Page 49 of Damaged Hearts

Dang it. She's right. If Dennis sees me or suspects anything, it won't end well for Gillian, Xander, or me.

"I know what to do."

I snap my head around as Xander walks out of the bedroom, yawning like he barely got any sleep, whipping his hand down his face.

"What would that be, grumpy cat?" Gillian says.

Xander's expression shifts, his shoulders tensing, as his dark gaze lands on us. His eyes shift back and forth between me and Gillian like he's trying to figure out a riddle.

"I don't call him grumpy cat," I mutter with a groan.

"That's a missed opportunity, little sister."

Then, his eyes stay glued on me, almost confused. "Your hair," he mumbles as he walks over and gently touches one of my curls.

This was something unplanned, but Gillian has a very good idea for that.

"That's more to keep you out of trouble, grumpy cat. You definitely don't want to be on the receiving end of my sweet sister's fury if you end up groping my ass thinking I'm her, do you?"

It's smart. It's bad enough I already have this insecurity when it comes to my sister being around Xander. Now, if something happens, he can't claim ignorance. I don't think Xander would do that, especially after our talk last night, but I'm still scared. Scared he'll realize that Gillian is better suited for him than me.

"It's not too different though, right?" I ask, nervously. My hair wasn't happy about taking the color depositing shampoo so it stayed on my hair for a while. I expected my hair to look like Gillian's used to, that hot pink color, but instead it came out a soft rose gold color.

"Looks good, darling," he says with an encouraging smirk across his lips.

"Enough about my sister's hair. What's the plan?" Gillian presses, irritated with the sudden subject change.

He lifts his gaze, his stoic expression returning. "I have to be at the shop or Browning will think something is up. You should take her to get her car. Then, when the time comes, she can leave until the coast is clear for her to come back."

That’s actually a really good idea. My car should still be at my old apartment.

"How would I know the coast is clear? I tossed my phone back in Paris." That was really stupid, thinking about it now, but I doubt Dennis would've let me keep it. He probably would've shattered it while I was sleeping.

Xander reaches into the pocket of his sleep pants and pulls out a phone in a black case, handing it over to me.

"You're giving me your phone?" I gape at him, a little surprised.

"No." He reaches into his other pocket and pulls out a flip phone covered in scratches and dents, probably from being thrown against the wall multiple times. "This is mine. That one is yours."

Xander bought me a phone? Is this how much he trusts me?

My heart seizes as I take the phone in my hand, feeling the smooth, perfect glass encasing the device.

"Well, chop chop!" Gillian exclaims as she jumps up from the couch, dragging me behind her. "Be back shortly, grumpy cat!"

"Stop calling him that," I snap at her as she pulls me out the door.

I didn't even have the chance to thank Xander for getting me a phone. Stupid Gillian and her unnaturally hyperactive energy.

"He's a grumpy cat. Get used to it, sister." Gillian ushers me over to her car and into the front passenger seat.

She wasn't kidding. Her back seat is full of her stuff, pouring out from the trunk.

"So, are we going to get your car or are we skipping town?" she asks, honest confusion on her face.

I know she's right. A sane person would run for the hills and never look back, but I have one reason not to run.

Xander. I can't just leave him. The responsibility for my escape would land on him, and Dennis would probably kill him. I know Xander doesn't think he would, but I've seen the evil in that man's eyes. He would kill Xander, and if he did, it would destroy me worse than anything this biker gang could do.

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