God, he looked so damn delicious dressed in all black. His sleeves were rolled to just below his elbows and the top few buttons of his shirt were left undone. Matching dress pants and shoes, he looked like sin in the flesh. Kova was oozing sexuality. I'd watched as he moved across the room like a social butterfly for the last hour talking to people. He never once looked in my direction. I tried not to take it personally considering my dad was here, but we had just accomplished something huge together.
"What's wrong?" Avery asked.
I bit my lip. "I feel like Kova's acting strange."
"It's probably because your dad is here."
"Yeah, you're probably right, but still. I feel like he's purposely ignoring me. Something's off. I can feel it."
"I wouldn't worry too much right now. Things are hectic here. Don't read too much into it."
I nodded in agreement even though I didn't like the negative feeling churning in my stomach. "I still can't believe you're here," I said to her, grabbing her arm. I was so happy Avery was granted permission from her parents to attend the Olympics.
"I know. I was ready to sell my soul to fly here when your dad talked to mine and said he'd watch over me. It was smooth sailing after that." She finished with a cheeky smile.
I glanced around the table making sure my brother wasn't listening before asking, "Has it been strange being so close to Xavier?"
Avery shot a fleeting glance his way. She puckered her lips before she spoke. "Yes and no. I think I make it really difficult for him. Like one minute I'll catch him looking at me like he likes me again, and I'll smile a little at him. Then the next second he looks disgusted with me. It's a little unsettling but I remind myself he thinks I aborted his baby. It keeps me from getting mad and reacting."
My heart was sad hearing this. There wasn't one person who had caused the miscarriage, but they'd never see it that way. She felt responsible, but if Xavier knew the truth, he'd feel even more responsible than her. Their truth was a double-edged sword.
Her mouth opened, then closed. She frowned and wet her lips. "We stayed up talking last night until three in the morning."
My brows shot up. I swear Xavier had multiple personalities. "You're kidding me. What happened?"
She shrugged one shoulder. "Nothing happened, we just talked about the transplant surgery, actually."
That was all she said. Nothing more. Nothing less. I waited patiently until I couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, you're going to make me drag it out of you, aren't you?"
A sly grin spread across Avery's face. She picked her head up and looked at me with round blue eyes.
"Tell me what happened," I urged.
When Avery blushed, it was so obvious. She was light-skinned and her cheeks turned into red apples.
"He asked me to come to his room. Of course, I went. I basically fucking sprinted there. I was shocked at first because he'd hardly said two words to me since we left the States. When I got to his room, he had the fake fireplace lit up on the screen and blankets on the floor in front of it." My brows creased. That was the last thing I’d expected. "I once told Xavier I loved sitting in front of the fire and listening to the crackling wood. He had his cell phone playing the wood burning sound. It was like a beacon calling me. I went right to the floor and laid down. He did too."
My lips parted and my brows angled deeper toward each other. I was puzzled and I was sure it showed. "Who knew he had a sweet side to him? I'm surprised he did that."
She blew out a huff and said, "Me too. He said he didn't get a chance to thank me for testing to see if I was a match for you. He seemed…indebted over it."
I pulled back. "My brother?"
"Yup." She nodded. "I swear he was on the verge of crying he was so happy that we matched up. He just kept thanking me over and over. He was really sweet, and he reminded me of the old Xavier." She paused and her voice lowered even more. "I miss him."
"At least you guys didn't fight." Her eyes rolled toward mine. "Oh, did I speak too soon?"
"Girl, yes. He insisted that he's going to take care of me the entire time I'm in recovery until I'm back to myself. I told him that wasn't necessary, that I didn't need him because I had family to help. We bickered about that for a solid minute. You know what he said? He yelled in my face that he's my family and only he's going to be allowed to take care of me." I frowned, my feelings torn over his behavior. "I wasn't sure whether to swoon or be turned off," Avery said, sounding torn herself.
I glanced across the table at Xavier, who was openly studying Avery. He couldn't tear his eyes from her. My head tilted to the side as I took in his appearance. Xavier rocked that pastel preppy style well, not giving a shit if he was wearing "girl colors," as Avery's twin brothers had put it many times to taunt him. His disheveled hair complemented his lax shirt and loose tie. Funny that he loved preppy clothes when he was anything but a prep boy. He was in trouble with the law often, defensive, abrasive. There was an underlying aura of danger that followed him. He was a walking hazard. All it took was the wrong look and he'd detonate. He'd be better suited in all black, not a soft salmon color. Yet, sitting across from me, Xavier looked at Avery like he was a man drowning in love over someone he'd never have.
"How did you guys leave off?" I asked carefully, looking back at her.
"He said he wanted to see me again tonight, but I told him that's a negative because I get to hang out with my bestie," she said with a beaming smile, her shoulders shifting from side to side. I had so much love for her.
"Have you guys seen each other every night since you got here?"
She peered down then chanced a guilty side-eye glance at me. "Maybe," she drew out shyly. I laughed. "We have, but only because in order for me to go anywhere, your dad makes Xavier come with me. It's so annoying. Last night was the first night I was alone with him, though, like in his room alone. My heart was racing the entire time. I couldn't believe he asked me to come over, let alone set up that fake fire."
I giggled, not surprised Dad had done that. "We're in a foreign country, what did you expect? You know my dad sees you as a daughter too."
She gave me a droll stare. "I felt like I had a bodyguard. He was on top of everything I did. I couldn't breathe without him questioning me."
I grinned. "You have no chance in the Olympic village with Xavier around."
"Fucking right, man."
This time I chuckled. I didn't think I'd ever understand those two. They either had something toxic together or something profound. There was no middle ground with them. Like I'd told Xavier that day in his pool house, they were similar to Kova and me.
Hesitantly, I asked, "Do you want to see him tonight?"
Avery lifted her gaze to mine, but I stopped her just seconds after our eyes locked. Her face was blank but her eyes gave her away.
My lips twitched. "I have an idea…"
Thirty-Eight
I approached Kova, who was finally alone for the first time tonight. Throwing a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure Avery was still covering for me, I stopped in front of him. He looked up in surprise and quickly surveyed the room before turning his attention to me.