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Xavier rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand and walked into my room. He plopped down onto my bed that I was still snuggled in.
"Something like that."
"I've barely seen you since I've been home. I was hoping we could spend a day together before life takes over and we part ways again."
He stared at the ceiling like he was deep in thought. "Sorry about that. I've been…busy."
"Yeah, so busy with Michael and Connor, right? Don't you guys spend enough time together at college?"
Michael and Connor were Avery's twin brothers. Around the island they were known as the Band of Brothers because they were inseparable and constantly causing trouble.
"It's not like that. We’ve been chillin' together, but I fucked up big time and I've been trying to make it right." My heart clenched from the anguish in his words. I'd never heard him sound so helpless. "But the more I do, the more I fuck myself."
"What happened?"
He blew out a long and hard breath. "Can't let it get out."
"Anything I can help you with?"
He shook his head. "Can't talk about it."
Hmm. That sounded awfully familiar. "You can't, or you won't?"
"Both."
"Then how can I help you?"
"You can't."
"Jesus Christ, you're starting to annoy the shit out of me. I feel like I'm going in circles here. Throw me something to run with."
The corner of Xavier's mouth half-heartedly tugged up. I didn’t like how dejected he sounded.
"You sound like her."
And now it all made sense. "Oh, chick problems. Got it."
"Something like that."
I shrugged, not wanting to get into relationship problems with my brother. As if I was in any position to give advice.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Just move on to your next chase. You seem to have a list of harems you check off once you've conquered them. Cross her off in your little black book."
Xavier stared at the celling in a melancholy daze. "If only it was that easy. She's that girl who gets under your skin. Just digs and digs, until she's buried herself deep in your bones and you don't want her to leave…until she does and takes everything with her."
A soft knock sounded on my opened door, distracting me from my brother, just in time too. I looked over to see Theo, our butler, standing in the opening.
"Miss Rossi, your two guests were found roaming the back looking a little lost." He pushed the door open further and Hayden and Holly walked in, their eyes bounced around my bedroom, taking it in. "I took it upon myself to show them to your room."
"Hey guys! I didn’t think you'd be up yet." I glanced at Theo and gave him an appreciative smile.
"Would you like me to bring you anything? Your rocket fuel, perhaps?" he asked.
I sighed. My coffee. The elixir of life. "Thank you, Theo, but you know I'll get it myself." He nodded once and then left.
Before I could utter another word to my friends, I watched a smile creep across Xavier's face when he eyed Holly. Oh hell no. I gave him a swift kick in the hip and glared at him. Just like that, his girl woes were a thing of the past.
Holly stood next to Hayden wearing navy blue shorts, a button-down denim shirt with sleeves rolled to her elbows, and a white cami underneath her shirt. Her light blond hair was braided loosely at the side of her head and pulled to rest on her chest. I loved that hairstyle, but I could never pull it off. She looked like she'd just walked out of a small town. So adorable.
