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There’s a beat of silence.
“So…” I start. “I… You wanted me to stop by?”
Just so we’re clear, he’s still melting my insides with a single look, and I’m still a babbling idiot who can’t form a sentence. Xavier moves closer to me, a single whiff of his cologne enough to make my knees buckle.
“No,” he shocks me by saying.
My jaw hangs limply.
“I wanted you to come and stay,” he corrects, and a herd of murderous butterflies assault my stomach.
“Stay tonight?”
He moves closer again.
“Forever,” he says unapologetically.
I avoid his gaze. “Xav, I—”
“Don’t fucking go, Vee.” He cuts to the chase, cupping my face in his hands without a single thought as to the possibility of people seeing us. “I know this is shitty, and complicated, and it’d be easier for you to get on that plane, but… I don’t want easy—fuck easy. I want you. I love you, Vee,”he croaks, pressing his forehead flush to mine. “Just… stay.”
I should’ve known I’d end up here.
Rethinking everything because of one speech.
Wondering if I should stay because of those eyes.
That mouth.
This boy.
“There’s nothing left for me here anymore,” I whisper.
“Bullshit!You have me,” he counters.
His beautiful illusions rip me apart. Burdened by my realistic mindset, I separate his hands from my face.
“Do I?” I confront him with the facts.
Xavier clamps his lips together, and I know, as much as he wants to argue, he can’t.
Because I’m right.
I don’t have him.
I never did.
He’s about to speak when loud microphone feedback lacerates the air. My gaze darts to the elevated platform planted across the backyard. A man I recognize to be Xavier’s coach is up on the center of the stage, tapping a microphone that’s mounted on a stand as he prepares for a speech.
Theo pops up behind us. “Go sit your ass down, man. Coach is calling player of the season in a few.” He shakes Xav’s shoulder and saunters toward the rows of chairs reserved for the varsity team before the podium.
The cheer squad and most of the basketball team are already seated, the rest of the guests constrained to stand up as they wait for the “ceremony” to begin.
Sure enough, the next second, Coach Diaz says, “Calling all basketball players over here, please.”
When he says all players, he means Xav. He’s the only one still missing in action. I catch Brie staring jealousy-laced bullets at us from the third row.
Good.
