Chapter 32
“So let me recap your weekend,” Katie said over lunch Monday afternoon. “Mikayla tried to bitch up and protect her man, but you wouldn’t let her act all high and mighty by being super nice. Then she caught you sucking face with Xavier, which nailed how much you don’t want Mitch back.”
“Yeah.” Best moment ever. And Justine had Xavier to thank for it.
“Your father told you he loves you at the wedding. That right there is miraculous.”
“I know. But my mom and Angela weren’t overly sentimental, so they made up for my dad’s weirdness.”
“Right.” Katie grinned, a dimple showing.
“But the end-all to this miracle event, beside you catching the groom doing the right thing by his new bride, is that you finally came clean with Xavier about dating for real. This after marathon nookie in a dream hotel room.” Katie sighed.
“It’s like a Disney movie married a porn flick and gave you a weekend you’ll never forget. ”
“Not exactly how I would have put it. You have a unique view of the world, don’t you?”
“You have no idea.” Katie munched on her salad. “So now that the wedding is taken care of and your studly neighbor is servicing you, what’s left?”
“Katie.”
“Of course. Frank. How’s work going?”
“And…you had to bring up work.”
“Sorry. But we had to catch up on your daily misery at some point.”
Justine groaned. “I’m spending so much time trying to get up to speed on Laura’s job—I’m sorry, I mean my new job—that I’m behind on the one I had.
Have.” Justine frowned. “I actually swallowed my pride and asked Frank for a helper, at least to get me caught up with her projects. He said no. So now I’m behind on the new tasks, the old tasks, and I have a ton of emails and phone calls to return.
By the time I get home, I’m so exhausted I eat then go to bed.
Or I just go to bed. Alone,” she said before Katie could say something about Xavier… which she did anyway.
“That sucks. No more happy fun time with Xavier.”
“I know.” Justine sighed. “Work sucks. But Katie, he and I— I can’t describe it. We’re so great together. Being with him is so natural. I don’t have to work hard and he still likes me.”
“Another miracle.”
“Ass.”
Katie snickered. “I’m kidding. I’m happy for you. He’s a great guy. And he survived the wedding with you. That’s something. But if you can’t have an argument with him and stay together, you’re doomed for failure. No one’s happy all the time.”
“You make a good point.”
Katie studied Justine. “What about Ted? What did you decide to do about him?”
“Nothing. I overheard something I wasn’t meant to hear, but he was ending things.
I want to let my sister have a clean slate with her husband.
Now, if I catch him cheating, I’ll definitely narc him out.
But I can’t see what telling her now will do but make her upset.
She deserves to have a honeymoon period. ”
“I agree. Besides, she knows Ted better than you do. For all you know, he and she had a cheating pass. You know, that bucket list nookie. Maybe Mallory had her own affair.”
“I can’t see it.”
“Well, neither can I. I was just trying to spin something positive. It’s what I do for a living, you know.”
“Ha ha.” Justine poked at her noodle salad. “Speaking of your living, how’s your job going?”
Katie shrugged. “It’s much better with my new boss. But I’m like you, unsatisfied and feeling overwhelmed. I actually took some contract work from Kenzie this past weekend.”
“Oh? I haven’t gotten a chance to contact the person for the job she offered me. I plan to do that after lunch.”
“For shame! On company time?” Katie smirked.
“You bet. I’m so done killing myself with overtime. Today I’m going home at a regular time. And I’m giving myself an extra ten minutes for lunch. Considering I’ve been working hours I won’t be paid for, I figure they owe me that much.”
“You go, rebel girl.”
But that night, Justine stayed an extra hour trying to slog through the emails she hadn’t gone through from last week.
She felt guilty all night and into Tuesday, only texts with Xavier during her lunches made her smile. Wednesday proved just as busy with no time for anything but her job.
Justine worked her butt off, stayed late—alone—and went unappreciated and underpaid.
But after she got home, she marched down to Xavier’s. He’d texted that he was free all night, so she decided to take him up on some fun.
Unfortunately, she spent the evening complaining about work. He listened and agreed with everything she said. Such a great guy. They got in a few kisses before he had to take a phone call. By the time he’d come back to her, he’d found her asleep on his couch.
