Page 66 of Chasing Xander
“Um.” She glanced at Xander for some input, but he remained silent. “I’m sorry, but that doesn’t really work for me. I have to get back to school. Can we do it later this afternoon?”
He shook his head. “I have to be in court in half an hour. What about Friday morning at eight a.m.?”
Her temples throbbed. That meant staying an extra two days and missing more classes. Xander had already done so much for her; how could she ask him for this, too?
“That works,” Xander said, but his face was taut with an emotion she couldn’t name.
“Perfect.” Mr. Stanton dug a business card from his pocket and held it out to her. “I’ll see you then.” He nodded and then walked across the parking lot toward his car.
She flipped the card around in her hand. “Xander, you—”
He held up his hand to silence her. “I know what you’re going to say. Don’t.” He shook his head. “You need to be here to take care of this. I’ll deal with Brad and my classes, okay?”
Exhaustion weighed her down, and she yawned. Her eyes burned. “Okay.” She got into Xander’s car, her head pounding with everything that had happened. She wanted a hot shower and a nap. Once he’d gotten into the car and pulled out of the church parking lot, she turned to him. “You don’t have to stay, you know.”
“What?”
“For the will reading. You don’t have to stay. I can stick around to meet with Mr. Stanton, then catch a flight back to Florida.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked, and he narrowed his eyes. “Do you want me to go?”
She turned to stare out the passenger’s side window. “No.” That small, two-letter word was thick on her tongue. She wanted him to stay. She wanted him to be more than her friend, more than the guy who’d come to her rescue when she’d needed him. She put her head on the window. “But I don’t want you to stay out of some sort of misplaced obligation, either. And you really shouldn’t miss another day of classes because of me.”
He made a growl-like sound and muttered a curse under his breath, but he didn’t say anything more. Neither did she.
Chapter Twenty-One
Xander paced in his room, hands laced on top of his head. The moment they’d returned to the house, Kylie had gone straight to her room and closed the door, shutting him out in more ways than one. He’d heard the passion, the longing in her voice as she’d talked about the love her grandmother and grandfather had shared. He might be a fuckup, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew she wanted all of that, and she wanted it with him. He wanted all of that, too.
“Fuck.” He blew out a breath and flopped down onto the bed.
He wanted nothing more than to be with her right now, to hold her and comfort her and tell her everything would be all right. But could he do that and not cross every boundary he’d put in place for himself? He was terrified of taking her virginity only to have her regret it after the fact. And knowing she was grieving and vulnerable… If he ever needed to keep a safe distance, it was right now.
She’d suggested he leave. Like that would ever happen. What kind of guy did she think he was? There was no fucking way in hell he’d leave her in Ohio without a way back to Florida. She was insane to have even suggested it.
His cell phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts. Grabbing his phone from his pocket, he answered, “Hello?”
“Xander, it’s Celeste. Is Kylie with you?”
“No.” He sat upright. “I mean, we’re together, but she’s sleeping. Why?”
“I’ve been trying to call her, see how she’s doing after today, but she’s not answering my calls. I thought maybe you two were out together or something.”
He rubbed his hand over his face. “No. She’s pretty upset. Her father didn’t show up at the funeral. I don’t know if she’s happy or pissed about that, but she locked herself in her room when we got back and hasn’t been out since.” And he’d tried, repeatedly, to get her to come out. But she gave him the same answer over and over again:go away, Xander. I need to be alone.The thought of her in that room, alone and crying, broke his heart.
“Oh.” There was a brief pause. “I really should’ve been there with her.”
He stood. “She understands why you couldn’t be.”
“Still.” She sighed. “Can you please tell her I called, and that I’m worried about her?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
Xander ended the call and tucked his phone into his back pocket. He left his room and went to hers. “Kylie?” He knocked.
To his surprise, she opened the door. Her eyes were bloodshot, but she no longer looked tired. Her hair was freshly brushed and hanging around her shoulders. She’d changed out of her dress and now wore sweatpants and a T-shirt. His gaze roamed down her body, memorizing every detail. “I was getting worried.” He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms.
