We stay like that for a long time, or maybe it just feels like a long time to my inebriated brain.
“I need to go home, Xander,” she whispers slowly, softly. Her fingers have been trailing through the too long hair at the back of my head and I nuzzle into her touch, not wanting her to let go. Not wanting to let go myself.
There’s still so much I want to say. So much I need to say. I don’t want her to go even though I know she needs to. Her kids are alone, sleeping, while she’s over here taking care of my drunk ass.
God I’m pathetic.
I take a deep, steadying breath, taking her scent in and wishing I could just live in it and never come out. But I nod, then untwine my arms from around her hips and raise my head from the pillow of her breasts.
“Go to sleep,” she whispers gently, her fingers sliding through my hair—that I know is dirty and dusty and probably grimey—and I nod again, my eyes bouncing between her gray ones. They look almost silver in the low light, and her freckles seem darker across the bridge of her nose from the glow of the lamp beside us.
And then she stuns me completely by leaning down to press her lips to my forehead softly, lingeringly. Her hands cuppingeither side of my face, fingernails scraping against the overgrown scruff across my cheeks and jaw. It’s heaven and hell all rolled into one.
Her lips move against my forehead as she breathes so softly I almost think I imagine it, “Good night, Xander.”
She reaches out and flips off the bedside lamp, dousing us both in darkness, and then she’s slipping away, out the bedroom door and down the hall. I swallow hard as the light from the living room goes dark, too, and then the soft click of my front door as she lets herself out.
Any idea why I had to help put a VERY inebriated Xander to bed last night after Cal brought him home?
Vi
Ummm. I plead the fifth.
Of course you do.
Vi
Wait, it was after two am when I sent him and Cal out. Why were you even awake?
I heard a strange truck in the driveway. I was getting Bea back to sleep after her middle of the night feeding. Got up to see who it was and saw Cal trying to manhandle Xander out of his truck and up the sidewalk.
Vi
Oof. He did seem a little rough around the edges last night. Like he’s been beating himself up like crazy. I didn’t think I served him thatmuch.
The man could barely walk, Vi. He looked tortured. I’ve never seen him look so…I don’t know. Morose?
Vi
Well, realizing you messed up a great thing with an amazing woman will do that to you. According to Rowan, he was a mess all week. Grumpy as a bear.
You think I’m amazing? Awwww. Will you marry me?
Vi
You’re not really my type, babe.
Damn. Figures. It’s because I don’t have a dick, right? I can get a strap-on, if that’s your thing.
Vi
Woman, I just spit out my coffee all over myself. Now I have to go change before rounds.
…So that wasn’t a no…
Vi
*selfie of Violette dressed in nurse scrubs covered in coffee stains and a scowl on her face*
