Page 9 of Lies For My Good Girl

I walk out into the living room to see Xander working out with his heavy bag. He had a whole exercise corner put in where the dining room is. Luckily our apartment was so large it really didn't mess with the ambiance of the rest of the space. I didn't know exactly how much Xanders family pays for rent but seeing as this is New York, I'm sure a place like this was in the thousands for rent. I always ask, and he never tells me; instead just says things like it's nothing I need to worry about. I think that's because he knows I'll fight harder to pull my own weight.

I watch him for a few seconds as he continues to throw punches and knees to the bag. He's shirtless, and the muscles and tattoos on his body are enough to have me pressing my thighs together. I may not think of him as anything more than a friend, but his body is breathtaking. He's not my legit brother, so I don't feel bad thinking this way. I just know nothing could ever happen between us. He only sees me as his little sister even though I'm a grown-ass woman now. His body is corded with muscles, but he's still lean enough it's not overwhelming. His skin is a smooth tan color that never fades thanks to his Italian heritage, and it's so smooth the ink he does have on his skin looks like it was just painted on instead of imprinted with a needle.

"You finish gawking, or should I pull my sweats down too?" Xander asks as he continues to hit the bag.

"Shut up, asshole." I spit back right away. "You look like you're putting on more muscle. That's all I was looking at." I roll my eyes and plop down on the couch, getting ready to turn on Netflix and binge-watch some cooking shows. I turn my head to the right, and in the large lazy boy recliner Xander insisted we get is my purse. I do a double-take and stare at it for a second. How the hell did this get here? It was gone. The man stole it.

"Oh! The police found him? I can't believe it! Why didn't you wake me up?" I jump off the couch and race over to the chair to pick up my belongings.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Xander replies and finally stops hitting the large, heavy bag. He wipes a towel down his face and hangs it over his neck while I continue to rifle through my bag. I stick my hand in the small pocket and realize my mother's necklace is there. I pull it out in disbelief and see it's indeed the same one. The chain itself is broken, but it's all here. I can get the chain fixed. "Oh my god! Xander look! Look!" I jump up and show him." he smirks at me, and I can feel the warmth coming off him. He's always happy to see me happy.

"The bag was brought back late last night. I thought you'd enjoy your sleep after everything that went down. By the way, you need to call Matteo, so he can come to pick up his stuff.

"Oh, they found his wallet too? Okay. I'll bring it to him at school tomorrow.

"Bullshit, you'll bring it to him. He's going to come over here and get it. You're not his maid or woman. He can get his own shit. Make that happen, Rabbit." He glares at me for a second before he turns back to the heavy bag and starts beating it up again. I never know why he feels the need to beat on it, but I'll admit it's working for his body.

"Fine, he can come to pick it up now since he's got school this afternoon. That was very nice of them to bring it back for him." I nod my head and pull my phone out of the bag and start to text Matteo.

I open up the contact and go to our message log. I roll my eyes so hard when I look back on the different things we've been talking about all week, only to find out he's an actual jerk. I guess I'm happy I found this out now and not when I was deeper into the relationship with him. I can't even imagine how fucking silly I'd have felt if I gave him my virginity.

I shoot him off a quick text to let him know I have his wallet and he can come by and get it this morning as I won't be in class today. He quickly replies with a thumbs up and tells me he'll be over in about twenty minutes.

"I guess it might be too much to ask that there's any leftover coffee?" I say and drop my phone back into my purse.

"There's a cup left, but if you don't go in there and get it soon, I'ma drink it."

"I'll make more. I feel like I'm going to need it."

"Awesome, what about you? Did you have any plans today?" He asks.

"I think I'm going to stay in a bit and just relax. I've had enough time outside to last me for more than a week." I smile and walk back over to the couch. "What about you? You have plans?"

"Nah, I'm going to stay home too." He throws his towel on the pile of dirty workout gear and comes to sit next to me on the couch.

"Oh, no class today?"

"Nothing I need to go to." He shrugs.

"What about Lisa? I'm sure she'd like a visit from her favorite man."

"She can get a visit from her girlfriend and pretend it's me. I don't give a flying fuck about no one but you today, Mel. If you want to stay home and watch man-killing shows all day, that's what we are going to do. You're not leaving my sight." he says it with such sincerity I gasp and have to look away.

"You don't have to baby me, Xander. I'm okay. I got everything back. Just a little bruise."

"You, I'm not staying here because I'm worried about you. I'm staying here because I'm worried about myself. Because I know once I walk out that door, all I'm going to be able to think about is some fucker putting their hands on you, and the public is not ready for the type of rage that comes with my temper. I should have been there to protect you like I always am, but instead, I left it up to some cumswallower who couldn't protect a fucking animal. I'm not going to forgive myself for a long time. No, you stay right here where I can keep my eyes and hands on you. That's where you belong."

I hate when he says things like this to me. I grew up with him as my best friend, and even though I love him, it's been hard not to put him on that pedestal position. If he wasn't such a man whore I'd try to pursue something with Xander also, I know he doesn't have those kinds of feelings for me, but when he says shit like this, he makes it so hard.

"Okay, I'll stay home with you." I squeak out and flip on the TV.

He orders us some brunch and even springs for a bottle of champagne, so we can have some mimosas. Matteo doesn't show up when he says he's going to, but I couldn't care less. I'm having a great time with Xander as we argue why no one should ever buy a ranch-style house.

By two in the afternoon, I'm ready to take a nap when the doorbell rings.

Xander is the one to open it, and Matteo stands in the walkway for a second. I'm surprised when Xander lets Matteo walk to me.

"Hey, how'd you get the stuff back? Did the police call you?" He asks, getting close to me like we're still trying to be boyfriend and girlfriend. I feel like I'm in the fucking twilight zone.

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