Page 83 of The Devil and His Ghost

You were a mistake, and I regret it all.

Don’t look for me, because I won’t be looking for you.

Quickly gathering myself, I faced the elevators again and plastered on a blank expression. My stoic shell was unshakable. Only my racing heart signaled how rattled Xander’s sudden appearance had me after a whole year apart.

The elevator dinged, and I boarded it with a murmur to Alex, “Come on.”

I held my breath and hoped that the doors would shut without anyone else getting on. Unfortunately, I wasn’t that lucky. Xander and the two women boarded with us. They continued to tease each other and Xander about being chosen for some fun after his concert. I barely managed to keep from curling my lip in disgust as I stared at the climbing numbers on the elevator display screen. Alex stepped closer to me, seemingly just as uncomfortable with the heavy sexual energy now in the elevator.

Alex leaned down and whispered, “Isn’t that the famous guy Bethelma wants on the show? He’s a bit … much.”

I ignored my coworker, because it was only then that I realized the trio hadn’t selected a floor, which meant we were on the same fucking floor. Not that it mattered. Neither of us were acknowledging the other.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Alex and I got off, but the sound of Xander’s companions trailed behind us.

Almost to my room. Just a bit farther.

“Are we grabbing something from your room or changing?” Alex asked as he followed my brisk walk. “What did you want to eat? We could—”

“Kendyll.”

My gut twisted sharply. I thought about pretending I hadn’t heard him, but I’d already frozen midstep. I made sure my face gave away nothing as I slowly looked behind me.

Xander, in his black band t-shirt and dark jeans, pulled himself away from the women and offered them a room key card before gesturing down the hall. “You two go ahead. Room 1213.”

“Don’t be too long,” one giggled.

“We’ll start the fun without you if you do,” the other threatened with a salacious grin and kiss to his neck.

The girls left in a whirl of blonde curls, tight black dresses, and expensive perfume. I looked down at my plain t-shirt and jeans with my dark hair hanging naturally by my shoulders. They were the complete opposite of me. Good. That was good.

Xander faced me and drifted closer, throwing a glance Alex’s way as he did. It may’ve been petty, but before I could think better of my actions, I turned to Alex.

“You can wait in the room, too,” I said, giving him my key card. “You know the room number. Order us room service for dinner. Whatever you want.”

Alex’s eyebrows rose. He only knew the room number because mine, his, and Bethelma’s rooms were right next to each other. Xander didn’t need to know that, though. Whether Alex found my sudden friendliness strange or not, I didn’t know. He seemed much too happy about me offering to eat and hang out with him to care. With a wide smile and nod, he accepted the key card and went in the direction of my room.

I faced Xander, and despite my effort, I couldn’t help but look him over. His black hair had grown longer over the past year. The strands were full and looked like they would run silky soft through my fingers. Everything else seemed the same for the most part. Muscular build, septum piercing, tattoos, onyx eyes. Only the soul in his dark gaze was different now. The brightness in them seemed forced, the teasing air concealing something painful. I wasn’t conceited enough to think that had anything to do with me.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and put on a smile, which seemed just as feigned as the carefree glimmer tightening his face. “How have you been?”

“Great,” I answered flatly while crossing my arms. “Busy. In fact, I’m busy right now, so if you’ll excuse me …”

The smile he wore cracked, and his gaze hardened. Pulling back his shoulders, he huffed, “Okay. Screw this. I’m not one to pretend around the elephant in the fucking room. What’s up? Why are you being so cold? You just fucking left, never reached out, never said where you were going. Why?”

I snorted around a condescending laugh and covered my mouth with my fingers. “Oh, no. Did you think this was more than what it was?” I gestured between the two of us.

Xander’s nostrils flared, and his brow furrowed even deeper. “No. But I thought we were at least friends.”

“That was your mistake, not mine. Your real friends are waiting on you in your hotel room, just as mine is for me.”

I thought a look of hurt flashed across his face, but I spun on my heel too quickly to be sure. I hoped my words hurt him. I hoped my cold, indifferent attitude infuriated him. I hoped it wounded him enough to keep him away, just like my note had.

Alex perched on the swivel chair at the desk in my hotel room. He’d ordered us food to my room, and with a sigh, I realized my haste to get rid of Xander had left me stuck with my coworker’s company. Thankfully, Alex talked enough for the both of us. We ate our dinner with his chatter keeping the awkward silence away.

The minute we were done eating and the conversation seemed at a good stopping point, I feigned being tired and wanting to sleep. Alex left with a smile, albeit with a hint of disappointment. I knew Alex was interested in more than a working relationship with me, but I had no such sentiment. I’d resigned myself to being a bitter, lone woman for the rest of my life.

I patted Catsper’s phantom head as I passed by him to change into my oversized t-shirt for bed. My phone rang at the same time. With a glance at the caller’s name, my sour mood lifted slightly. I answered and put it on speaker.