Page 24 of Rear View
Clicking pause, I turned to Z. “So, um, Xavier is nuts,” I said, rubbing the scar across my brow before I closed the laptop and set it aside.
“I bet it’s the fun kind that translates between the sheets.” Her brows danced and she nudged my hip. “You should definitely call him!”
I wanted to. Had stared at his number a thousand times since he’d given it to me. My gaze flicked to where it sat on the coffee table. “What if he was just being nice?”
“Girl, he gave you hisnumber.”
“To help.”
“I know you don’t get out much, so I’ll fill you in. The manwantsyou to call.” She plucked the receipt with his number up and dangled it in front of me. “Your window is closing, Ry. You’ve only got so long before he takes the ‘L’ and gives up.”
My eyes narrowed. “Takes the ‘L’?”
She smacked a hand over her face. “The loss, girl. Before he takes the loss. You really do need to get out more.”
My mouth pursed. “You know why I don’t.”
Z let loose a long sigh. Shuffling closer, she draped an arm around my shoulder. “I know. But maybe this is your chance to try. Live again.”
“What about Christian?”
She frowned deeply. “What about him?” She set her sandwich on the plate in her lap. “I love you, Ry. But the guy bailed just after your stalker came on the scene. If you were actually a priority to him, then he’d have prioritized you.”
My heart constricted.
“You choose Christian because he’s around and easy.He’s an excuse to stay put. To stay home.” She tucked my hair behind my ear, and snuggled in. “Xavier’s hot as hell, and the guy dropped everything to make sure you were alright. He was into you. Like really,reallyinto you. Maybe try choosing someone who chooses you for once.”
Hewashot. And sweet, and, yeah, he’d helped and flirted and kept that skeezy doctor at bay, but what if that’s all it was? Maybe he was just a good guy to everyone. “What if it doesn’t work?”
She extended a finger and pushed my shoulder. “But what if it does?”
“My life’s not that simple.” Not even close.
“Don’t lethimtake this from you.” She flicked a hand, gesturing to the apartment as a whole. “You can’t live like this forever. Maybe if the asshole sees you’re with someone else, he’ll back off.”
I wanted that.God, I wanted it, but still… “My life’s a mess, Zoya.”
“It’s not your mess, babe. You didn’t make it. So, stop living in it.” Unfolding my fingers, she placed the receipt in my palm. “You deserve more.”
I bit my lip, staring at that crinkled paper and Xavier’s nearly illegible, very guy-like scrawl. My stomach rolled. I wasn’t afraid of him. Couldn’t explain why, other than a feeling. His icy eyes had cut through my carefully crafted barriers, and I’d liked it. It’d been nice to be seen. For the first time in forever, I’d actually forgotten everything. Including Christian, andhim.
Maybe Zoya was right. Maybe it was time. I wasn’t about to drag Xavier into my mess, but I could find workarounds. At the very least, I could try.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my phone.
Chapter Six
Xavier
Ryah didn’t call.
It’d been three damn days since the hospital and every time I left training, or the track, I checked my phone like the sucker I was. But nothing. And every time, it hit a little harder.
Alec and I sat in the rally car, our racing suits on. They were black with a shit ton of patches from each of our sponsors. I flexed my grip over the shifter while we waited between takes as we filmed a commercial—our first ever. It was bizarre as shit, which was good, ’cause I needed the distraction.
“How’s it feel?” I asked him.
He adjusted his harness. “Cool as hell.”
