Page 14 of The Ending is the Best Part
As soon as he releases me from his clutches I sneak a glance at Xander, who appears to be bemused, with an underlying look of… something I can’t quite identify.Not envy, surely?Could it be longing maybe?Longing for what?Probably having more than one friend, I think.
‘Xander, you made it!How did you manage to back out of—’
‘Yep, how could I miss it.’ He abruptly cuts Andrew off, with a pointed look.My eyes ping-pong back and forth between them.Judging from Andrew’s puzzled look, there’s something Xander doesn’t want me to know, and Andrew can’t understand why.Maybe Xander was with that girl again from the other week.Or even a new one – he’s definitely that sort.At that thought, my stomach sours, but it’s probably a bad lunch.I shouldn’t keep trusting the food Xander buys me.Why Xander dating would be a secret beats me.Andrew’s told me all about his conquests in the past.
‘Right, shall we head in?Let me give you a mini tour of mymojo dojo casa house.’
Safe to say, this is why I can never even consider Andrew as a serious dating prospect.That, right there, was a major ick.
Xander’s hand reaches out dangerously close to my lower back, but he must have thought better of it because he quickly snatches his hand away, avoiding eye contact with me.
We walk into the entrance, and I feel like I’ve just stepped into a luxury showroom.
‘Wow, Andrew, I love it already, I honestly didn’t know you had it in you.’
‘You know me, Yara, babe, I’m a man of many talents.’
Xander looms behind me, his presence almost suffocating.
Andrew takes us around the rest of the house, which is beautiful.The place is tastefully decorated, with mid-century furniture and the walls painted in deep blues and greens.For the party, he’s added some autumnal-themed pieces all over to go with the current season.Leaf-shaped coasters, auburn-coloured cushions.Everything goes really well.It’s welcoming and put together, just like Andrew.
He finally leads us to the backyard, where I spot our work colleagues and some of his other friends who I’ve met before at Andrew’s past birthday parties.
I head over, leaving Xander and Andrew to chat among themselves.I say hello to everyone and make idle chatter, settling into a comfortable conversation with the group.
As nervous as I was coming here by myself, I’m glad I did.It’s nice to catch up with everyone outside the office.Time flies by and before I know it I find myself chatting with Gabriel, one of Andrew’s childhood friends, and it’s lovely.Flirty and different.He tells me that I look good.He’s impressed when I say I’m a writer on the show.Since Theo, I haven’t really let myself open up to anyone, in a romantic sense.I’d forgotten what it’s like to just have fun getting to know a new person.
There’s a dip in the conversation and Gabriel puts on a faux-serious voice, ‘So, Yara, you come here often?’
‘Hah, seriously?!Is that what you’re going with?’ I snort.
‘C’mon, how else am I supposed to charm you, other than my wild good looks, of course?’
I take in his appearance: shaggy golden hair, with piercing blue eyes and a tanned complexion, scatters of freckles decorating his face.He’s not my usual type but he is a breath of fresh air, and he just seems so…nice, which is exactly what I need.After everything that went down with Theo, and Xander blowing hot and cold all the time—wait, Xander?Why am I thinking about him right now…
‘Checking me out so blatantly, should I take my chances and run now or…’
I punch him playfully in the shoulder and he laughs.‘I guess you can make a run for it now, or maybe wait until after our first date?You’ve not even heard me play “Wonderwall” yet.’
I look at him through my eyelashes and I see him soften.Damn.I am smooth, after all!I’ve been so out of the dating field and I have never asked anyone out before, but I’m all for trying new things.‘How about we grab a drink some time?’
His mouth stretches into a grin, a twinkle in his eye.‘A first date?A girl who asks the guy out first, that’s rare.Well, m’lady, you beat me to it, so I have no choice but to accept your gracious offer.’
Gabriel takes my hand and kisses it, like a knight courting a beautiful maiden.Good-looking and a bit of a dork?I may have just hit the jackpot.
Out of nowhere a towering figure appears above me.I don’t even need to look to know who it is.Why is this man always appearing out of nowhere?
‘Yazza, hey, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?’ He nods to Gabriel.My eyes narrow.Given that Xander’s Andrew best friend, I’m sure he will have met Gabriel at some point in the past, so what is he playing at?
‘Really, man?I haven’t changed that much since you last saw me, it’s only been, what, a couple of months?’ Gabriel laughs, taking the slight in his stride.
‘Ah, Grant was it?’ Xander clicks his fingers as if he’s trying to remember, but I can see through this act.He knows full well that’s not his name.Xander remembers everyone’s names.
Gabriel merely lets out a smile, but I sense him tensing slightly.
‘Xander, what a joker you are!’ I exclaim to cut through the awkwardness.‘Just ignore him, Gabe.He’s just flustered because his girlfriend ditched him tonight.’
My rival scowls with a questioning gaze in his eyes.I didn’t mean to let my suspicions slip about his plans tonight.
