“He hasn’t watched Game of Thrones. That’s a dumping offense if ever I heard one.” I step closer, all my anger fading. “Can we talk? Alone. Please.”
He stares at me, and a whole host of emotions washes over his face. His hair is down again, and I’m itching to run my fingers through it. He seems to have ditched the Mohawk in favor of this lazy, messy style, but I love it. Unable to resist and uncaring we have an audience of two, I reach out, toying with his hair. “I miss you. I miss you so much.” I move my hand, cupping one side of his handsome face. “Today has been agony.”
Xavier moves his arm, lifting it toward my face as his eyes glisten with need. We move at the same time, our chests brushing as he cups my cheek, and our faces move closer, our mouths lining up at the perfect angle. His warm breath dances over my lips, and I need to taste him so badly it feels like I’ll die if I can’t kiss him right now. My heart is pounding behind my rib cage as I close my eyes, brushing my mouth against his, wishing we were alone, with a bed, so I could show him how much he means to me.
“Get off him.” Jamison storms over, yanking my arm away and ruining the moment.
“Fuck off. You’re fired.” I jab my finger in his face. “If you ever lay a hand on me again, I’ll flatten your ass into next week.”
“You can’t fire me,” he blurts. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“I’m your superior, and you just pushed me.”
“You were hitting on my boyfriend!”
“He’s not yours,” I growl, ready to toss the asshole over the railing any second now.
“You can’t fire me because I’m dating your ex!”
“I fucking can, and I just have. Now get lost.”
“Unbelievable.” Xavier steps back, shaking his head. “You almost pulled me under again.” He links his fingers with Jamison’s, and a tight pain rips across my chest. He stabs me with a determined look. “If he goes, so do I.”
I bark out an incredulous laugh. “You’d sacrifice your career for him? Are you insane?”
“He must be some lay,” Abby, unhelpfully, adds. She’s been uncharacteristically quiet.
Xavier smirks. “Best lay I’ve ever had.”
I know he’s trying to hurt me, and I know it’s not true, but his words are like knives slicing across my exposed flesh. Before he can see my pain, I force every sliver of emotion back into a box, shoving it down deep inside me. I plant my usual mask on and smile. “I’m having the best sex of my life too,” I lie, “so I guess it’s a good thing we broke up since we were clearly so incompatible.” I stretch out my hand toward Jamison. “I apologize, and I retract my statement. You two are good together. Look after him.” The words feel like poison leaving my mouth, but I say what I need to before turning to Xavier. “Be happy, man. That’s all I want for you.”
I walk off in the direction of the beach, needing to lick my wounds before I return to my fiancée.
“Wait up.” Abby runs after me.
I slam to a halt, looking over my shoulder, spotting Jamison and Xavier walking back to the ballroom, hand in hand. “I’m not in the mood for company, Abigail.”
“I don’t like him,” she blurts. “He’s all wrong for him, and Xavier may think you’re a lost cause, but I know you’re not.” Silence engulfs us as she comes around in front of me.
“If you’re waiting for me to say thanks, you’ll be waiting awhile.”
“I know you meant what you said before they arrived. I know you meant every word.” She plants her hand on my chest, lifting her head to stare me in the eyes. “You know how I know?” She pauses, and I roll my eyes.
“Just say it. I know better than to try to walk away before you’ve said your piece.”
“Your entire face came to life, Sawyer. You were so animated when you spoke about him—in a way I have rarely seen.” Her beautiful features soften. “You love him. You don’t even realize it, but you do.”
“You want everyone to be in love because you are, but that’s not the way the world works. It’s not the way my world works.”
“I don’t want this for you. I know what it’s like to be trapped.”
“Sydney is no Trent. This might not be my choice, but it’s not the same. She’s not forcing me to do anything. We are on the same page, and that’s how I know I can do this for however long it takes to prove the elite are behind this and take back the reins.”
“I want in.” Steely determination glints in her eyes as I spy Kai advancing on us. I wondered how long it would take for him to show up.
“Of course, you do, and I’d never refuse your help. Only an idiot would.”
“I’m still pissed at you for hurting my bestie, but I understand it better now.”
“What’s up?” Kai asks, winding his arms around Abby’s waist from behind. “Xavier came back inside with a face like thunder.”
I need to walk. “I’m going to the beach. Keep an eye on Sydney for me?”
“She’s at our table, and she’s fine. She’s talking weddings with Demi,” he confirms.
That’s a hard pass for me. “I’ll catch you guys later,” I say, walking off with my hands shoved in the pockets of my black pants.
Abby’s words linger in my mind as I walk barefoot in the sand. Do I love him? Is that what all these whirling emotions churning inside me mean? And what does it matter whether I acknowledge it or not?
I have lost Xavier.
I see that now.
Even if I could do anything, there is nothing left to salvage anymore.
10
Sawyer
“Can you call him, please?” I ask Abby the following morning when we are gathered at my parents’ place for our meeting. Everyone is here except my ex, and he’s delaying things.
Mom has taken Sydney shopping while Dad is playing golf with Travis, but I don’t know how long they’ll be. I’m eager to have this conversation and come up with a plan.
“Tell him not to bring his boyfriend,” Anderson says, and I work hard to show no emotion.
“That’s a given,” Shandra says, shooting me a pitiful look I hate.
Initially, I had only taken Lauder and Anderson into my confidence, but given our lack of progress and my mounting concerns, we chose to bring the whole gang in. There is strength in numbers.
“Not entirely,” Charlie says, crossing his feet at the ankles. “Jamison is on the official case at Techxet, so Xavier might ask him to tag along.”
Charlie didn’t bring Demi. She’s having brunch at a local restaurant with his mom and sister. Charlie likes to keep Demi out of elite business, even though she is fully aware of everything. Which defeats the purpose, if you ask me. But I understand it. His dad kept his mom sheltered from that life, and he’s determined to protect his fiancée and keep her safe from the vultures who would set their sights on her the second they are married.
“No outsiders,” Drew says from his position in front of the large windows. He’s been staring out at the ocean since he arrived. He and Shandra can scarcely look at one another this morning, which could mean they fucked or they didn’t fuck.