Page 38 of Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers
Being calledbabydoes something to me and it feels just as special as being called Wildflower.
I sigh exhaustedly. “Hi, thanks for coming. Seriously, I appreciate you so much.”
“No problem, it gives me an excuse to see you tonight,” he winks at me, always charming.
“I don’t know what happened. I’ve never had battery issues before or anything, must be a fluke or something,” I explain.
“Yeah, these things happen, especially when the temperatures start to dip so much. It’ll just take a couple minutes to recharge.” We lean against his hood as both cars idle and I’m appreciative of the warmth from the engine. Xander has an arm wrapped around my waist and is holding me possessively, as if he’s afraid the shadows are going to steal me away. After several minutes he detaches the cables, and I’m relieved when my car stays on.
“You are a freaking lifesaver.” I press a quick kiss to his lips and then reach for my door handle.
“I’d like to follow you home, if that’s okay. Just to make sure your car stays on and you make it there safely.”
“Oh, sure. Of course. That’s probably a good idea, actually.”
I lead the way and pull up to my apartment building twenty minutes later. Xander parks behind me, and I walk over to his window as he rolls it down and looks up at me.
“Thank you, it was really sweet of you to drive back with me.”
“Wildflower, nothing I ever do is because I’m sweet.” I understand his double meaning instantly and my cheeks heat. As do… other areas.
“Goodnight, Xander.” It’s only seven and far from bedtime, but I don’t know what else to offer. I lean in through his window and give him a peck on the cheek before turning around and rushing into my building. When I get inside, I mentally chide myself for not inviting him in. What is wrong with me, and why do my brain cells automatically leave whenever he’s around?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
XANDER
When Maeren went inside,I circled her block before parking in a shadowed portion of the street. I’ve been doing this often, coming by at night and just sitting, watching. I’ve never stopped since the first night we met. It brings me comfort to be close to her, even like this. Some nights I’m here for just a little while, and some nights I spend hours looking for a flutter of a curtain, a light to flip on, just like I did that first fateful night.
I’m not fully psychotic though, I am working while I sit out here. I can also lie and say I get great cell service in this particular spot, the best in town, to justify this sick behavior.
Maybe I am sick and she’s my affliction. She’s all I fucking want. All I can think about. Any amount of time I spend with her will never be enough. I could have eternity by her side and it wouldn’t sate my need for her, my desire to have all of her. Maeren did something to my brain the first time her eyes met mine and I’ll never be the same. She’s my obsession and I refuse to ever give her up. And if I ever have to then I might as well be dead. If she ever walked away from me I don’t think I could survive it. I need her like I need air.
When her name flashed across my phone screen earlier this evening, I was busy on my burner with potential leads for The Skinner and I immediately dropped that call. Nothing is as important to me. Nothing can consume me quite like her. I might have to do some explaining later, make up a reason for my hasty hang up, but I don’t give a flying fuck. Maeren needed me, and sure it could have waited ten minutes, or she could’ve gotten help from Sage, butIwanted to be the one to take care of her. I want her to know that I’m always there for her. That I’d do anything for her at the drop of a hat. She’s only been in my life for two months but I think I’d sell my soul to the devil himself if she asked me to.
A glance at the clock in my car shows it’s half past nine now, and I decide to head home for the night. She’s in bed now anyways, confirmed by a goodnight text she sent me ten minutes ago. She didn’t need to tell me that though, I’ve sat out here enough to know her whole schedule from sunrise to sunset.
Pulling away from the curb, I give her window one last glance and breathe out a sigh of relief, knowing she’s safe and sound, curled up in her bed. The only thing that would make me happier is if I was curled around her, or better yet inside of her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
MAEREN
Xander trailshis fingers up and down my thigh as we lay in bed. He spent the night whispering sweet nothings in my ear, and we woke to the morning light peeking through my curtains. I roll over to face him, our chests pressing together as I drape a leg over his hip, playfully pressing kisses to his collarbone. He continues to caress me as we lounge in comfortable silence. As I unravel myself from him and crawl across the bed to get up, he grabs my foot and pulls me back to him. I let out a giggle and playfully swat at him.
“You can’t leave yet. I don’t want you dressed, and you can’t deny me my birthday wish.”
My face drains of all blood. “Birthday?!” I squeak.
“That would be today.” He looks smug.
“Wait, you never once mentioned that your birthday was coming up, and it’stoday?And you're the big three-zero, that’s a momentous occasion!”Oh God. Who doesn’t know the birthday of their boyfriend-not-boyfriend who they are routinely sleeping with?!
“That’s because I’m not big on birthdays. It’s just another day for me,butI wanted an excuse to guilt trip you into anotherround, you know, since you didn’t know to get me a gift or anything,” he winks.
Tossing a pillow at his head I sound utterly exasperated. “Xander.Iam big on birthdays. I freakinglovebirthdays. We have to do something to celebrate or I’m the worst—” I end abruptly, catching myself.
Xander’s eyes flare, catching my stumble. “You’re what? Maeren?” His head tilts as he assesses me.
