Page 72 of Chasing Xander
He dragged his fingertips up and down her arm, smiling when he felt the goose bumps beneath his hand. She groaned and stretched her legs, the motion causing her body to press firmer against his. His limbs tingled, and his cock jerked with the need to roll her over and make love to her. Brushing the hair from her face, he let his hand linger on her cheek for a second before he gave her lips a featherlight kiss. She sighed, and he suppressed a groan.
Easing his arm out from under her, he took his phone and slipped into the bathroom. He’d avoided too many people the past twenty-four hours, and the longer he let things go, the worse they’d be. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, he dialed Brad’s number.
His stomach was in knots as he waited for Brad to answer. Maybe he should’ve called Finn first to find out what sort of mood Brad was in.
“Hello?” Brad sounded like he was half asleep.
“Brad, it’s me, Xander.”
Brad grunted. “I’m surprised you’re calling. Aren’t you blowing off classes for a funeral or something?”
Xander gritted his teeth. “Yeah, and that’s why I’m calling. There’s a will reading tomorrow morning, and then I have my mom’s birthday on Saturday. I won’t be home until late Monday or early Tuesday, but I’ve been in touch with my professors, and I’m keeping up on my work. And I will be in classes the second I get back on campus.” Even if he had to drag his ass there without a wink of sleep, he’d be there.
“You’re missing classes.” Brad didn’t phrase that as a question, and Xander didn’t dignify it with an answer. “I know I was clear about what would happen if you missed even one class.”
“Yes, you were.” He clenched his teeth. He was stupid for thinking Brad would understand or care. “But I told you I was leaving, and you said it was okay.”
“What did you expect me to do, Xander? Tell you no? You’re free to do whatever you want. You made your choice knowing what the consequences would be.”
“Yeah, I also know what it states in our national charter and our bylaws. You have every right to take a vote to kick me out, just like I have the right to plead my case before the chapter.Beforeany vote is taken.”
There was a long pause, the silence filled only by the sound of Xander’s heart thundering in his chest. His goal had always been to run for fraternity president during his senior year, and he had a good enough rapport with the rest of the brothers to actually win. Or he thought he did, but if Brad was getting the brothers to talk shit about him… Brad really was a dick.
“Bring me proof, and I’ll let this slide.”
“Bring you proof?” He clenched his hand into a fist.
“Yes. I don’t believe you’re actually at a funeral. I think you’re just goofing off.”
The vein in Xander’s temple throbbed with rage. “What is it you’d like, Brad? A picture of the coffin? Maybe the death certificate? You’re fucking unbelievable! You know, never mind. I’ll take my chances pleading my case to the brothers.” Without another word, Xander ended the call.
He tossed his cell phone on the sink and stood. His hands shook with anger. Who the fuck did Brad think he was? Proof of death? What an ass. Brad was totally out of line.
He took a few minutes to calm himself, then checked his other messages. Finn wanted to remind him to call Brad. Celeste demanded to know why Kylie still wasn’t answering her calls and if he’d relayed her message from yesterday. Tanner and Ryder both reminded him about Mom’s birthday. Tanner also suggested the three of them hang out Friday night. His gut twisted at the thought of how many people he was going to disappoint. He was going to have to kiss a lot of ass to make up for everything. He left the bathroom.
Kylie was sitting up in bed, and she smiled when she saw him. “I thought you’d left.”
He was so far past the point of leaving; he couldn’t if his life depended on it. “I told you I wouldn’t.” He set his phone on the nightstand and climbed back onto the bed.
She lowered her head and fidgeted with the blanket. “I know. In case you haven’t noticed, I have a hard time with people making promises. No one ever keeps them.”
“I do.” Well, except that one time he’d promised to call and he hadn’t. The look of utter disappointment she’d given him… He’d learned his lesson. He never wanted to see that look on her face ever again, especially not because of him.
She nodded and continued to play with the blanket.
He took her hands into his, stopping their nervous movements, and he tugged her toward him. His heart was firmly lodged in his throat, and his stomach was somewhere near his feet. It was now or never. He needed to tell her how he felt so they could move past this limbo they seemed to be stuck in.
“Being as we’re here until tomorrow, want to go to McThirsty’s tonight?” she asked. “It’s a sports bar with a full kitchen. We can get some dinner and then hang out with Paige and some of my other friends.”
“Yeah, if that’s what you want to do.” After her confession last night, he couldn’t believe she wanted to go to a bar.
“I do.”
“All right, then, let’s get ready and we’ll go.” His pulse slowed a bit, knowing he could put off that heart-to-heart a little longer. Lord knew he had no idea what he wanted to say or how she’d handle it. Besides, after the past few days, she probably didn’t need any more emotions hurled at her. “Okay, I’m going to head back to my room and shower.” He stood. “I’ll meet you here in an hour or so?” That would give her time to get ready and him time to call his brothers back. “Oh, Celeste has been trying to call you.”
“I know. I’ll call her back soon.”
“Okay. See you in a bit.”
