Page 35 of Tainted Rose

My heart thuds thinking about that little girl. Xander’s half sister. Sweet pigtails, sass for days, and wiser than her years. It occurs to me—she and Xander share a mother … but she and I could very well share a father. I squeeze my eyes shut, unready to consider the full ramifications of it.

“Where’d you go just now?” Xander eases back to look at me.

“Nowhere. Nothing.” I can’t. I’m not ready to know for sure yet. He opens the door for me and helps me inside. He even goes as far as buckling my seatbelt for me.

I watch as he jogs around the car to the driver’s side. I don’t know what to make of this Xander. The concerned one. The kind one. This is the boy I met while running that day in August. The boy that made my heart go pitter-patter and my lady parts sigh in appreciation.

I wish I knew if he’s back for good or if he’ll flip on me again at some point.

We take off toward my house. The silence as we roll down the dark street is almost enough to choke me. There are so many things I want to say, want to ask, but I don’t have the courage yet.

Xander reaches across the center console, touching my leg, lightly at first, then more firmly. “Red, I wish things weren’t so mixed up between us right now.”

“Care to explain that to me?” My teeth grind together as my frustration mounts.

“I can’t.”

“Stop here, please.” Thankfully, we are close to my aunt and uncle’s house.

“What?”

I glance at him as panic surges through me. “I said stop the car. I need some space to think. Let me out.” I unbuckle and start to open the door as if I’m about to jump out if he doesn’t stop.

He brakes, pulling us off to the side of the road. I don’t hesitate. I burst from the car as he shouts, “Scarlett!”

I slam the door shut on his words.

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