Chapter 13
Despite the embarrassing way the night had started, Justine ended up having a ton of fun with her friends. Katie kept saying whatever shocking thing popped into her head, and Justine knew it was her way of testing Xavier, to see how he’d respond.
He answered her with humor and some insightful commentary.
The therapist in him never far from the surface, apparently.
Yet Justine didn’t mind. She found herself more and more attracted to Xavier’s quick wit and thoughtfulness.
She also liked that in some instances he very much acted stereotypical, thoroughly enchanted by the violent scenes of fighting on TV.
“Wow. That’s a move. I bet he wrestled in high school, maybe college.”
“Thinking about grappling for fun? Don’t look at me,” Katie warned. “Though Justine’s been known to be pretty scrappy.”
“Oh, stop.” Justine’s face had felt permanently warm all night. “Rolling around in the sand doesn’t look appealing. Plus, you get sand in all sorts of places.”
The episode ended, finally, and before a new one could get started—they’d already watched two—she paused the series.
“Good point.” Xavier stood and stretched, and Katie shot a quick gaze at his crotch and gave her a subtle thumbs up.
Fortunately, he missed it.
Justine looked at the floor, trying not to laugh, and felt as if she’d left all her dignity in the other room. Katie never failed to make life fun, that was for sure.
“I feel like I’ve monopolized your evening. Sorry about that.” He smiled down at her.
Justine smiled back, lost in his sparkling brown eyes and full mouth drawn up in amusement.
So when Katie cleared her throat, she startled.
“Time for me to go. I’m so tired.” Katie’s yawn was beyond fake. But she bolted out the door with a “Call you tomorrow,” leaving Justine all alone with Xavier.
“Again, sorry for popping over unannounced. But I learned so much.” Xavier chuckled. “Katie’s hilarious. She and Auggie really do need to meet.”
“I don’t know if the world would survive such a cataclysmic meeting of minds,” she said drily, which had Xavier laughing hysterically.
“Thanks. I needed tonight. Cataclysmic.” He guffawed some more. “I had fun. I hope I wasn’t imposing, but you did ask me to stay.”
“I’m glad you did.” Not a lie. Being around Xavier made Justine feel good.
Oddly, she felt safe with him. Sure, Xavier had height and muscle, but he just radiated security.
She never feared he’d make fun of her for something she said or did, or that he’d turn mean if he didn’t get his way.
Which was ridiculous, because they weren’t dating or anything, and she didn’t know him that well.
But of all her friends and family, only Katie was never malicious or condescending with teasing. And now Xavier fit in Justine’s tiny trust bucket.
Xavier frowned. “You look tired. I should go.”
“Wait.” She stood. “What did you come over to talk about?”
“Oh. Well, I...” He studied her face, and she wondered what he saw. The pleasure of having him close? The attraction she tried to keep in check? Her growing curiosity about what a kiss against that soft-looking beard and mustache might feel like? To know the taste of him?
Xavier gave her a weird smile. “It’s not important. I had a blast tonight. More fun than I’ve had in a while, actually.”
She paused as a terrible thought crossed her mind. “Was it Katie?” she asked out loud and horrified herself for a second time. Would he want her number or something?
“Katie? She’s funny, sure. I like her sense of humor. She really brings you out of your shell.” He flushed. “God, I try, but I can’t take the work hat off. Forget I said that.”
Relieved he didn’t seem into her best friend, she shrugged. “No apologies needed. You’re right. With Katie, I can be me. I feel, I don’t know, freer.” She gave him a shy smile. “With you too. I feel like I can say anything and you won’t judge me for being stupid.”
“You’re not stupid.”
“No, I’m not.” She sighed. “I don’t know why I said that.
” She did know why. Because she often felt stupid, not enough, underwhelming.
But she refused to admit that to Xavier.
Fortunately, he didn’t call her on it. “I just meant if I say something wrong, you wouldn’t take it as a statement about my intelligence or start judging me for it. ”
“Well, I don’t know. If you think real men are like the ones you just saw in Spartacus, I might judge you for being too strict about physical fitness. I don’t come close to those oiled up gladiators.”
