Page 56 of Chasing Xander
He held up his hand to silence her. Kylie hadn’t mentioned her father was an alcoholic, but it certainly explained her reluctance to drink. “I give you my word, Celeste. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Good.” She turned on her heel and marched back to her room.
He shook his head and left the residence hall. Was Celeste right? Would Kylie think his offer to drive her home would lead to something more? Would it? He couldn’t deny he was hoping this trip might be a turning point for them. But first, he needed to tell Finn and Brad that he was leaving campus for a few days. He was sure they wouldn’t be supportive, but really, the only people he needed to answer to were his father and his professors—which reminded him, he’d have to email all of them, too, and ask for any assignments he’d miss. As for his father…Xander would explain everything when he arrived home for his mother’s birthday. Squaring his shoulders, he headed to face what felt an awful lot like a firing squad.
Chapter Eighteen
Kylie yanked her duffel bag out from under the bed and then moved to her dresser to gather some clothes. She never expected Xander to offer to take her home for the funeral. But he had, and she couldn’t temper the hope that flared in her chest. Or the guilt currently gnawing away at her. How could he so easily ditch classes when there was so much on the line for him? How could she have so easily agreed to let him?
She stopped packing and hung her head. Xander taking her home meant he wasn’t only going to risk everything he had, he was going to see her house, see where she’d grown up, see her father. The bitter taste of bile rose in her throat. Here at school, she could hide the truth about her childhood, pretend it never happened. Act like she wasn’t poor. But being back in her hometown, surrounded by everything she’d left behind… When this trip was over, she’d have not only lost her grandmother, but Xander, too.
“Hey.” Celeste came in and gently closed the door. “You okay?”
She shook the thoughts away. “As okay as I can be considering the circumstances.” She shoved several pairs of panties into her duffel bag.
“I meant are you okay with Xander being here and offering to drive you home?”
She stopped packing and turned to face Celeste, who had a disappointed look on her face. “Do not stand there and tell me I shouldn’t go with him. You know how important this is. In fact, minutes before he got here, you were yelling at me for not going to the funeral.”
“I know, and I’m not telling you not to go. But you need to be careful.”
Kylie returned to packing. “I know you’re only trying to help, and I appreciate that, but no matter what does or doesn’t happen on this trip, I have to go.”
“I know you do.” Celeste hugged her. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
“No.” Kylie shook her head and bit the inside of her cheek to stop another onslaught of tears. “You can’t miss your exam.” She sighed.
Even though Celeste was close to Nammy Joyce, too, her parents were crazy strict. They expected perfection, and missing classes for any reason wasn’t acceptable to them. It was bad enough Xander was risking his grades, his trust fund, and his position within his fraternity to drive her home. She refused to have Celeste’s fate on her conscience, too.
“I’m sorry I can’t be there with you.”
“It’s okay. I understand. But you’d better be glued to your phone so I can call you.”
“Of course.” Celeste smiled. “Want some help packing?”
“Nah, I got it. You should go to class. I’ll be fine.”
Celeste hesitated. “I’m sorry I got angry with you earlier. It’s just…” She sighed. “I know how much Nammy Joyce means to you, and you’d hate yourself if you didn’t make it home to her funeral.”
Swallowing hard against more tears, Kylie hugged her. “Thank you. And I’m sorry I yelled at you. I know you’re only trying to help.”
“We’re good, right?”
“Always.” Kylie smiled despite her tears. “Promise.”
After another hug and a tearful good-bye, Celeste left. Kylie blew out a shaky breath and finished packing. She took her only black dress from the closet and laid it out on her bed. The dress was a simple, short-sleeved, knee-length cotton material with a V-neck. When she’d packed to move for college, she almost hadn’t brought this dress because she knew the only time she’d ever wear it was to bury Nammy. Stuffing her black heels into the bag, she zipped it closed.
Once she was satisfied she had everything she needed, she lugged her duffel bag downstairs and outside. Xander pulled up a few moments later. Without a word, he put her bag in the trunk, then opened the passenger’s door for her. She got in and fastened her seat belt. Her heart was in her throat, and she bounced her leg nervously. The reality of being stuck in this small car with him for more than sixteen hours hit her hard. Her stomach cramped, and her head spun.
“Okay, where are we going?” he asked once he was in his seat.
She rattled off the address.
He entered it into his phone’s GPS and then pulled away from the curb. “Is there a hotel near your house?”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Yes, why?”
“Because I figure I’ll need to get a room if you’re staying at your house with your…” He stopped abruptly, his lips turning down into a frown as if he realized the error of his words.
