Chapter 77: Xavier POV

    del de tre of the butt

    Making my useful in This was a Mortyofing best to file

    villy if intend to spend more time und Lyd truth

    But if I’m being how with myself, the action didn’t feel dising

    Yes, tight have tried to fans with Tess, And that’s t

    Reuse of La’s example of being a ‘grad human being, I want to itry /ito be on t

    You wouldn’t have caught me dead mingling with kids a couple of months ago, much less speaking to them and makingughed at you bwhen /byou told me I would pick up toys for a kid I barely knew. And I would have posted you in the f better person, Being an asshole was what I lived for.

    I’m standing in Tessa’s kitchen with a ss of water in hand, chatting with her about everyday subjects, when make the showered, if her wet bhair /bin a messy bun is anything to go by, and dressed in high–waisted jeans and a floral to 11 gut putty dam neckline that’s still appropriate for public viewing. Still, with her ample breasts, the generous cleavage that is on dingley has me hung un bhide /bbmy /bbody’s inappropriate reaction.

    “Ready to go?” I ask, as I ce my ss in the bsink/b, and walk closer to her. Her signature scent of strawberries and honey wrap and w her. I subtly inhale, imagining pressing my nose behind her ear and drawing it in right before she falls asleep in my arms.

    “I am. Sorry for taking so long,” she says, a shy blush tinting her cheeks.

    “Nah, I don’t mind at all,” I say as I ce my hand in the hollow of her back, finding it harder and harder to keep my hands off being th “It was nice to meet you, Tessa. Mason and his friends are wee anytime at the house to have a pool day.”

    La swivels her head in my direction, her eyes widen in disbelief, but she doesn’t say anything. Tessa gives me ba /bbroad, gesine senide and “Thanks, Xavier.”

    Mason gives me a fist bump on our way out, reminding me of our deal. La’s fond bsmile /bbas /bshe flugs him and ces ba /bmoisy kas on his bches/b, nurs heart do funny things. Is that heartburnb? /b

    y

    On the way out, she’s unusually quiet, but I chalk it up to her nervousness about the discussion she’s about to have with my dad, when we get and I’ve opened her door for her, she suddenly turns around, looks at me, and then basks/b, “Does Mason know you offered him and his friends a d

    Caught by surprise at her seemingly random question, I shake my head slightly before banswering/b, “He wasn’t in the room when Tea and talk ab no. But I can’t promise he didn’t overhear us. Why do you askb? /b

    She looks down and ys with a loose thread at the bottom of her shirt, as bif /bgathering her thoughts. Then blurts out, “Because I don’t want y disappoint bhim /bby not making good on your promise,” while still struggling to look bme /bin the eye as the looks at a random spot bin /bthe shule my that

    I take a small step closer, crook my finger beneath her chin, and tip her head up so she has no choice but to catch my gaze. “What make chat?” I ask earnestly, unsure where her train of thought is bgoing/b.

    “Uhm, bat /bthe risk of hurting your feelings, I’m just bgoing /bto bsay /bit,” she bstarts/b, takes ba /bdeep breath, and then confesses, “You desh the best track record of being a nice guy, not to mention a guy that would hang baround /bkids. If he gets his hopes up, and you most bats find some case the bip /bmud of it, hu little heart will be brokenb, /band I would inevitably never forgive byou/bb./b”

    By the time she’s done, her chest is heaving as if she’s out of breath. bBut /bI have ba /bsneaking suspicion it’s because she’s deat bblunt /bcharacter assessment of me

    Truthfully, two weeks ago, I would bhave /bmade the offer, then forgotten about it as soon as I stepped me of bthe /bcoum. Il bthey /bcontacted would have made up some reason or another to get out of it. Eventually forgetting abes the whole thing when they would stop basking /bbrealized /bI bwas /ba bullshitter of the butmost /border.

    I also get why she’s bnervous /bat bmy /breaction, because I usually would go on the bdefensive /bwhen someone called bme /bbout /bbon /bmy shitty behaviorb, /bbscreaming /bbraging /bbat /bbthem /bAnd the fact that she’s ba /bgirl would have made it worse, bbecause /bwho does she think she is to talk to me, Xavier Beed, like that bput /bher through a bcharacter /bassassination that would bmake /ba troll with a vendetta on the inte bproud /b

    Chapter 77: Xavier POV

    And I know the won’t hat believe bme /bif I say I’ve changed. She will need proof, especially because a kid she’s close to is involved. An innocent by wh shouldn’t have to learn what disappointment and heartbreak feel like, especially at the hands of an adult they forkert up fri

    he, 1 lean in, turn my fingertips along her jawline softly, and then gently but resolutely say, “I’m not going to promise you I wouldn’t do forb, /bbecame with what you’ve seen with your own eyes, you’d never believe me, and that would be wise. But I can promise you that I want to be Better. For myself and was So, all I’m going to ask you right now is to give me a chance to prove to you that I’m not a fost cause.”

    By the time I’m done speaking, she’s staring at me as if I’ve grown a second head or a third eye popped out on my forehead.

    “Okay,” she says, softly but firmly,

    “Okay? You’ll bgive /bme a chance?” I ask hopefully, needing to hear her say the words.

    With a small smile, she nods her head, and I suddenly feel ten tons lighter. Impulsively, I lean forward and kiss her. I don’t linger too long, and i don’t try to get my tongue involved, but I make sure it’s heartfelt and intense, nheless.

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