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Paul doesn’t say much and exits the house with his camera. Mark follows, but when I come out of the kitchen, Millie is nowhere to be found.
Xavier comes down with his parka on and a hat, looking as pissed off as ever.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to punch that guy in the face. After he leaves, I’m calling my agent. That asshole isn’t getting a story on me. Not when he made all those condescending remarks to you.”
“Well, he’s a reporter. He’s supposed to try to get a rise out of us,” I say, excusing his behavior even after all the shit I overheard him telling the camera guy. I just wish time would fast forward so I can prove him wrong. Xavier and I are going to make it.
“You stay here. I’m telling them we’re not going through town and that he can go fuck himself. I’m not gonna listen to him be disrespectful to you any more than I already have today.”
“Xavier,” I sigh, but who am I to stop him? Mark is an asshole.
Millie comes out of the bathroom.
“I’ll text Logan right now and ask him to meet you at The Grind,” I say.
“Thanks so much, and I’m really sorry about Mark. He’s a jackass. I think you and Xavier make a very cute couple. A real-life couple.” She smiles.
“Thank you, Millie.”
She walks out, and as the door opens, I hear Xavier tell Mark, “You think you can talk to her like that? You release one word of this interview and I’m suing your ass.”
I can’t hear what Mark says, but Xavier returns a few minutes later, slamming the door.
So much for a casual interview about finding love while playing the game.
27
“NO CLOWN OUTFIT FOR YOU.”
Clara
Two weeks after the interview, the weather is finally getting a little warmer and the ground is beginning to thaw.
Xavier is in his lower level working out when there’s a knock on the door.
I open it to find Presley and Leighton.
“I went by your place and you weren’t there so I figured I’d find you here. Do you live here now?” she asks.
“Kind of, but we’re still very much back and forth.”
She walks in, hands me Leighton, then drops the diaper bag on the floor. “You’re officially on aunt duty. My arms hurt.” She heads into the kitchen and opens the freezer before swearing and slamming it shut.
“Um, Pres, what’s going on?”
“I’m a horrible person. A horrible mother. A horrible wife.” She breaks down in a fit of tears, burying her head in her hands.
My chest tightens. What the hell is going on?
Leighton smiles at me as though she doesn’t have a care in the world.
“No, you’re not. Tell me what’s going on?”
She peeks through her fingers and says, “I’m pregnant.” It’s all muffled, but the words are clear as day.
My eyes widen. “Seriously?”
