Page 45 of Scandal

And at least I’ll get one bit of satisfaction... I was just about to send over the new code for Runkin, for the faculty grants, but fuck them. That code will die with me.

Cameron

I underestimated Xander, and I feel like a total shit for it. He was definitely beyond pissed that I kept the lawsuit from him, and the threat of being expelled.

After a night of sulking, in which I might have thoroughly cried my eyes out, I wake up around ten and rush to my dad’s. Xander wouldn’t have gone there last night. I know him well enough to know that much. But he will want to get his stuff from there.

My best bet is to beat him there. See if I can smooth things over. Because he definitely isn’t returning my texts.

When I open the door, I can tell Dad is up already. The smell of coffee hits me, along with something else. Pancakes, maybe.

“You’re here,” I sigh at the sight of Xander, and the stack of half-eaten pancakes in front of him. What a relief.

“I’m here,” he answers without looking at me. Dad looks between us, then pours me a coffee. I take the stool at the counter next to Xan. Being this close to him and not touching him is torture.

“I’ll, uh, leave you two to talk,” Dad says quietly before taking his coffee and retreating to his office.

When I hear the door close down the hall, I turn to Xander. My hand clamps his shoulder. “Please, look at me. Don’t shut me out again. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

To my shock, he turns to me. Those orange-brown eyes looking much deeper than usual. “I won’t.”

Relief floods me, as I take a second to process. A tentative smile creeps over my face. “You forgive me?”

Xan has this frown-smile thing going on that isn’t all too reassuring. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I see that now. Only person to be mad at is myself. I didn’t have to hit Zack that night. Could have handled that in another way. But hearing him talk to you that way, I was pissed, because you were already mine. In my head, at least.”

“I was?”

“Hope you still are.”

My brow dips. “I am. But why don’t you sound happy. What’s going on?” My eyes flicker down the hall.

Xan grabs my hands in his. “It all happened fast, but your dad had an idea. And I think it’s a good deal for me. I’m going for it.”

I don’t like the sound of that. My stomach twists into a series of complicated knots. I squeeze Xan’s hands for courage. “What deal?”

“He sent me some of the numbers in Dean Runkin’s files on me last night. Right after he fired him,” Xan pauses and smiles at the thought of Runkin getting sacked. We give each other a knowing look. Then he adds, “I’d never have demanded it, but your dad insisted that withholding internships and job offers was not in the best interest of students.”

“Good,” I say with conviction at the thought of cleaning out such corruption. “So, the numbers…”

“Yeah, anyway, there’s a penetration testing company that has a new project they are scaling up to see how AI could be misused. They already wrote me back this morning with an offer letter. That’s all I’ll be able to tell you about it.”

A swirl of emotions rocket through me. Joy for Xan getting this opportunity, pride in my dad for figuring out a solution so quickly, and deep soul crushing dread. “Any chance this is a work from home job?”

Xan’s frown deepens. “Not in the beginning, no. I’ll have to be on site.”

“Where?”

“Some small town in West Virginia.”

At that revelation, I fling myself into his arms. He wraps me into a hug, holding me close to his chest. Can’t help the tears that fall at the feeling of being so complete, with my other half, knowing he’s going to be torn away from me at any moment.

“Why can’t you stay? Dad should talk to the board. You’re an asset!” I protest, even though I hear how hopeless my words sound.

Xan pulls back, wipes his thumbs under my eyes to dry the tears. “The board is more sympathetic to the Caudwell’s than to me. They give more money than my code brings in. And we’re talking about a beloved cheerleader who almost died. Stack her against a manipulative tramp like me, I don’t stand a chance, babe. Not everyone is going to see me like you do.”

I cling back to him like we’re magnets. “I don’t want you to leave me.”

“We’re still together. I promise.”

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