She flushed and joined him in his laughter. “You’re a goof.”
“Yep, that’s me.” He seemed delighted with her mock insult.
Their gazes locked, and that thick tension that had surged between them in the laundry room came back.
She wanted so badly to walk into his arms and drag him down for a kiss.
Make the first move, for heaven’s sake, she told herself.
But she was frozen in indecision. What if he didn’t feel anything but platonic like for her?
He stared over her face, tracing a path from her eyes to her mouth and lingering. She saw his chest rise and fall faster. No, he’s into me. Right? Or am I wrong? Being wrong about this would kill our growing friendship for sure.
Xavier coughed, breaking the spell. “You’re fun to be around.
I really like you.” He opened and closed his mouth, paused, then said, “I don’t want to overstay my welcome.
Or become a pest. So I’ll go now.” He slowly walked to her and gave her a half hug, not full body contact but shared warmth all the same.
He quickly pulled back. “See you later.”
She watched him leave, her knees weak, and had no idea why him leaving without a full hug, or even better, a kiss, made her want to cry.
After running into Justine only a few times during the week, by the following Friday, Xavier felt as if he’d gotten a handle on his feelings for his upstairs neighbor.
A sweet, funny, yet harried woman, Justine didn’t have time for a man in her life, let alone Xavier, who was still processing his past relationship, wondering how it had all gone so horribly wrong.
They way they all seemed to.
To his surprise, his ex had left him a message about getting together to piece through everything, needing “closure.” But he didn’t think that was Christine’s true intent, so he hadn’t called her back.
They’d had closure over a month ago and hadn’t spoken in weeks.
Just what the hell else could he do for her?
Plus, lately, his thoughts had been occupied by the gorgeous brunette doing her best to handle an unhappy work life while navigating rocky family dynamics.
He really felt for her, but she hadn’t asked for his advice, so he was doing his best to keep his thoughts to himself.
Plus, he had a feeling she’d been avoiding him, which made him wonder if he’d made a mistake being so free with his opinions last Friday.
Xavier sighed and continued to watch the clock, waiting on his mother to show up for a home-cooked Friday brunch. She didn’t usually make him wait, always early for everything. So when she still hadn’t answered his texts ten minutes later, he grabbed his keys and left the apartment to find her.
He heard her talking to someone in the courtyard and paused at the mouth of the hallway.
His mother was laughing with an equally animated Top. The usually taciturn guy wore a smile and seemed a lot more at ease than he normally was. And Cynthia chatted as if she and Top were best friends, her smile warm, her tone a little...flirty?
No, no. Definitely not. When he took a step out from the stairwell toward them, Top turned, saw him, and assumed his usual mien. That of serial killer meets prison warden.
“Mom, where have you been?” Xavier gave her a hug and a kiss. “Hey, Top. What’s up?”
“Just talking to your mom.” He glanced from Cynthia to Xavier and shook his head. “Still hard to believe you have grown kids, Cynthia. Unless you had them when you were twelve.”
Xavier’s mom blushed. “Oh you.”
Top gave her a warm smile, glared at Xavier for no reason whatsoever, then waved. “Gotta get back to work. Nice meeting you.”
“You too. Are you sure you don’t want to join us for brunch upstairs?”
Top quickly walked away and shot over his shoulder, “Sorry, too much to do today.”
Conscious they waited until Top had departed out of sight, Xavier frowned at the bag his mother carried. “Are these groceries? I told you I was making you brunch today.”
“I just brought some fruit for fruit salad.” She continued to look at where Top had disappeared. “What a nice man.”
“Top? Nice?”
She frowned at him. “He was extremely polite. I met him on the street while parking, and he was kind enough to let me in.”
“Really? Because he always makes us use our keycards or the keypad to enter. And he knows we live here.”
“I told him I was coming up to see you, and we got to talking. Did you know Max used to live in Oregon? Right near where your father and I spent a few years in the central part of the state.”
“Small world.” Max? He hadn’t told Cynthia to call him Top? “But you’re late. You’re never late.”
