Page 107 of Chasing Xander
Maybe?She blinked back her tears.
She and Xander had gotten back to campus four days ago, and she’d seen him a total of three times, two of which were during class. He was always either in class, working on a group project, or studying. She could understand all of that. Hell, she even supported it. Butmaybethey’d get together tomorrow night? What the fuck?
Dropping her phone into her backpack, she found Celeste and Finn sitting in the quad. Weighed down with disappointment, she took a seat across from them. Naively, she’d imagined she and Xander would walk across campus holding hands, laughing, kissing; that they’d eat lunch with Finn and Celeste like two couples who were the closest of friends.
“What has you looking so grumpy?” Celeste asked.
“Xander.” She sighed. “He’s been so busy, I haven’t had much of a chance to see him since we got back.” She fidgeted with her fingernails as guilt and shame battled inside her. She was being selfish. Xander needed to concentrate on his classes, and all she could do was whine about missing him.I’m a rotten girlfriend.
Finn nodded. “The whole thing is a bunch of bullshit, if you ask me.”
“What is?” Kylie asked, confused.
“Brad giving him that ridiculous letter, banning him from all functions, and stripping him of house duties.” He shook his head with disgust. “Brad’s had it out for Xander since he joined the fraternity.”
She nearly fell off the bench seat. Why hadn’t Xander told her any of that? Her head spun. “When did that happen?” The bitter taste of bile stung the back of her throat.
“He got the letter as soon as he got back. It was waiting for him on his pillow. Brad didn’t even have the balls to tell him to his face.” Finn shook his head.
Her jaw dropped. It hadn’t even been a week since they’d gotten back on campus. He’d known this and had been keeping it a secret from her? Why? “I thought…” She cleared her throat. “I thought there had to be a vote or something.”
He nodded. “There does. That’s happening Sunday evening. Brad needed to follow the rules and give Xander enough notice to improve, but the sneaky bastard issued the official letter the day after Xander left with you, so he lost those four days.”
Hysteria bubbled up inside her, and she stood. She had no idea where she was going or what she’d do, but she couldn’t sit still a second longer. “Isn’t there something you can do to help him?” Her heart broke at the thought he’d be kicked out. All because of her. Because she’d cried on his shoulder about her grandmother and not being able to go to the funeral. She was such an idiot.
“I’ve done everything I can. Xander knows what he’s up against. And he’s resourceful. Who knows?” Finn shrugged. “Maybe he’ll pull something out of his ass. I’ve seen him do some pretty impossible things.”
“I gotta go.” She grabbed her bag and started off toward her res hall.
“Ky!” Celeste jogged up to her. “Hey, are you okay?”
She nodded, biting her bottom lip. “I just need some time to think.” She forced a smile. “I’ll see you later, okay?” Without waiting for a response, she walked away.
…
Hugging her pillow to her chest, she watched Celeste hustle about the room. “What’re you doing tonight?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. Finn asked me to help him with something, but he wouldn’t give me any details.” She yanked a fitted sweater over her head. “I think it’s pledge initiation night or something. He was telling me about the pranks they pull on the pledges.”
Kylie’s shoulders slumped. Xander should be involved in that.
Celeste shoved her feet into her sandals. “You sure you’re okay here alone? I can totally stay and hang out with you.”
“No. You go. Have fun.” A flicker of hope still burned in her chest—hope that Xander would call or text or come over.
Leaning on the mattress, Celeste hugged her. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay.” She smiled.
Moments after Celeste left, there was a knock on the door. Kylie opened it to find Xander holding a single red rose. Her heart stopped, and her breath caught.
“Forgive me?” he asked.
She took the flower and nodded for him to come in. “Did you do something that needs to be forgiven?”
“Yeah. I’ve been ignoring you all week, and that makes me an asshole in need of some serious forgiveness.”
“It’s okay. You’ve been busy.” She set the flower on her desk, then moved back across the room to close the door.
