Page 1 of Xavier

Chapter One

BRIANNA

The wind is howling, and the sun is hiding behind thick black clouds. It’s a normal summer day in the South during hurricane season.

All two hundred and thirty-six full-time residents of Scarlett Island are scrambling to board up their businesses and houses before the storm hits in a couple of days.

I grab my phone and redial the same number I’ve been calling for the past two and a half hours.

“Damn it, Austin, where are you? You should have been here hours ago. I can’t deal with this shit right now. I have to help board up the house.”

Sure, he’s been late to our dates before and even skipped a couple all together, but he’s never missed my family’s dinner, especially right before a category three hurricane.

I find his best friend’s number in my contact list and call him. He answers before I can even get the phone to my ear.

“Brianna? Is everything alright?”

His question is more high pitched than his usual tone. I’m not sure if he’s more surprised I’m calling him at all or that I’m calling on a Saturday afternoon after he and my boyfriend were at the bar all night.

“Andy? Hey, I’m sorry to bother you with the storm prep going on, but I was wondering if you knew where Austin was? He’s not returning my phone calls or texts.”

“I haven’t heard from him since we left the bar early this morning. He might be helping his family board up their shop. Is there something you need?”

I shake my head even though he can’t see me through the phone.

“I helped his family board up the shop last night after they closed, and he’s supposed to be here for dinner with my family.”

“Oh, shit.” Andy blows out a breath. “I can call him and tell him to get to your house.”

“Don’t bother. Between him missing our date nights and never showing up on time, it’s clear I’m not worth his time. If you do speak to him before I do, tell him we’re over. I’m done.”

I hang up my phone and toss it onto the patio table that we still have to move inside.

Three years down the drain. Three years of my life wasted on someone I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.

Dad wants me to marry someone else, anyone else, someone with greater social status, but I want to marry for love, not social status or family connections.

My mom’s voice drifts over to me from the yard below. “Bri, are you okay?”

I clear the emotion from my throat and say, “Yeah. I will be.”

“So, no Austin today?” She looks at the time on her watch.

“Nope. He won’t be coming around anymore.” I try to keep my voice strong, but it cracks with emotion.

Mom climbs the steps at lightning speed and pulls me into one of her patented mom comfort hugs.

As soon as her arms wrap around me, the tears fall.

“Oh, honey, it will all be alright.”

I shake my head as my tears soak her shirt. “I thought he was the one.”

“Bri, there will be several guys that you think are the ones. You’re beautiful, smart, and still young. You have plenty of time.”

I blow out a shaky breath and take a couple of steps back.

“Mom, I look exactly like you.”

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