She woke when he kissed her goodbye and tucked her into her own bed.
“Come see me tomorrow. And don’t stay one minute over your normal quitting time.”
She mumbled something back, she was sure.
Thursday at four-thirty, Justine decided enough was enough. She shut down her computer, grabbed her bag, and headed home.
Frank peeked out of his office at her as she passed. “Oh, Justine. Did you get that report for Nash done yet? He needs it like yesterday.”
Her stomach fluttered with nerves. It went against everything she’d been taught to go against management, but she stood her ground and gave Frank a wide, nonthreatening smile. “Nope. I’ll have to get to it tomorrow.”
“But you can’t.”
“See you bright and early tomorrow, Frank.” She added a wave and left feeling lightheaded. She also quickened her step, not giving him the ability to confront her face to face.
Practically running to her car, she laughed with wild abandon. I did it. I left on time.
Back at home, she allowed herself to decompress then answered a few questions from Kenzie’s—no, Justine’s—new client. But this time, she didn’t dread working on a project. She wanted to create a new social media platform for the elderly-friendly company Kenzie had handed over.
Feeling enthused about her work for the first time in ages, she even changed into running gear and enjoyed a slow jog, getting her blood moving.
She returned to the building in a good sweat and nearly ran over Auggie.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Auggie. Been visiting your brother?” Duh. Obviously.
Auggie fiddled with her ponytail, the deep red like a flame that burned with Auggie’s energy. “Yeah. But he got busy. He’s going back to work soon, you know.”
“He had mentioned he was returning but I didn’t know when.” That bothered her. Had she been talking so much about herself that Xavier hadn’t been able to share about his own life? Or did he deliberately not tell Justine because they weren’t as close as she thought they were?
“Yeah. He acts like he’s made of money, but he actually has to work for a living. And doodling isn’t gonna cut it.”
“Doodling?”
Auggie blinked. “I meant him taking time off. Goofing off. Doodling his time away. You know, being a doofus doodling.” She chattered like a chipmunk high on caffeine. “So what are you up to?”
Before she knew it, Justine was confiding in Auggie about how much she hated her job but loved her new contract work, how much she loved spending time with Xavier, and how happy she’d been to finally open up about them being a real couple.
“Your mom was so sweet at dinner. My parents could take lessons from her.”
Auggie grinned. “Yeah, my mom’s a keeper for sure. She’s a little too nice though.”
“Oh? She had no problem putting Xavier in his place.”
“Well, she’s good like that. But I meant with guys. Her last boyfriend was a total tool. But it’s been a while. I think she’s lonely. I wish she’d let us set her up on more dates. It takes a while before you find a good man.”
“Ha. I know.”
Auggie snorted. “Preach.”
“Are you still searching for a good man?”
Auggie was beautiful, built, and seemed full of positive energy. If she couldn’t find a significant other, Justine had little hope for Katie and her other single friends. But not herself—because she had Xavier.
“Maybe. I’m not sure yet.” Auggie looked thoughtful for a moment before her trademark snark reappeared.
“I’m not sure any men really deserve me.
” She shook her head, and her ponytail fluttered behind her.
“Ah, sorry, Justine. I have to go. Got to get more training under my belt if I want to win this upcoming fitness competition. We should do coffee some time.”
“Sure. Just let me know and I’ll make it happen.”
Auggie raised a brow. “Yeah, sure. Just as soon as you dump your crappy boss and find a job that lets you live a little.” A one-two punch that hit home.
“Good point.”
“Later.” Auggie left in a rush just as Benji entered the courtyard.
He spotted Justine and froze.
“Hi, Benji. Don’t mind me. I’m just heading upstairs. The fountain’s all yours.” She noted him holding a nylon bag.
“Uh, yeah. Okay.” He glanced around then left.
Odd.
She didn’t run into Sam or his family as the group had gone on their Hawaii trip.
She only knew because Sam had left a note by the door Monday morning.
Her third floor neighbor, Kai, remained gone, along with Aunt Rosie.
So only Justine, Xavier, Benji, and Top remained in the building.
She found she missed Sam, who brought youth and fun into the place.
Even Top with his grunts and stern expressions enriched the TCA, because didn’t every building need at least one grumpy guy?
