Chapter Eighty-Six
Xavier
Closing Time
The door chimes. Brent. Of course he’d fucking show up too. He steps inside like he has every right to be here, easy, unbothered, eyes moving once across the room before landing exactly where I knew they would on Ruby.
He sees me watching. Smiles. “Afternoon.”
I don’t return his greeting as my back muscles tighten. “What do you want?”
Ruby’s head snaps up. “Xavier–”
I don’t look at her.
Brent strolls toward the counter like we didn’t just have that exchange. “Just checking on my project.”
“We’ll call you.”
“I figured I’d stop by.” His hand rests on the counter, fingers tapping once, casual. Too casual. His gaze drifts past me. Back to her. “See how things are going.”
I step closer, not enough to make a scene, enough to put myself between them. “She’s working.”
Brent lifts his hands, like I’m the one escalating. “Relax, man.”
“I am relaxed.”
He huffs a laugh. “You don’t look relaxed.”
I don’t respond. Don’t give him anything to work with.
Ruby clears her throat, voice steady even if her shoulders aren’t. “Your estimate’s scheduled for next week.”
Brent turns to her fully this time, like I’m not even here. “Great.” Then his eyes flick back to me. “You alright?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugs, but he’s watching me too closely. “Just seem a little… on edge.” I wait him out. He’s not here for the job. That much is obvious. “Heard you’ve been spending more time out that way,” he adds, almost offhand.
My focus sharpens. “What way?”
He tilts his head toward Ruby. “Her place.”
“How would you know that?”
Brent shrugs again. “Small town.”
Same answer. Same deflection. Different person. That doesn’t sit right.
“Hope you’ve got better locks now.” He tips his head at Ruby. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
Something in me goes still. Not just anger. Worse. Fear. He’s watching for a reaction. I don’t give him one. “You done?”
He studies me for a second longer. “Yeah,” he says easily. “I’m done.” His gaze returns to Ruby one last time. “See you around.”
He pushes off the counter and strides for the door. The bell jingles as it shuts behind him as silence drops into the room. Thick.
Ruby exhales beside me. “That was…” she starts but drifts off to nothing.
“Yeah.” I don’t take my eyes off the door.
Out in the lot, his truck starts, gravel crunching as he pulls away. I run it back in my head what he said, how he said it, what he didn’t say.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I ignore it, still watching the empty lot where Brent’s truck was. It continues to buzz. Sam. “What’s up?”
“Just calling to remind you about Thanksgiving.”
I blink once. “Thanksgiving?”
“Yeah. At our place.”
Right. I forgot. I lean back against the counter, dragging a hand over my jaw. With everything going on, I lost track of the time. “I don’t usually do the whole family thing.”
“That’s why I’m calling,” he says. “Bella’s cooking the turkey. I’m handling the rest. And bring Ruby.”
She’s at the desk, pretending to focus on paperwork, but I feel her attention on me. “We’ll see.”
“That means yes. Besides, you two need something positive to focus on. Food. Friends. And of course, more food. And leftovers for Squirt,” Sam says.
The line clicks dead before I can argue. I lower the phone.
Ruby looks up. “What was that about?”
“Sam.”
“And?”
“Apparently I’m going to Thanksgiving.”
Her mouth curves. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah.” I watch for her reaction. “He told me to bring you.”
The smile fades a little. Not gone. Just… uncertain. Like she’s not sure what to do with that, and neither am I. Because this, whatever this is, doesn’t belong in a room full of people asking questions. Especially when everyone’s already trying to insert themselves into it.
I glance back toward the door. Empty now. But it doesn’t feel that way. “Lock the front.”
Ruby doesn’t argue. She nods and moves to do it. And I stay where I am, watching the glass a second longer than I should, like if I look away, something will get past me.