Page 24 of When You Got a Good Thing (Misfit Inn 1)

Kennedy came back in the room, her arms full of stuff. “Maybe let’s avoid bloodshed at the dinner table. I brought down your shoes and backpack. We’ll leave when you finish your breakfast.” She set everything down, and Xander watched as she surreptitiously draped his coat over the seat of a barstool.

Well done, Lark.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and slid into the chair beside him.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Pru asked.

“I’ll get something later.”

Xander couldn’t blame her. The tension in the room was probably enough to sour her stomach. In the awkward silence, he worked his way through his own breakfast and was considering seconds when Maggie rose and took her plate to the sink.

“We have a lot of work to get done today. Athena and I both need to be getting back in a few days, so whatever decisions need to be made for the short-term have to happen now.”

That was obviously his cue to leave. He tried to think of something to say, some excuse to stick around. But he had his own work that he couldn’t put off any longer. He slid out of his chair and laid a hand on Kennedy’s shoulder, waiting until she lifted her gaze to his.

“Thanks for breakfast. If you need help with anything—whenever, wherever—just let me know.”

She stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. “Don’t forget your coat.”

“Right.” He scooped it up from the barstool.

“You didn’t have a coat when you got here,” Athena put in.

Shit.

Everybody looked from him to Kennedy, who was staring at her coffee as if it held the secrets of the universe.

“Are you kidding me?” Athena asked. “She didn’t do enough of a number on you ten years ago?”

Kennedy’s knuckles went white around the mug, and Xander was simply done.

“You need to back off.” He didn’t raise his voice, but he used the same no nonsense tone he usually reserved for belligerent drunks at the tavern.

Athena wasn’t cowed in the least. “Still playing white knight after everything she did.” She shook her head. “Your funeral.”

Xander opened his mouth to pop off, but Kennedy spoke first.

“For the love of God, both of you stop it. I’m too tired for all of this.” She fixed her gaze on Athena. “I realize you’re upset with me, and that’s fine. It’s your right. I’ve apologized. If you choose not to accept that, that’s on you. But I’m not letting you provoke me, or anyone else, into a fight. We have too many more important things to worry about.” She shoved to her feet. “Ari, it’s time for us to leave for school. Xander, I’ll walk you out.”

Kennedy stalked out of the room and didn’t stop until they hit the front porch.

Xander felt like he needed to apologize. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think to get the coat back when dropped you off, and I had to have my keys.”

Crossing her arms, she looked past him at the door, obviously waiting for Ari. “I don’t care about that. But why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

She waved her hand in the general direction of the kitchen. “That. Whatever that was.”

The lack of sleep was obviously messing with her.

“You’re going to have to be more specific, Lark.”

Kennedy pinched the bridge of her nose. “We aren’t eighteen anymore, Xander. I’m not yours to protect. So why are you riding in here like I am?”

He didn’t touch her, though he desperately wanted to. “Because you need it.”

Those big green eyes went suspiciously glassy at that.

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