Page 96 of One of Them Girls

“Thank you, doctor,” Reed says. The rest of us murmur our thanks as well.

Tinsley moves away from their group on the far side of the room, coming to where I’m standing in the corner.

“You don’t have to be way back here. I know my brother and boyfriend can be intimidating, but it’s not you. They have a hard time trusting.”

My eyes tear up at her words. “Why are you being so nice to me right now?”

Her eyes show understanding.

“Let’s take a walk. I think we should talk.”

“Where are you going, woman?” Finley calls from across the room.

“For a walk. I’ll be back. Call me if they come back.”

He doesn’t look happy, but he doesn’t say anything else.

Leading me out of the waiting room, she leads me down the hall in silence. She doesn’t stop until we are at the elevators. She leads me to the love seat positioned across from the elevators.

Once settled, she lets out a heavy sigh.

“I know why you think I wouldn’t like you. Xavier told me everything, but I think you have the wrong idea. You know there are three sides to every story. There’s your side. There’s Xavier’s. Then there’s the truth. I think you both have vilified yourself in your own versions. He has never said one negative thing about you.”

“He should. I broke up with him.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Yes, you did. His heart is aching, but you made valid points. If I’m not mistaken, I feel like you might have broken your own heart in the process as well.”

I give her a small smile, showing her she’s on the right track.

“I saw it when I came down before. Xavier cares deeply for you. I saw your face when he called you a friend. After you ran off, I read him the riot act. I couldn’t believe he would treat you so carelessly. Do you know what he told me?” When I shake my head no, she continues, “He said that you had some emotional scars you were working through and that he didn’t want to scare you off by using more serious labels.”

“He’s the one who took dating off the table. I would have dated him from the start,” I tell her.

“I know. He told me that too. He wouldn’t tell me why, but I knew why. I’m assuming Xavier told you our past?”

“He did.”

“Good. He needed to. I’m always going to be his friend, but the past couple months? I’m no longer his best friend. That’s you. You’re who he is confiding in. Who he spends all of his time with. He cares about you.”

“I care about him too. When Rebecca told me he was in the hospital, I flipped out. I’m still anxious even though the doctor told us he would be okay. Like I won’t believe it until I see him for myself.”

She gives me a warm smile, reaching out to grab my hand. “He’s lucky to have you.”

I let out a sigh. “No offense, but your boyfriend made it seem like I wasn’t even welcome here.”

She laughs. “Like Finley would know anything about Xavier would want. They aren’t exactly the best of friends. He doesn’t know Xavier like you or I do. He doesn’t know that you didn’t ask about his parents because you don’t know about their relationship, but because you know it would mean the world to him if they showed up. Just like you know it’s going to hurt like hell when he finds out they didn’t bother to come. Trust me, Xavier would want you here.”

“Thank you,” I murmur.

“You’re welcome. I think that if we talked more, we could be friends. Besides, I need someone to team up on Xavier with.”

She bumps my knee with hers as she giggles.

I give her a warm smile. “I’m sorry if I was cold to you before.”

She gives me a knowing smile in return. “If some chick showed up hugging on my man, I would be a little more than upset, even if he told me they were just friends. No worries.”

“Tin tin, they are ready to let us back.”

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