Page 58 of Brittle Heart

I nod, looking into his warm chocolate eyes. “Promise. Thank you,” I whisper before turning and sliding over the bench seat to exit.

I contemplate how to gracefully hop out when Xander takes a step closer, places his hands under my arms, and effortlessly lifts me out of the car as if I weigh nothing.

Holy hotness.

A tingling sensation spreads between my thighs, causing me to squeeze them together. Xander’s gaze drifts down my body, and a slight smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“See you around, Carolina,” he says, getting back into the car.

They both wait until I’m safely inside before driving off, and the gesture does something I’m not ready to acknowledge.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Carolina

Fuck, I desperately need a nap or something. I stretch my neck, rotating my head from side to side. I’m so exhausted that I can’t even think straight anymore.

Would it be unprofessional to ask Sophia for a break?

Of course, it would. Enduring classes was pure torture. And now, Sophia is rambling about her party on Sunday. I can barely keep my eyes open.

Leaning back in my desk chair, I let out a big yawn. The door opens, and Clay chuckles as he walks over to me, placing a to-go mug in front of me.

“Drink up. Looks like you need it,” he says while Josh does the same for Sophia.

“Oh, I love you, Joshy. Thanks,” she says before taking a sip.

I eye the mug skeptically but bring it to my lips. As I take a sip, I realize it’s actually good coffee with just the right amount of sugar.

Josh talks to Sophia about the food for her birthday party while Clay leans in to speak softly to me. “How are you, Karen? Did you tear into your little sister when you got home?” he asks.

I huff. “Not yet, way too tired for that, so thank you for this,” I say, gently shaking the to-go mug. “And thank you again for last night. I still feel bad, but I truly appreciate it.”

He chuckles. “Oh, wow. Who would’ve thought that driving you around the city for a night would make the little kitty cat retract her claws.”

“That’s it. I don’t have the energy to pretend to like you today any longer,” I say, but I need to hide my smile behind my cup.

“Ouch,” he responds, his eyes filled with amusement. “Good, let’s get back to your charming self. It got a bit creepy there for a moment. However, youdoowe me a favor for calling me out of bed last night.”

And there it is. I knew he would never just do something like that for me out of the goodness of his heart.

My tone turns icy as I ask, “What?”

“Come eat with us,” he says, his eyes challenging me.

I bite my lip. I don’t have any money to spend on food right now, and I don’t want to eat in front of them anyway. I’m starving. I skipped breakfast because I was in a rush and only had some old crackers left in my backpack. “Come on, Karen, you owe me.”

I push my chair back and stand, but he doesn’t move. I’m now standing right in front of him, having to tilt my head back to look him in the eyes. “Okay, but I’m not going to eat anything. I’m not hungry,” I lie. “I’ll just come and sit with you because you came for me ”

“That’s a good girl,” he says, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear before turning to Josh and Sophia.

I’m left dumbstruck.

What the hell was that? And why did it turn me on?

“Let’s go eat, guys,” Clay says, and Sophia stands as well.

I grab my backpack and head toward the door when Josh rushes in front of me to hold it open. “You’re joining us?” he asks, smiling warmly as if he’s genuinely happy about it.

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