Page 61 of What About Us

“How did she get your number?”

“I have no idea. I changed it after that call. Told everyone that I lost my phone.” He licks his lips. “She called out of the blue, said she was proud of me and needed a million dollars.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’d like to punch her in the face.”

His frown eases. “I laughed at her and hung up. Didn’t say a word to her. Because I was just a baby, not even in kindergarten, when she left. She didn’t give me anything at all growing up. I do remember her being loving and fun, but Jesus Christ, she’s been gone for the better part of thirty years. So no, she doesn’t get to ask me for anything now.”

“I’m sorry. Do you think Indie did what she did today because she has ulterior motives?”

“No, I don’t.” He shakes his head. “Indie doesn’t want anything from us. She just didn’t want to keep the secret.”

“I can appreciate that.”

His hand drifts up my arm, my shoulder, and under my hair to the back of my neck, and he gently pulls me to him, so he can lean his forehead against mine.

This might be the most intimate I’ve ever been with a man. Because this isn’t about sex. It’s connection.

“You can feel however you need to feel,” I whisper to him. “It’s all okay. And it might change each day for a while.”

His lips twitch up into a half smile. “You’re smart. I knew that you were exactly what I needed right now.”

I can’t believe that this is Xander being flirty and nice, just because he’s that way with everyone.

That’s not what this is anymore.

“Thanks for letting me crash here for a couple of days,” I whisper.

“There’s no way I’ll let you go back there while she’s there. Absolutely not.” He gently presses his hand over my sore cheek. “Why did she hit you?”

His jaw clenches.

“Because I put cheddar cheese on her sandwich and she doesn’t like cheese.”

He waits.

“And?”

“That’s it.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Ivy.”

“If only. I would have gotten Cally and me out of there today. She kicked her twice. My poor girl.”

“No my poor girl,” Xander growls and pulls me in for another hug. “You should press charges, Red.”

“Yeah, well. Maybe next time.”

“There won’t be a fucking next time.”

Xander is really good at the whole hugging thing.

“At least I left my work bag here yesterday, so I can still be productive.”

“We’re taking the day off, remember?”

I grin. “What are we doing instead?”

“We didn’t get movie night.”