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Dominic:
I didn’t. I’ve been busy.
Me:
See you tonight. xx
I put my phone away. I’m sitting at the dining table with Xavier and Shar, trying to think of how to bring up the lawsuit. It seems to be a topic they’re both wanting to avoid.
“I’ll be back. Gotta pee,” Shar says before practically running to the bathroom. My brows furrow when I get a message from her a minute later.
Shar:
I need to escape. We need to get out of this apartment without Xavier being suspicious.
Me:
Why?
Shar:
I have a plan. I’ll fill you in once we’re out of here.
Me:
Okay, operation escape X is on.
I smile. I knew Shar would have a plan. It’s not like her to sit back and let other people handle shit. Also, I may have this fantasy about becoming a secret, badass assassin. And my little adventures with Shar are what I live for.
She comes back into the dining room and reclaims her seat. “You okay?” Xavier asks.
“Yep, everyone pees, Xavier. It’s very normal,” she tells him with an eye roll. I watch as my brother picks up her hand and starts kissing each one of her knuckles.
“Okay, ew. Shar, I need you for the afternoon. We’re going shopping,” I stand and tuck my chair against the table.
“I need her more,” Xavier grunts.
“What are you shopping for?” Shar asks.
“I need new shoes. Come on,” I beg with my brows pinched together, my eyes wide, and my bottom lip popped out. “It’s been too long since we’ve gone shopping.”
“Okay, I’ll come,” she says before looking over to Xavier. “Will you be okay here by yourself?”
He whispers something into her ear and her cheeks go red, and I’m so fucking glad I could not hear whatever depraved shit he said to her.
“Okay, well, I won’t be long,” Shar says, jumping to her feet and following me out to the foyer.
“Hold up.” My brother stops us in our tracks, and for a second, I think he’s on to us. I glance over my shoulder, fearing the worst, only to see that he’s pulled his wallet from his pocket and is presenting Shar his AMEX card. “Take this.”
I love the man. But he sure can be dumb sometimes.
“We’ll talk about this later. When I get home,” Shar tells him in that eerily calm voice that suggests she’s so pissed off she’s beyond the point of yelling. Then she pivots on her heel and walks away. I smirk. I know how stubborn my best friend is when it comes to spending money that she hasn’t earned.
“Shardonnay, stop, wait,” Xavier calls out as he chases us to the elevator.
“No, you stop. I told you I’m not your freaking charity case, Xavier. I don’t want or need your money. If I want to buy something, I’ll buy it my damn self.” Shar is in full-on ‘I am an independent woman’ mode.
“You’re right. You’re not my fucking charity case. You’re my girlfriend, my live-in spouse. It’s not my money anymore, Shardonnay. It’sours,” Xavier growls out.
