So he undressed her, removing the hoodie that looked several sizes too big for her.
He was removing her leggings when he realized the hoodie was a men’s hoodie.
And it didn’t take long to notice it wasn’t his.
It had to have belonged to Lennox.
He swallowed hard at that assumption, dismissed the thought as he walked her to the water and helped her inside.
Rylee sat back in the tub, closing her eyes.
Xander forced his attention away from how the bath bomb’s suds bubbled against Rylee’s full breasts, instead leaning forward to press a kiss to her forehead.
“I’m gonna set up the tacos for you, aight?”
She’d only nodded, eyes still closed.
Xander handled the setup, even left the room to get drinks.
When he returned and checked on Rylee, he noticed her bathing herself, soaping her body, and that gave him some relief.
After a little more time, he was back in the bathroom, with a towel, helping her out.
Gave her the space to do what she usually did after a bath—moisturize her skin, slip into her cotton robe.
And when she returned to her room and sat on her bed, she spoke her first words.
“I really hate this day,” she admitted, right before biting into her taco.
Xander nodded. “I know.”
They ate their tacos in silence, Xander watching her the whole time.
What he wouldn’t have done to take the pain off her—even for a moment—so he could see the woman he loved happy again, even for just a second.
He’d much rather her chastise him for not only popping up yet again, but for waltzing into her home after using her emergency key without her permission.
Anything but this.
After they finished eating, Rylee said she wanted to lay down again. So, Xander facilitated that, clearing the containers, making her bed, and getting into it with her.
Instead of curling up into a ball like how he found her, she curled up against Xander.
Rylee buried her face in his chest and cried.
Her tears bled through his tee, making him hold her closer to himself.
He held her how she held him—but even tighter.
And he didn’t stop her. Didn’t speak.
Xander just held her close while stroking her back… slowly, lovingly.
Then, he told her, “You don’teverhave to hold it in with me, Snoop. You don’t ever have to do that with me.”
Rylee nodded her understanding, pressing her face even firmer against him, fisting his shirt until her sobs transitioned to her just sniffing back her tears.
They laid there, Xander rubbing her back, loving the feel of her in his arms, but hating why they were in that position.
