“Maybe it was,” I admitted, my voice rough. I reached up, covering one of his hands on my shoulder with my own. “Xavier, I... this thing between us, it was supposed to be simple. No strings. Just helping each other out.”
“And it still can be,” he said, but there was something in his tone that suggested he didn’t quite believe it anymore. “We’ve still got a couple weeks before I leave. Nothing has to change.”
But something already had changed. I could feel it in the way my chest tightened when I looked at him, in the way I’d been counting down the days until he left while simultaneously dreading them. Three weeks had seemed like plenty of time when we’d started this. Now it felt like nothing at all.
“I should go back in,” I said, though I made no move to actually do so. “I can’t just leave Lucas’s party. He’ll think something’s wrong.”
“Something is wrong,” Xavier pointed out. “You had a panic attack because a stripper tried to give you a lap dance.”
I winced. “When you put it like that, it sounds pathetic.”
“It’s not pathetic.” He squeezed my shoulders gently. “Years of suppressing who you are, of living in fear of being discovered. That doesn’t just go away because you had a few mind-blowing orgasms with a devastatingly handsome city boy.”
Despite everything, I felt a smile tug at my lips. “Devastatingly handsome?”
“I’m being modest,” he replied with a grin. Then his expression sobered. “But seriously, Marcus. You don’t have to go back in if you’re not ready. I can make an excuse for you. Tell them you got a call about work or something.”
I considered it. It would be so easy to just get in my truck and drive home, to avoid the whole situation entirely. But that was what I’d been doing my whole life—avoiding, hiding, running away from anything that might force me to confront who I really was.
“No,” I said, straightening my shoulders. “I’m going back in. I’m not going to let fear control me anymore. Not tonight.”
Xavier’s smile was soft and proud. “That’s my sheriff.”
My sheriff. The words shouldn’t have affected me the way they did, but warmth spread through my chest, anyway. I took a deep breath, adjusted my hat, and nodded toward the diner. “Let’s go.”
Xavier fell into step beside me as we walked back. His presence was steadying, even though I knew everyone inside was going to notice we’d both disappeared at the same time. Small towns thrived on that kind of detail, and I could already imagine the speculation that would follow.
But maybe that was okay. Maybe it was time to stop caring so much about what everyone thought.
The music was still pumping when we pushed through the door. The strippers had moved on from individual lap dances and were now putting on more of a general show in the center of the room. Most eyes were on them, though I caught Lucas glancing over at me with a questioning look. I gave him a small nod, trying to convey that I was alright.
Xavier guided me to a different seat, one closer to the bar and farther from the main action. It was a subtle thing, but I appreciated it more than I could say. He understood what I needed without me having to ask.
“You good?” he murmured, close enough that his breath tickled my ear.
“Getting there,” I replied, accepting the fresh beer he handed me.
Logan appeared at my other side, leaning against the bar. “Hey, man. You okay? Saw you bolt out of here.”
I tensed, searching for an excuse, but Logan’s expression held nothing but genuine concern. No judgment, no suspicion. Just a friend checking on another friend.
“Yeah,” I said, and was surprised to find I meant it. “Just needed some air. Got a little overwhelmed.”
“Totally get it,” Logan said with an easy smile. “These things aren’t for everyone. Hell, I’m about ready to tap out myself. Dustin’s had three drinks already and I think he’s gonna pass out here in a minute.”
I glanced over to where Dustin was indeed attempting some kind of dance move that looked more like a seizure, his drink slopping onto the floor. Despite everything, I felt a laugh bubble up in my chest.
“Thanks for coming though,” Logan continued. “Means a lot to Lucas that you’re here.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I said, and this time I actually meant it.
Logan clapped me on the shoulder before heading back to wrangle Dustin before he hurt himself. I watched him go, then turned to find Xavier studying me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said softly. “Just... proud of you, I guess.”
The words hit me harder than they should have. My father had never said he was proud of me, not once. Everything had always been about duty, responsibility, living up to the Webb name. But here was Xavier, someone I’d known for less than a month, looking at me like I’d just done something brave.
