Wednesday evening, Xavier stared in shock at Adam’s youngest nephew. Cute Sam with his crush on Justine didn’t hold a candle to the angry kid reading him the riot act for making Justine cry.
“Yeah, and now she’s moving away.”
“Wait. Seriously?” How had his not-breakup turned breakup become a real thing? “She can’t leave.”
“Well, she is. Rosie’s coming back, and Justine has no job and no boyfriend.” Sam shot daggers at him. “What’s wrong with you?”
Xavier groaned. “I don’t know, Sam.”
Sam watched him then sighed. “I’m glad I’m not an adult. You people are stupid.” He then regaled Xavier with tales about dolphins he’d seen before leaving.
Xavier waited for the boy to depart the fountain area before admitting to himself he’d made a huge mistake. A lot of introspection, a short discussion with Rosie last night on the phone, and time spent talking to Ava at the office and getting a gentle, therapeutic rebuke had put him on the path to owning up to his mistakes.
That was if it wasn’t too late.
He hurried upstairs and saw his sister rushing into Benji’s place and slamming the door behind her.Thathe’d discuss with her later.
He banged on Justine’s door and jumped back when it was yanked open.
“What?” Justine growled, looking haphazard in shorts and a ragged Tee. “Oh, Xavier. Hi.”
He freaked out at thoughts of her leaving. “Oh fuck. I love you. Now we need to talk.”
She stared at him wide-eyed, and he had to move her back to enter, shutting the door behind him. “I’m sorry. I heard you cried over me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That little punk. I did not. Well, maybe. It was everything hitting me at once.” She poked him in the chest. “And I know I said you didn’t have to say it back, but it hurt when you didn’t.”
“I know.” He groaned and reached for her, and like the giving, loving woman she was, she hugged him back just as tightly. “I’m sorry, Justine. I realized I have a huge issue involving relationships and love and trust. It’s past trauma from my dad dying and leaving my mom and us kids a mess.” He groaned and sniffed her hair, relaxing into her arms. “What’s even worse is Auggie understood me more than I understood myself. I’m never going to live that down.”
She laughed, and he had hope he hadn’t ruined everything.
He put her back so he could look into her eyes. “I’m nice and smart and responsible. And I rock this facial hair.”
“You do.” She grinned.
“But I’m not good at relationships that last. Eventually my partner does something that triggers me, I guess. Either they’re too neat or too sloppy. Too demanding or not demanding enough. But with you, I fell hard. Fast. In love. And you scared me, because with you, I knew it was so much more than lust atfirst sight. I’ve never had a friend like you. And I’ve missed you like crazy.”
“Me too.”
He leaned close to kiss her. “I can’t even explain how I went from happy to needing space so quickly. It just hit me so hard, how much I love you. How much I’d be broken if you left me.”
“We can’t predict the future, Xavier.” Justine shook her head. “No matter how much I wish we could. But I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for you.”
“Not even Dr. Douche?”
She grinned. “Not even him. My mom and sisters have been asking about you, you know. My mom called asking you to dinner again. I had to tell her I’d get back to her.”
“Dinner with Jeanine? Count me in.”
“And my father.”
“Lyle? Sure. No problem.”
She sighed. “I really do love you, and I’m not sure how it happened. But you’re my best friend, Xavier.” She whispered, “Don’t tell Katie.”
“I won’t,” he whispered back. “And I apologize wholeheartedly for being an ass and not talking to you. I had no idea what to say, to be honest, because I couldn’t tell you what I was feeling. Panic, fear, but most of all, love for a woman who fits me.” He blinked. “Ah, there’s one other thing you should know.”
“That you help my aunt writeAunt Truth?” She smirked. “I saw one of your doodles when I was in your apartment. And lately, Aunt Truth uses Dr. Who references in her advice column.”
