Chapter 17
Xavier
Tuesday rolls around and I’m dead on my feet…literally. I can’t remember how much I drank last night. All I know is Ben had to call me an Uber for the second time over the weekend. I groan out loud from the pounding headache and lay my head back on my desk. I never go there more than once a week, let alone a weekend, and now I know why.
My phone rings and I ignore it. It's my mother again. She’s fucking incessant. My phone pings this time from a text message.
Mom: Xavier Delacruz, I know you can see my calls. Since you aren't answering, I will text you instead. You will join your father and I for dinner on Friday. DO NOT even think about trying to cancel on us.
Sebastian suddenly barrels through my office door. “I need you to watch Corrine on Friday.”
“Wait what? No.” I respond quickly. I flashback to my drunken phone call to her last night where I think I rambled on for at least five minutes. I don’t remember what the fuck I said. All I know is she ended up hanging up on me.
I have managed to avoid that temptation of a woman for weeks now and suddenly I get trashed and decide to call her. I must really have fucking brain damage.
“Yes,” Sebastian says, jarring me out of my thoughts.
“What about Jonathan and Jamison?” I ask desperately.
“They are busy with a case. And before you ask, Andre has already gone back overseas. She can’t be left alone. I want to take Riley away for a night. She won’t have any fun if she knows her sister isn’t safe. This isn’t a negotiation Xavier. I need Riley to myself for a bit. Get your shit together. You were fucking that woman for months. I don’t care if you don’t remember. You can’t wallow in your sorrows forever. I’m done sharing my wife with her sister right now. I need this,” he says glaring at me.
He turns around and stalks out my door without closing it. I look down at my phone again, still stuck on my mother’s message. “Fuck,” I say out loud, realizing I’m going to have to bring Corrine to my family dinner. This could not get any worse.
Me: Sorry, busy with loads of meetings. I’m overloaded with so many cases this week but I’ll be there. I’m bringing someone.
I hit send, and not even two seconds go by before a ping comes through.
Mom: Oh, a female friend? Someone special? Is it the girl you were seeing before your accident? What does she like to eat? Is she allergic to anything? I can’t wait to see you both!
Me: J ust a friend mother.
I respond more bluntly than I should and close out the message app on my phone.
Another ping comes in but my head hurts way too damn much to pick it up. Grabbing my keys, I walk out the door and towards the elevators. “I’m done for the day,” I call out to no one in particular but I know the assistants in the office will hear me.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I make it home, and before I know it, I’m a few Gin and Tonics and a couple of Xanaxs deep. Thankfully, I passed out before making any more embarrassing phone calls.