Page 156 of The Keeper

“Of course.” I slid the bowl closer to him so he could dunk a little piece of his crust. The tentative way he put it in his mouth amused me. Like he wasn’t sure what would happen once he started chewing.

He did this little head bob thing after he finished and took a long swallow of his drink.

“What did you think?”

“I think you have impeccable taste in bourbon.”

I laughed. “Not a ranch fan? Looks like we can’t be friends, then.”

He looked over at me. “How will I ever survive.” His tone was droll and sardonic. Peak Xavier.

“You’ll manage.” I dunked the rest of my crust in the bowl and ate it with zeal.

Xavier shook his head and started cleaning up. I watched him move around the kitchen, putting the plates in the sink. I smiled to myself. These regular, mundane actions felt normal. Just another Sunday at home with the boyfriend.

Thinking of him as my boyfriend filled me with hope and fear. I finished my bourbon in one swallow, enjoying the aged smoky richness as it slid down my throat while wracking my brain to think of ways to bring up what I read about the night he was attacked.

He needs to know. It wouldn’t be fair to keep this from him. Besides, I didn’t want us to start our relationship with half-truths and secrecy.

“Want me to take that for you?” Xavier asked.

I slid the glass across the counter to him. “Thank you.”

“Maybe I am more domesticated than previously stated.”

“Let’s not get crazy, Maddox.”

While he finished in the kitchen, I went over to the window. Hugging my arms to myself, I sighed. A peaceful warmth spread through me, not from the food or the sex or the bourbon. What I was about to do is the right thing. Closing my eyes, I said a silent prayer for my sister.

Xavier’s body radiated heat from behind me. His arms encircled my waist, pulling my back flush to his chest. I raised my arm, reaching back to cup my hand behind his neck. He hugged me tighter, lowering his head so his chin rested on my shoulder.

“Still peckish?” I asked.

A small laugh vibrated through him. “No.” His lips brushed against my neck. “You seem a little tense. Anything I can do?”

It’s now or never.

“Yeah, there is. I have to…there’s something you need to know.” I freed myself from his embrace and led him to the couch. I fidgeted with the fabric on the cushion while we sat in silence. His vibrant eyes watched my every move.

“Sounds serious. Is it?”

“I haven’t told you everything about what I read in Charlotte’s diary from Briarcliff.”

Unease fanned from his eyes to his mouth. His lips pressed together.

I lifted my hand to quiet him before he could speak.

“Please let me say this without interrupting. Then you can ask me as many questions as you’d like. Okay?”

He nodded, taking my hand in his.

“The summer she met your brother, um, there was a,” I steadied my breathing, “there was a party. She went to a party near London without telling me. It was at some big estate.”

Xavier’s body stiffened.

“At some point, she went outside with a friend of hers and,” I squeezed his hand, “saw a guy walking to his car. Then she saw some other guys come out of nowhere and beat him up. She said it looked like one of them slashed at him with a key.”

All the blood drained from his face until he was pale. Pale and stoic.

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