Page 5 of Xavier

3

Ronny

Three and a halfyears later I’m still filled with regret about not asking V to cross any lines with me. One kiss isn’t exactly a big deal and, at most, it should be a pleasant memory. It shouldn’t be the standard that every boy I encounter gets held to.

There’s a reason I’m single.

There’s a reason I’m a virgin.

And that reason is V Martin.

I have to figure out how to get over him.

I try to put him out of my mind, but then something occurs to me. V was going into Dad’s office. No one goes into Dad’s office when Dad isn’t here.

And I mean no one. I once left my cell phone in there by accident when he wanted to talk to me about my grades and when I tried to go back for it later I got the screaming of a lifetime. He'd only left the room for a few minutes and I knew exactly where my phone was. But it didn't matter.

I was sure he was going to hit me then.

He hadn't.

But it made one thing super clear, something I'd never forget. No one goes into Dad's office alone.

So what is V doing?

It's probably best if I ignore it. Dad might have asked him. Or he's doing something to hurt Dad. And... well, I'm not sure how much I care about that. My dad is a bad man, he does bad things, and as soon as I leave for my post-college job I'm going to do my best to separate myself from his life.

Does it make me a bad person that I haven't done it already? That I let him pay for my expensive college and all the costs that go along with it?

I'm still figuring that out.

Dad's not home right now. He's not supposed to be home for a couple of days. I should just let V do what he's going to do and mind my own business. That's what you're supposed to do when you're part of a family like mine.

But I've always been a bit... nosy.

If it was any other guy I would have either ignored it or called Dad. But it's V. And I need to know what he's up to.

I slip out of my heels so I don't make a noise as I walk back to the office. I'm not exactly a super spy, but I've been sneaking around this house my whole life and I rarely get caught.

With my dress so tight, it feels like a catsuit from a movie and I'm the cat burglar.

I sneak back down the hall and there's no sign of V, and the door to Dad's office is closed. No one would think anything of it. But V was right here and his hand was on the doorknob. Either he was coming or going, and I need to figure out which.

I take a deep breath and open the door just enough to slip inside, then I close it right behind me.

The lights aren't on, but there's a faint glow of a phone screen right near Dad's desk.

I'm not alone.

Someone's in here.

V.

I reach blindly for the light switch but his voice stops me.

"Don't move." It's dark and dangerous and full of promise, rather than a threat.

I don't need to obey. I'm almost certain he won't hurt me. But the thought that he might is enough to make me exhilarated. This is so bad. It's wrong. But I'm here for a reason. "What are you doing here?" I ask because I can't help myself, but I don't turn on the light switch.