10. XANDER
Chapter 10
XANDER
“ H appy birthday, son. I want you to know that I’m really happy for you and that I can’t wait for us to celebrate together.”
I stood on the highest deck of the yacht, talking to my mother on the phone. “I wish you could be here,” I told her. But of course, that wasn’t possible it was my father throwing this party in my honor, and his entire family would be here.
“It’s okay, Xander. We’ll see each other soon.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll visit you next weekend and we’ll go out to dinner, alright?”
“Sure. Have fun, Xander!”
The air was thick with the scent of the ocean, and the shimmering waves below seemed to mirror the anticipation pulsing inside me. Even though I had repeatedly told my dad that we did not need this party, he had still insisted, and I found myself looking forward to it —mostly to see Lyca again.
It’s been a month, Lyca, and I still can’t stop thinking about you.
Dressed in a tailored suit that complemented the sophistication of the occasion, I scanned the crowd, eager to catch sight of a familiar face. The past month had been a whirlwind of leadership and managerial training in another state, and tonight marked a moment of triumphant return.
The sea breeze tousled my hair, and I adjusted my tie with a sense of eagerness. My buddies from my old team were also coming, along with my new friends from Steele Velocity Racing.
But more than anyone, I know who I’ve really missed.
As the yacht glided through the water, the lights of the city skyline twinkling in the distance, caught sight of her. Lyca, clad in an elegant dress with a high slit that matched the sophistication of the evening, moved gracefully through the crowd. Her beauty was captivating, and I found myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame, unable to look away.
“Miss me?” I said teasingly when I approached her.
Lyca turned around, some tendrils from her blonde hair whipping in the wind, making her appear like some kind of sea goddess. “Birthday boy,” she greeted with a smile that seemed to tug at my heartstrings. “The team has been… more peaceful… without you.”
I couldn't help but grin at her remark. “Oh, you mean lonely. I’m the life of the party then.”
“Well, there’s Drake and Andrew livening up the others… But everyone still can’t get over that stunt you pulled last race for the win.”
I chuckled, remembering the local race where I’d executed a daring slingshot pass to overtake the leading racer. “That was wild.”
“Yeah, it was. Only you would have done something like that.”
“I know, right?” We both laughed and suddenly, I felt at ease around her. It was as if we were back in her living room, playing with her son and enjoying each other’s company.
“How’s Lucas?” I asked, genuinely missing the kid.
“He’s doing good,” Lyca told me. “But he’s been asking about you. And one time, I caught him knocking on your unit door.”
“What? Aww, I want to see him soon. Can I?”
She gave me a sweet smile. “Yes.”
“I’ll drop by soon, and maybe we can cook dinner together,” I suggested, already excited at the prospect of spending some time with her and the little champ.
“Oh, you know how to cook?” She looked surprised.
I laughed. “Yeah, just a bit. My mom had to work a lot while I was growing up, so I learned to cook and do a lot of house chores.”
“That’s nice.”
We were interrupted when our friends from the office came to join us. Despite being swept away by different groups of people, the lingering gaze we shared spoke volumes, hinting at an unspoken connection that remained long after we were separated.
I’ll definitely see you later , Lyca, I thought.
Soon, I stumbled upon my old buddy, Phil, and some of our other friends from before.
“When are we going to start getting drunk, man?” Phil asked, placing an arm around my shoulders.
“Sorry, Phil. I’m not into getting wasted anymore.”
“What? No way, you’ve become so boring!”
I laughed. “Just enjoy yourselves. But make sure to eat first.”
“Alright, suit yourself. But you’re going to regret not having fun on your birthday!”
“There’s plenty of ways to have fun, Phil.”
He waved me away with a laugh. “See you later, Xander. I’m going to scout this entire yacht for someone to spend the night with.”
“Sure, help yourself,” I told him with a grin.
There was a cool band playing on the lower deck where most of the dinner tables were set up. I looked around for Lyca, but she was nowhere to be found. I hoped she hadn’t left yet.
“Have you eaten yet, Xander?” Dad asked when I spotted him and Barbara.
“No, not yet. It’s okay, I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later. I just need to find someone.”
Barbara gave me a cool stare and said nothing. I could tell that she wasn’t pleased about my father going all out with his money on me lately.
“Well, while you’re at it, why don’t you check on your sister too?” Barbara suddenly suggested, seemingly to insinuate that I wasn’t being a good brother to Julia. “I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Yes, sure,” I replied.
As I navigated through the festive crowd aboard the yacht, my gaze swept across various areas in search of Lyca.
Turning a corner, I stumbled upon an unexpected scene unfolding before me. My half-sister stood before me, her usually confident demeanor faltering as she attempted to fend off the unwelcome advances of a persistent suitor.
“Leave me alone!” she cried out, her voice getting drowned by the sound of the ocean waves and the music blasting from other parts of the yacht.
Anger flared within me as I witnessed the discomfort etched on her face. Without hesitation, I stepped forward to intervene.
“Hey, back off,” I growled, my voice laced with a protective edge as I stepped between them, glaring at the intruder. The guy backed away, startled by my sudden appearance.
Julia turned to me with a tear-streaked face, her makeup ruined. “Thanks,” she whimpered.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” I tried to comfort her. “You’re safe now, alright? Who was that, anyway?”
“Some guy I met earlier. I think he’s the son of one of Dad’s associates…”
“Well, he’s an asshole!” I said, pissed at how the guy had acted and forced himself on Julia.
“Yes, what a jerk,” Julia agreed, a smile coming onto her face despite the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
To my alarm, she rushed into my arms without warning, seeking solace and safety. “Thank you, Xander,” she whispered.
I returned her hug awkwardly, gently rubbing her shoulders. “No worries. But maybe one of these days, I should teach you some of my karate moves.”
I was trying to lighten the mood, and it seemed to work. She grinned up at me. “Are you serious? You know karate?”
“Nah,” I chuckled, “but I can help with some self-defense moves.”
“Okay, I’d love that. But can you please not tell Mom and Dad about this?”
I hesitated for a second, then nodded in agreement. “Sure, it’ll be our secret,” I assured her. “As long as you let me teach you self-defense.”
“Deal,” she said, shaking my hand. And in that moment, I could feel the tension and awkwardness between us lifting. It was the start of a sibling relationship unlike any I had ever known.