“Really? That’s not what the others say.”
Jeez. What did Damon do all these months to make everyone hate him so much? He can be a jerk but I don’t recall him being one at work.
“Well, he wasn’t like that,” I say quietly.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t talk bad about your ex.”
“It’s okay.”
“Did you love him?” Xander blurts out.
Did I love him?No, but I fell inlove with you.
I quietly say, “No.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t pry.”
“I thought we weren’t apologizing anymore?”
“You’re right. I’ll still try not to pry into your life. I don’t know why I feel like I can blurt anything out to you today.”
“Probably because that’s what we used to do,” I reply. “Like that. I just did it without even thinking.”
“Hmm.”
“What does hmm mean?” I ask.
“I’ve never had anyone I could do that with before.”
“Yeah, me, either,” I say sadly and will myself not to stare at Xander.
The rest of the ride is quiet, but it isn’t an uncomfortable silence. It’s another stab to my heart about how good we are together.Doesn’t everyone want someone they can talk to about anything?
I pull into the parking garage and find a spot. We step out of the car and stroll into the building, and when someone walks toward us, Xander rests his palm on the small of my back, like it’s normal, letting me go ahead of him but staying close to me. I hold myself back from leaning into him more or turning around and wrapping my arms around him.
Ugh. Why do we still have to be so good together?
We get to the locker room, and someone is leaving, so Xander puts his hand on my back again and has me go through the door. We are almost to the lockers when Damon glances over at us. He scowls at Xander’s hand, which is still on my back.
“Hey, Damon,” I say nicely.
One dark eyebrow lifted. “Playing in the sandbox rather quickly, aren’t you, Charlotte?”
I glare at him. “Excuse me?”
Xander pushes me back a bit and steps between me and Damon. “I suggest you keep your nose in your own business and stop talking about things you know nothing about.”
Crap. This isn’t good.
Damon steps closer, almost nose to nose with Xander. “Is that right?”
Xander moves in. “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”
I’m about to say something when Dr. Sear comes around the corner from the other aisle of lockers. “You two can both cool it.”
They glance at Dr. Sear but neither moves.
“Is something wrong with your ears? I said to cool it. That means, step back.”
