Page 65 of Chasing Xander
“Do you want to stay?” Xander asked.
Kylie momentarily closed her eyes and tried to calm the storm inside her. She didn’t want to be here, to have to say good-bye to her grandmother, to be so close yet so far away from Xander. Everything hurt, and she didn’t know if she’d survive the pain.
“Kylie.” Paige, a friend from high school, walked up, her eyes red with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” Kylie hugged her. The two of them had been close in school, but they’d drifted apart during their senior year.
“She was like a second mom to me.” Paige sniffled. “I’m still convinced she got joy out of scolding us.”
“Yeah, me, too.” She smiled. “Paige, this is a friend of mine from college. Xander Collins.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shook Paige’s hand.
“Uh…” Her gaze darted back and forth between Kylie and Xander as if looking for more of an explanation. “I thought for sure Celeste would be here with you.”
“She had a huge exam for one of her classes. She couldn’t get away,” she said, noticing the way Paige was still holding Xander’s hand, despite the fact he’d tried to pull away.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see her again.” Paige finally released Xander’s hand and looked away quickly. “Are you going to be in town for a couple of days?”
“No, we have to get back to school. We’re leaving tomorrow. Why?”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “A bunch of us are going to McThirsty’s Thursday night. I was going to say you should stop by. I know there are a few people who’d love to see you again.”
McThirsty’s was the local hangout. She’d been going there since high school. The place was a dump, but it was the only bar that didn’t check IDs. Sheriff Rick was constantly busting underage drinkers. Because he knew all of the kids who went there, he’d usually let them off with a warning “just this once,” but even when he caught them there again and again, the most he’d do was call their parents. It was a small wonder the owner hadn’t lost his liquor license by now.
“That would have been nice. Maybe next time I’m in town.” She looped her arm through Xander’s and rested her head on his shoulder in a move that was purely possessive. Even though she had no claim to him whatsoever, she didn’t like the idea of Paige trying to flirt with him. Suddenly, Kylie knew exactly how Xander had felt when the guy at the fast-food place had flirted with her.
“Ready to go?” His gaze was on her and her alone, almost like he was oblivious to anyone else around them.
“Yeah.” Guilt stabbed at her. She really should stay until all the guests left, but she wasn’t in any shape to do so. She’d already had one public breakdown. She didn’t want to have a second one. And her head ached.
Xander gave Paige a smile and nod, then escorted Kylie out to his car. He stopped at the passenger’s door but didn’t open it; his keys were clutched tightly in his hand. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” She didn’t even try to hide her confusion.
“For everything.” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
He caressed the side of her face with the back of his hand, and she leaned into his touch. “You’re being kind of weird right now.”
His lips twitched with an almost smile, but he didn’t say anything else.
“If there’s something you want to say, then say it.” Her heart was in her throat, pounding hard.
“Remember that conversation we had while we—”
“Miss Quinn!”
Kylie turned at the sound of her name to see a stocky, overweight man rushing toward her.
“Miss Quinn?” He stopped in front of her, out of breath. “I’m Mr. Stanton, your grandmother’s attorney.”
“Oh yes, I remember you.” She’d met him a few times before, when he’d come to the house. Every time he’d shown up, Nammy Joyce had taken him into one of the back rooms and closed the door. When she asked why, Nammy Joyce said it was because she had personal business with the man. She now knew her grandmother had been putting all her final wishes in writing.
“As I’m sure you know, your grandmother had me draw up a will.” Mr. Stanton loosened his tie and pulled at his shirt collar. “You’re the primary beneficiary of her estate.”
Kylie stared at him like he’d sprouted a second head. She had no idea what that meant.
“Her son, your father, will also inherit some of her estate. I’d like to schedule a time for a formal reading of the will. Does Monday morning work for you?”
