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He stays silent, but his grip on me doesn’t loosen.
“Xan, what does he have on you?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
Fair enough.
“You wouldn’t tell me this in the house. Did he bug it? Did you?”
“I didn’t, I swear. I don’t know if he did. He just said that he knows everything. That he has eyes everywhere.”
Taking a deep breath, Xander finally steps back. And somehow, the absence of his touch is worse than him pinning me to the tree.
“Xander,” I beg, “I need you to understand. I’d already decided what I wanted before Tristan broke in. I’d already made up my mind—I want you, Xan. I wish I would’ve told you, but I was scared. I don’t know what he has on you, but it sounds serious. Please, Xan—”
“Shut up.” His words are curt, and he won’t even look at me.
I cover my mouth to stifle my sobs, but it barely does anything.
Oh god, he can’t stand me. He hates me.
Xander begins pacing, his hands locked behind his back. My feet stay frozen to the ground, and even if I wanted to move, I don’t think I could.
I don’t know how much time passes. I just watch as Xander stalks back and forth on the path, the sunlight casting odd patterns on his body. Even though I’m pretty sure he’s planning on throwing me out of his life, I can’t help but stare. His jaw is clenched, his shoulders are tense, but he still looks beautiful. Almost untouchable.
Finally, he stops in front of me. “Here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to go back to the house, and we’re going to pretend like this conversation didn’t happen. Understood?”
I nod, wiping away tears.
“Then we’re going to let Tristan carry out his plan.”
“What? Alexander, no!” I reach out for him, new tears forming in my eyes. When he snaps back from me, my heart completely shatters.
“Yes. We can’t let him know that we’re onto him, so we don’t have a choice. Stop crying.”
His words only make me sob harder. I sink down to the ground and pull my legs to my chest, burying my face into my knees. But I’m barely down five seconds before he’s yanking me to my feet again.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I sob out, clutching his arms.
“Then get it together, Sophia. On the off chance that my house is bugged, or Tristan managed to get cameras in my house, we can’t go back with you looking like this.”
As I do my best to control my breathing, he pulls me against him. His arms are stiff around me, but I don’t care. He’s holding me. He’s letting me touch him.
“Xan,” I whisper, but he shushes me. My bottom lip starts quivering as he strokes my hair, but I take a few deep breaths to calm myself.
I can’t let myself think that Tristan might win this. Can’t focus on the hatred I saw in Xan’s eyes mere minutes ago.
No. I have to trust him. He told me to take a leap of faith, and I did.
I just hope it’s enough.
“DO YOU NORMALLY have this many events to go to?” I twirl my hair around my curling iron, glancing at Xander in the bathroom mirror.
He’s just stepped out of the shower, and my stomach flutters as his gaze slides over me. “During summer and around the holidays. I know it’s a lot.”
“I’m sure I’ll—” I cut myself off. Now that everything is out in the open, I don’t know if I’ll get used to attending events with Xander.
For all I know, this will be my last one by his side.
