Page 80 of Boss Level

As I stormed from the bar, I was so furious that red ate at the edges of my vision. Xander thought the two of us hooking up…

He thought my loving him…

He’d been full of shit this entire time about how much he believed in me. Of all the people in the world to pull something like that, to think they could stand in my way, he was the last one I thought…

But I’d been wrong.

“Judith.” Xander grabbed my arm, yanking me to a stop.

Heat roared inside, mingling with anger. I whirled on him, not trying to hide how upset I was. “What?”

I’m sorry. I know you earned this.Weearned it. You’re my best friend. Come back and we’ll figure this out and finish conquering the world together.

That was what I wanted him to say. I didn’t need him to declare his lo— Nothing more. Simple enough, right?

“Understand where I’m coming from,” he said. “It’s not that I think you’re weak or that I have some magical influence over you. You don’t need anyone—you’ve never made me doubt that.”

“You’re right, I don’t.” At least, I didn’t need them in the way he meant. I needed my team—my people—but I didn’t need love or a man who thought that loving me would make me less. “Goodbye, Xander.”

When I got home, I found Claire in the living room. She shut the TV off the instant she saw me. I hadn’t seen her in days, not since the kiss, and I had the sudden urge to tell her everything. An ache to spill my guts; to have someone I could just talk to.

I was supposed to be helping and protecting her. Supposed to be the strong one, showing her how to not need anyone else. Caving now wouldn’t help that message.

“I’m glad you came back before I went to bed,” she said meekly. “Can we talk?”

I took a seat next to her on the couch. “Of course.”

“I want to apologize for the other night. For the kiss. I didn’t mean…”

When she trailed off, I waited for a moment to see if she was going to finish the thought. There was no reason for her to go into life thinking any part of it was a mistake. Sure, she and I weren’t going anywhere romantically, but she wouldn’t have known if she didn’t ask. “Don’t apologize.” I kept my voice kind. “You hoped I was interested?”

“Yes.”

“And you liked it?”

“Yes.” Pink flooded her cheeks. “And I get it, that you and I aren’t… You’ve been a really good friend to me. I don’t think anyone else I know would’ve done for me what you have.”

“You needed it.”

Claire smiled. “I did, but that doesn’t mean anyone else would’ve… Thank you. And we’re still friends, right?”

“Of course we are.” For some reason that was the most comforting thing she could’ve asked me tonight.

She clapped. “Yay. What are you doing tonight?”

Same thing I did every night… “Working.”

“Nope. Not on a Friday night.” The shock in her voice was exaggerated as she grabbed my arm. “You’re taking a break and watchingA Muppet Christmas Carolwith me.”

I… What?

“Stay there.” She nudged me into the cushions. “I’ll be right back.” She walked into the kitchen, and a moment later I heard the microwave start. Then the smell of popcorn filled the house. When was the last time I had microwave popcorn?

Claire returned with a giant bowl of popcorn, and a six pack of Dr. Pepper. She settled next to me again, started the movie, and let it run.

For the next little while, we watched a ridiculous movie with puppets and a person, a man who loved money more than the people around him, and was haunted by his past, present, and looming future.

Claire seemed to know most of the script by heart and said more than half the lines, along with voices, along with the characters.

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