She flushed as they went to the elevator he normally avoided, sticking to a routine of using the stairs all the time. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time when we were talking. And I couldn’t get to my phone buried in my purse.”
“What is it you always like to tell me? Excuses are like assholes—everyone has them.”
“Oh stop it. I’m a little late. Get over it.” Her lips quirked. “But that is a winning line, isn’t it?”
He chuckled. “Totally. I’m telling Auggie you were late.”
“Please don’t. That girl loves having something to hold over my head.” She shot him a sly glance. “But as I understand it, you’ve been keeping secrets, Xavier. You said Justine was just a friend. I hear she’s more than that.”
He groaned. They reached his floor and finally entered the apartment. “Auggie doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I already told you. Justine’s a very nice woman, and we get along. That’s it.” That’s all there should be between them, at least. Friendship.
“No need to get huffy, Son. I was just curious.” The gleam in her eyes didn’t bode well, but she said nothing more as they worked together to make brunch.
He reheated the quiche he’d prepared the night before then put bacon in the oven to cook.
His mother chopped fruit and filled him in on all her friends and what she’d been up to since their dinner the week before last.
“And then Michelle told me that the girls’ trip we all had planned needed to be rescheduled due to Ed’s surgery.
The hospital moved it up, and they decided to take it.
Now next weekend, which a bunch of us had planned, is open.
” Cynthia sighed. “I was really looking forward to our time on Bainbridge Island too.”
“Why can’t the rest of you go without her? Do another girls’ trip later.”
“That’s what I said, but then Mimi thought Michelle might get her feelings hurt. I mean, it’s not Michelle’s fault they keep moving Ed’s surgery date. And his shoulder’s in a lot of pain. He needs it done. If they don’t jump on this new time, he might not get in until much later.”
“I know, but it seems ridiculous Michelle would expect all of you to cancel just for her.”
Cynthia frowned. “For a man who has regularly helped people handle their relationships, you don’t understand. We’re a tight group. It wouldn’t be the same without Michelle there.”
“Look, I’m not trying to mess up your girl gang.”
“Patronizing, are we?”
He grinned. “Heck no. You’ll kick my butt if I even think about talking down to you.”
She harrumphed.
“I’m just sorry you’re having to miss out on a planned vacation.” He had an idea, one that would get back at his sorry twin for blabbing about Justine. “You know, this might be a terrific opportunity to bond with Auggie, just you two.”
His mom brightened. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“I know Auggie has been super busy lately with work and that competition that’s coming up. She could probably use the break. Besides, when’s the last time you guys had some good old fashioned mother-daughter bonding? She can take a weekend to be with her favorite mom.”
Cynthia grinned. “Her only mom, you mean.”
“Nah, I mean favorite.”
They sat down to eat and continued to talk about what Cynthia and Auggie might do together, as Auggie was a little hyper on even her down days.
Between the food, the idea of his sister having to calm down for a weekend, and the joy on Cynthia’s face at the idea of spending time with her daughter, Xavier had a terrific time.
He wasn’t at all prepared when his mom asked him to invite Justine over for their next family dinner.
“What? Why?”
“You sound a little panicked there, Xavier.”
He cleared his throat and drew on his trademark calm. “Not at all. I just hadn’t expected the shift in conversation. You want to meet Justine?”
“Sure. I was friends with Rosie, remember. I’d love to meet her niece.”
He could swear his mother was up to something, but if he called her on it, she’d want to know why he felt so defensive over mention of Justine.
And since he had a tough time acknowledging just what he and Justine had between them other than friendship, he did his best to smile and pretend a family date with her didn’t bother him.
“I’m happy to ask her to join us. But fair warning, she’s been pretty busy with work and her own family lately. I haven’t seen her all that much this week.”
“I’m sure you’ll bump into her at some point. You don’t have her number?”
“Well, no. If I need to talk to her, she’s right upstairs.”
“And now you have an excuse to get her number.”
“Mom.” He sighed.
“You’re welcome. Now pass the fruit salad.” She paused. “And tell me more about Max.”