“Well, I, we, uh . . .”
Spit it out, man.
“Don’t know if Brick would like you holding hands with another man.”
“Oh. Is that a relationship rule, do you think?”
“Would be for me, Twink.”
“Good to know. But accepting flowers is okay?”
“I think when they’re brought in friendship, it is,” he told her.
Was it his imagination or did she pull a face at that?
“At least, he didn’t try to break my fingers when I told him they weren’t for him, and he definitely looks like he’s capable of doing that.”
“He’s a big teddy bear. All scary on the outside and marshmallow on the inside.”
“Maybe for you.” But for anyone else, Xavier was pretty certain Brick was a bruiser.
He followed her through to the kitchen, and took out a vase without asking, knowing where they were.
She pulled herself out an iced coffee and him a coke. They sat at the kitchen island in awkward silence.
“Xavy, are you okay?”
“Twink, I’m so sorry,” he said at the same time. He huffed out a breath and sent her a small smile. “I’m all right.”
She raised an eyebrow and he barked out a laugh. “Okay, I’m regretting some life choices I made. And really taking a look at my life. I’ve realized that maybe, I’ve been blaming other people for my shortcomings. And that I’ve been taking you for granted.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You.”
“But how? I’m the one who leeches off you.”
He narrowed his gaze, not liking that. “Excuse me? Leech off me?”
Did she really just say that? She better not mean it like it sounded because if she did . . .
Calm down.
Even if she was yours, you couldn’t punish her. Juliet is sweet and gentle. She can’t handle that part of you.
Her gaze lowered. “I feel like I’ve used you and I’m so sorry, Xavier. You deserve better. I feel terrible, and I hope I never stopped you from living your life.”
Oh fuck.
She thought he’d been talking about her.
“Baby, no. I wasn’t talking about you.” Without thinking, he reached over to grab her hand, squeezing it. “Twink, you could never be a leech or a burden on me, understand? And I don’t want to hear you say that again.”
“But you’ve always taken care of me, and I feel like I did nothing for you in return.”
“Nothing? Ever since I moved back here, you’ve been my best friend.”
“I have?”