Delilah shrugged one shoulder and smiled coyly. “I have my ways.”
“His name is Xander something,” Aria said. “He’s in my debate class, and he’s so above it all, you’d think heinventedarguing. The teacher has no clue what to do with him.”
“I think he’s kind of hot.”
All eyes turned on Sierra. I felt a stab of something sharp in my stomach, worse than a cramp. Something like jealousy. Jealous that she had the guts to say it and jealous because Xander was mine.
Stop it.
Sierra looked up from twirling a lock of hair to see all of us staring, and she giggled. “Please, I wouldnever. Where would he take me on a date? McDonald’s?”
“On his bike,” Delilah said with a knowing nod. “He doesn’t even have a car.”
Elowen arched a perfect brow at Sierra. “You want to take a ride on his bike?”
The group burst out in laughter.
“Oh my God,stop,” Sierra said. “I’m just saying he’s kind of…built?”
“It’s all that bike riding,” said Aria, and the laughs came again, ringing out in the halls, loud and sharp.
“Sierra has a soft spot for the poors,” Delilah said. “Like Dean Yearwood.”
“Everyone knows Dean is special. He gets a pass,” Sierra said, and sighed dreamily. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for the lean muscly-type, even if it’s wasted on a Bender.”
“Wow,” Aria said dryly. “Our very own Mother Theresa.”
Yet another peal of derisive mirth. Elowen noticed I wasn’t joining in and frowned, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Fine,” I said, forcing a small smile. “Waiting for the Advil to kick in.”
“Mmkay, it’s just that we saw the new guy yesterday and you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
All eyes turned to me.
“You know him, Em?” Delilah arched a brow. “Have you taken a ride on his bike?”
I couldn’t tell them that I’d met Xander once upon a lifetime ago for one perfect afternoon. Or that I knew he was built from rowing, because he’d mentioned it on the phone last night. Hell, given this conversation, it was obvious I couldn’t even let them know he was tutoring me.
I put on an incredulous expression. “How could I possibly know him?”
Elowen shrugged. “Tucker might have some thoughts if he catches you ogling the new guy.”
“Right?” Aria chimed in. “He’d set someboundarieswith Xander. With his fists.”
“He would not. Tucker’s not a complete Neanderthal,” I said, not entirely sure I believed it.
“He’s protective of his woman,” Sierra said. “You’re so lucky, Em. You have a boyfriend who would fucking kill for you.”
My stomach roiled. The idea of Tucker beating the shit out of a guy because of jealousy wasn’t romantic; it was scary and disturbing. And another reason to keep anything with Xander to myself.
But this was the pot I’d been stewing in for years, and only now did I realize it was boiling over. It had only taken one glimpse of Xander Ford to rekindle all the feelings I’d had when I was with him on that rock. Comfort and safety and being myself. Like I’d forgotten those feelings existed in the world. Like maybe I could have them again if I were brave enough…
“Em? You coming?”
I’d fallen behind. My crew was waiting.
I adjusted my imaginary crown and fell back in step, wondering what they would think if they knew that my heart was secretly counting down the minutes until I could be alone with Xander.
