Page 22 of Xavier

“So… that’s how you two met, right?”

For some reason, the way he was asking almost sounded like he was fishing for something. Fuck me, I should’ve gotten the full story from Xavier on what he’d told his kid regarding us. All I knew was that he was playing our relationship on the down low to keep Dexter from getting uncomfortable.

Which… sucked.

At the same time, it wasn’t like either Xavier or I could help that he was raised in a strictly religious household and had no idea what kind of beliefs he had. He knew his dad was out and gay, so at least we weren’t going to be running into any problems regardingthattopic.

Me on the other hand?

I had no idea what the hell I was supposed to be playing this as.

Friend?

Former coworker?

All of them sounded like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Sometimes evenboyfrienddid that, too, but what else was I supposed to call Xavier?

Lover sounded like too much and partner made it confusing when half of us at the station referred to each other that way when working.

“Actually, I went to California to train under him for an aerial program and brought back a lot of what I learned to my station,” I said, rubbing my hands together a few times. “I can practically fly fighter jets now.” I let out a chuckle and flashed him a grin.

To my utter surprise, Dexter let out a small snort.

All right, progress.

“We doing okay out here?” Xavier poked his head around the corner, both of his brows pulled together in that nervous way of his.

Just as I was about to give him the big old thumbs up, the sound of my radio flagging from where I had it on the charging dock by the door filtered around the room.

Of all fucking times…

“Damn,” I mumbled. “Well, duty calls.”

“Be safe.” Xavier flashed me a smile, his hand flexing into a fist at his side, clearly fighting himself from grabbing at me like he would’ve any other time.

In response, I clenched my teeth together. Man, I wanted to close the distance between us and peck him on the way out—and judging by his pinched expression, he wanted that, too.

Behave.I told myself.It’s only for a few more hours.

“Have fun today!” I said, and jogged to my bedroom to grab my uniform before heading out.

Never in my life had I ever prayed for some crazy situation to be thrust into when I got to the station, not wanting the bad luck and karma to follow me to my next life.

Today was my exception. Because damn right I was going need all of the distractions in the world that I could possibly get to keep me from jumping Xavier’s bones the second I laid my eyes on him again.

That man was temptation on two legs and I was the stupid moth entranced by his flame.

CHAPTER 11

Xavier

“Your friend seems…”

Inwardly, I winced, waiting for Dexter to finish his sentence and tell me he absolutely hated Gage. That would be my luck, honestly, after finally finding a boyfriend I clicked with so damn well that I could’ve sworn the man was my soul mate.

In an ironic sense, I deserved something like that coming my way for absolutely fucking up Dexter’s life with my alcoholism and breaking his mother’s heart, among the thousand other things I’d done to hurt others in my past. Those were just my two biggest transgressions at the moment.

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