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“How could you not tell me this?” Xander’s whisper is more like a soft boom once we step into the guest room to talk.
“I didn’t want it getting back to Mom and Dad.”
“I’m not Mom and Dad.”
“You would have worried the same. You would have sent the concerns up the chain, potentially, and then I’d be stuck dealing with them being unhinged with worry. You know Dad already wants me to come home, and I’m not ready to surrender to the family name yet.”
“And I am?” He sounds exasperated with having to deal with me.
“You made the decisions you had to make. I’m not ready yet. You tell me you need me, I’ll be here. You know that. But as long as I can stay away, enjoy my life as far away from the Xavier political machinations as I can, the happier I am.”
“I’d be happier if you’d fucking told me you have a goddamn stalker after you. And what’s Madison doing? The Chaos? Cooper? Some fucking boyfriend, letting you fucking be exposed to a psycho.”
“First of all, Cooper is not a boyfriend.”
Xander flashes a look of disbelief in my direction. “This apartment isn’t that big, Bea.”
I glower at him.
“We have an understanding, and he’s a friend. He’s here with me to keep me safe.”
“And what’s he going to do? Charm your stalker to death? Tell him a few dad jokes and hope that wards him off? Be serious.”
“I’m being serious. I feel safe with him. He’s been looking out for me. He let me move in with him and his daughter so I didn’t have to be alone at the hotel.”
“Oh, I’m real fucking sure that’s the reason he wanted you in his house. I know you’ve been out of the dating world for a minute, but that’s one of the biggest fuckboy moves I’ve ever heard. Real fucking risky one, but if it pays off…”
“It’s not like that.”
“You sure he didn’t orchestrate it to get you to move in?”
“I’m positive. Why would he keep it up when I’m already living with him?”
“To make sure you stay.”
“You have a devious mind. Also, he could get any woman he wants. He doesn’t have to play games to win one over.”
“I just don’t trust anyone. Let alone someone who claims to be a white knight when their reputation is anything but.”
“Looked in a mirror lately?”
“What Harper and I have is different.”
“Different in that you were lying in wait for her ex-husband to fuck up so you could swoop in and save the day?”
“Don’t be a smartass.”
“Then don’t be an ass—suggesting someone who’s been a good friend to me has some nefarious plot. We’re friends, and we have an understanding. That’s as far as it goes.”
“Then who do you think it is?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be worried. I’d be calling the cops.”
“You sure it’s not his brother?”
“It wouldn’t make sense if it was.” Rob moved on easily. He was dating someone new within weeks. He replaced me so fast that I wondered if she was already waiting in the wings or if he was just that good on the open market.
“Wouldn’t it make sense though?” Xander raises a brow at me.
