I’m tucked under myforter, I receive sweet, sexy, and sometimes downright naughty messages.

    Xavier’s messages are always friendly but still aloof. It confirms my decision to press halt on our little tryst in the hallway. He obviously was caught up in the moment just as much as I was. And then the light of a new day probably brought him rity and perspectiveb, /bso he decided that pursuing anything between us was more trouble and drama than he wanted at this stage of his life.

    And the thing is, I can’t fault him for that. I would also run screaming for the hills if someone bI /bjust met came hurtling into my life with more baggage than an airport luggage im area.

    I’ve also been keeping in contact with Moira. She gets why I’m doing this, but she doesn’t hide her disapproval of how things are unfolding. One afternoon, sheunches into a fiery tangent about how my mom should be the one looking for a new ce to stay, not me. I can’t help but smile at her fierce loyalty, picturing her pacing her kitchen, hands waving as she rants.

    ording to Moira, Michael hasn’t kicked her to the curb, but she has moved into one of the guest bedrooms. Moira hasn’t been able to find out anything more because the few heated discussions my mom and Michael have had were behind closed doors. I wish I could be a fly on the wall during one of those

    quarrels.

    I have also learned from Moira that Michael is supposed to be home the whole of Sunday, bso /bbI /bn to go overb, /bget the rest of my stuff, and get him to sign the papers then. The thought of it makes my chest tighten, but it’s a step I can’t avoid.

    Friday was a long day at Beantreeb, /bbut I told Tessa I’m giving her the night offb. /bMason and I n to have a movie marathon night, drag our mattresses into the living room to make one big bed on the floor, and then beat /bpopcorn until our tummies cramp.

    bChapter /bb56. /bbLa /bbPOV /b

    After bnumerous /bbprotests /bbfrom /bher, we bboth /bbgot /bher bundled up and bout /bbof /bthe bhouse/bb, /bbbasically /bmming

    the bdoor /bbin /bher face and cackling bas /bbshe /bthreatened all kinds bof /bthings from behind bthe /blocked bfront /bbdoor/b. A bfew /bminutesterb, /bshe texted me to say she was going to a movie and then bdrinks /bbwith /bsome bof /bbher /bbPTA /bmommy friends.

    About halfway through the first Disney movie, both of us singing along to the bsongs /bat the btop /bbof /bbour /blungsb, /bmy phone vibrates next to me with an iing call. Thinking it’s Tessa checking bin/bb, /bI bdon’t /bcheck the caller ID, so I swipe across the screen to answer it without taking my eyes off the TV screen.

    “Yesb, /bTessa, we’re still behaving. Mason has bribed me with cuddles to stay awaketer than normalb,/bb” /bbI /bbsay /bwith a smile, intent on messing with her.

    * Princess, who’s Mason? *

    My breath catches as Xavier’s voice filters through the phone. Sure that I’m having some sort of hallucination, I pull the phone away from my ear and check the screen for the caller ID. And lo and bbehold/b, Xavier’s name is shing at me in the dim light of the living room.

    “Xavier?” I ask confusedly, still unsure I have not stepped into an alternate universe.

    Answer the question, Princessb. /b*

    He replies, a hint of tension creeping into his voice. And is that jealousy I hear? Deciding to mess with him a bit, a reply, “He’s this handsome young man who’s treating me to a movie tonight.”

    Mason looks at me with a cheeky little grin, obviously having heard what I said. I wink at him and ce my finger over my mouth, indicating for him to be quiet. He nods his head vigorously but then goes back to watching the movie.

    La, I swear to all things holy, if you are out on a date with another guy, I will hunt you both down, and he will wish he had never even looked in your direction.

    *

    The vehemence in his voice has me trying to hold in a snicker. Enjoying riling him up, I don’t put him out of his misery. At least not yet.

    “That’s not a very nice thing to say, Xavier. At least I don’t have to worry that Mason will ever be so rude.” Keeping it together is bing more challenging by the second as I hear Xavier’s breaths bingbored over the line with every word thates out of my mouth.

    Where are you? Tell me, right fucking now.

    *

    His demandes out in a controlled but deadly voice that has shivers running down my spine. And not because it frightens me. Quite the opposite, really.

    I mock gasp at him before saying, “Xavier. Language.” cing my hand lightly over the phone speakerb, /bbI /btalk off into the distance as if speaking to someone who called out to me, “I’ll be right thereb, /bbMason/b.” Uncovering the speaker, I say with a sugary sweet voice, “Sorry, I need to go, Mason needs my help with something. Good night, Xavier.”

    73

    bChapter /bb56/bb: /bbLa /bbPOV /b

    bAs /bI’m bpulling /bbthe /bphone away from my ear to end the call, Xavier roars “fuckb” /bbon /bbthe /bother bline/b. That’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and I end the call just in time before I double over bin /bbughter /bwith tears running down my cheeks.

    Mason joins in, not caring what I’mughing about, just instinctively knowing it is a joyous moment bto /bbbe /bshared with me.

    After several minutes, we calm down, and watch the movie further. My phone lights up with a message where it’s lying on myp this time.

    * Hunter: That wasn’t very nice of you, Beautiful. *

    * La: Whatever do you mean? ithinking /iiemoji /i*

    * Hunter: You little minx. You know precisely what you did by not telling Xavier who Mason bis/bb./b*

    La: I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about ishrugging /iiemoji /i

    *

    * Hunter: Fuck, you’re glorious when you seek your retribution ikissy /iiface /iiemoji /i

    * La: Good night, Hunter. I miss your face iwinky /iiemoji/i*

    * Hunter: Sleep tight, sweetheart. I miss your face more! ihug /iiemoji/i*

    bChapter /bbComments /b