Page 56 of Brittle Heart

“Here,” Xander says, handing me a to-go cup, then gives Clay one too. I lean down and catch the familiar aroma of coffee.

“I wasn’t sure how you take your coffee, so I added sugar and some cream,” Xander tells me.

“Just sugar, but this is great, thank you,” I say, taking a sip.

I’m exhausted, and it seems this night won’t end anytime soon.

“Want some?” he offers, extending a white bag toward me.

Peering inside, I spot donuts.

I shake my head. “No, thanks.”

“Love?” he asks, but his eyes are still on mine, and my heart skips a beat.

“You know I don’t eat that sugary junk,” Clay says, pushing his takeout cup into my hand before starting the truck back up.

We park near Riverside Park, where we get a great view of the Hudson River and the lit-up skyline, a few minutes later. Xander reaches behind him and grabs two blankets from under the bench, handing one to Clay and spreading the other over our laps.

The cab will cool down when the heater isn’t on, but I’m nearly sweating between these two. Don’t ask me if it’s their body heat or their nearness.

“Sorry, guys. I didn’t mean to ruin your sleep. I doubt anyone would still be out waiting for me after seeing you rescuing me. They’re probably gone by now. I can go back.”

“And then what would be the plan?” Clay asks, taking a sip of his coffee. “Go in to watch your little sister getting it some more?”

“What?” Xander asks, leaning forward to look at Clay.

“Karen just walked in on her little sixteen-year-old sister getting railed in their room,” Clay shares, and Xander’s eyes fly to mine.

“On our bed.” I shudder.

“Wait, you share a bed with her?” Clay asks, raising his eyebrows.

“Okay, let her get railed, whatever, but why were you outside?” Xander asks at the same time.

“I could go back and stay in the stairway. It’s fine, you don’t have to be outside with me. I bet you’d rather be in your own bed at home. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. You felt unsafe, so you called. You did exactly what I told you to. I’m glad you did,” Clay assures me.

Xander nods. “Call usanytime,” he adds, his voice firm.

“I calledhim, and that was already bad enough. I’ll be hearing about this forever,” I say, causing Clay to chuckle. “I didn’t want to wake you, though.”

“Clay, can I borrow your phone?” Xander asks, and he hands it over without hesitation.

Xander quickly types on the phone, then hands it back to Clay and takes out his own phone, typing on it before mine buzzes with an incoming text.

“That’s my number. Next time, you call me. I promise I won’t make you hear about it forever,” Xander says.

“Hey,” Clay chimes in.

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t even know you guys, I was just scared, and—”

Xander gently holds my chin with his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up to him. “Just say, ‘Thank you, I will.’”

His intense gray eyes lock onto mine, and I feel my whole body wanting to comply and do whatever this beautiful man wants from me, so I say, “Thank you, I will.”

“Great, you broke her, babe,” Clay teases, and Xander releases his grip on me. “Anyway, Karen, it looks like we’ve got some time to kill because there’s no way in hell we’ll let you sit alone in a stairway all night. Tell us about yourself. What do you enjoy doing? Any hobbies?”

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