Back upstairs, she decided to pop over to Xavier’s without showering and changing first. He wouldn’t mind.
She knocked, and the door immediately opened.
“Who are you?” asked a drop-dead gorgeous woman. She had rich brown hair, blue eyes, and an hourglass figure. She looked Justine up and down. “What do you want?”
“Christine, stop it,” Xavier said from inside the apartment. He spotted Justine and looked instantly relieved, not the expression one would think to find on man guilty of cheating on her.
Such an odd thought to have, but Justine was so gone on Xavier that she kept waiting for something bad to happen.
Xavier crossed to her and pulled her inside the apartment. “Hi, Justine. Christine, this is my girlfriend. Justine, this is my ex…who was just leaving.”
“Are you serious?” Christine eyes turned shiny. “You’re dating already?”
Justine wanted to feel bad for her, but from all Xavier had said, the woman refused to leave him alone. She held tightly to his hand, standing close. His presence felt so good, something she’d needed for the past few days.
He put an arm around her shoulders. “Christine, I wasn’t lying. Your brother wasn’t lying. Neither was my boss or our receptionist,” he growled. “Please don’t come to my workplace again. Get some help. This obsession isn’t healthy for you.”
“Fine. I’m done with you!” She glared at Justine before leaving, slamming the door in her wake.
“Wow. And I thought my exes were bad.”
Xavier sighed. “I’m sorry. She showed up at my clinic ranting about me.
They called me, so I came to get her. The only way to make her leave was to agree to swing back to my place to talk.
We started downstairs in the lobby, but she followed me up here because she had to use the bathroom.
” He looked abashed. “I thought she was just using that as an excuse to come inside my place, but I couldn’t tell. And I didn’t want to be rude.”
She hugged him, seeing his anxiety. “I’m sorry. That had to be tough.”
“It was. I just don’t understand. I’m great, but am I that great?” he asked with a half-laugh.
Yes.
Poor Christine had likely waded back into the dating pool, where finding a gem like Xavier was as rare as finding the back of an earring after dropping it in a mass of shag carpet.
She’d been there. Dating men who didn’t listen or weren’t thoughtful. Dates where the men acted like Mitch or Frank, where a woman was expected to cater to them. And then if she did find a great guy, he only wanted a hookup or had no job and still lived with his parents, who did everything for him.
She studied Xavier, the opposite of so many men she’d dealt with.
“I think you’re pretty great.” She beamed at him. “You listen to me. You even hugged me after I got sweaty on a run.”
“I didn’t want to say anything, but you stink.” He made a face.
“Jerk.”
His big smile turned him from handsome to extraordinary.
She tried to cover how she felt about him by joking. “It’s good that I’m calling you a jerk, you know.”
“Is that right?”
“According to Katie, if we can’t argue and still be friendly, we’re not meant to be.”
“Katie makes a valid point. Couples who can’t agree to disagree on minor things often have issues with the larger obstacles in a relationship.”
“Is that you with your therapist hat on?” she teased. “And speaking of therapists, I saw Auggie downstairs. Were you going to mention you’re going back to work soon? Do you have a date in mind?”
“Wait. Auggie?”
“Yeah, you know. Your sister?”
“I haven’t seen her.” He scowled. “My sister was here, downstairs?”
“Um, yes.”
“Huh.” He shook his head. “Well, anyway, I did want to talk to you about my work. I planned to tell you tonight, actually.”
“Should I be happy for you?”
He kissed her. “Yes. Because of you, and because I took time off, I’m in a much better frame of mind to help others.” He gave her a long look. “In fact, I was planning to make us dinner.”
“Oh?”
“But I think I could help you better by taking off those tight shorts of yours and giving you one heck of a glutes massage.”
“Is that right?” She’d been missing this. Missing him. The teasing, the fun. Xavier brought the joy in life she’d been lacking for so long.
“Yep, massages for Justine. It’s on my to-do list.”
She took his face between her hands and kissed him. “You make me happy, Xavier. I like everything about you.”
He flushed. “Even when I’m bossy and try telling you what to do?”
“Even then.”
“Then you’re in for a treat. Take off those bottoms, Ms. Ferrera. I have some therapy you’re definitely in need of…”