Page 89 of Chasing Xander
“Thank you.” He looked relieved. “I’m sorry you had to meet my brother and his girlfriend like this. I used my one phone call to ask him to bail me out. Thought I was going to need it.” He leaned forward and kissed her again, a lingering, tongueless kiss, which wasn’t nearly enough. He kept his eyes open, his gaze locked onto hers. What was that all about?
“C’mon, let’s get packed.”
She gathered her stuff and shoved it into her duffel bag. Xander went to his room to do the same, and within an hour, the four of them were crammed into his car and headed toward New York. Xander and Kylie were in the front while Tanner and Jules were in the back.
“All right, tell us what landed your dumb ass in jail,” Tanner said.
“Wait, you didn’t tell him?” Kylie asked, glancing at Xander with confusion.
“Didn’t really have a chance to get into all the details.” With a heavy sigh, Xander launched into what happened, and Kylie filled in where she could. “And so,” she said, “my dad being a known drunk and public nuisance finally came in handy.” Xander reached over and gave her knee a squeeze.
“You’ve never gone to jail for me,” Jules said to Tanner with a sweet smile.
Tanner glared at his brother. “Thanks for raising that bar.”
Xander laughed and then shrugged. “I’d do it a million more times if I had to,” he whispered.
Her heart fluttered. She laced her fingers through his and leaned back in the seat. The past few days were catching up to her, and exhaustion seeped into her bones. She closed her eyes and let the hum of the engine lull her into a calm relaxation. The events of the past two nights raced through her mind, and her face heated at the memory of how Xander touched her, how he’d held her all night.
She’d never be able to repay him for all he’d done for her, but maybe she could do something to show him how much she appreciated him, valued him.Loved him.That thought made her pause. There was no denying it. She was in love with Xander Collins.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“I called Dad,” Tanner said.
“And?” Xander stroked Kylie’s hair and glanced down at her. At the last rest stop, he’d given up the driving duties to Tanner, and within minutes of being in the backseat, Kylie had laid her head on his lap and fallen asleep. He had no idea how she was comfortable enough in this cramped seat. Jules was asleep in the front.
“I told him we’d be late, but that we’d be there tonight. He didn’t ask why.” Tanner caught his gaze in the rearview mirror. “You’re going to have to tell him the truth.”
“I will.”
Tanner nodded. “Is it serious?” He inclined his head toward Kylie.
Xander took a deep breath and rested his hand on the curve of her hip. “She unravels me in every way imaginable.” He smiled wistfully. “I’ve done and said some really dumb shit since meeting her, and I’ve loved every fucking second of it.”
“I know that feeling.” He laughed and glanced over at Jules. “I squeezed my ass into a white polyester suit and went disco roller-skating just to spend time with Jules.”
“I played Just Dance.”
“Dude, you fucking suck at that game.”
“No shit.” He laughed. Resting his head on the back of the seat, he watched the way his brother looked at Jules. There was so much love and admiration and respect in his gaze. “When did you know she was the one?”
“From the moment she first spoke to me.”
“Howdid you know?” Kylie was important to him; there was no doubt in his mind about that. And he had very strong feelings for her, but was it love? He’d never felt this way about anyone before, so that had to mean something, didn’t it?
Tanner shrugged. “There wasn’t any specific moment. I just didn’t want to be anywhere but with her. I thought about her twenty-four seven. Still do.” He grinned. “I’d die for her.”
His heart beat faster, and his mind swirled. That’s exactly how he felt about Kylie. He went to bed and woke up thinking about her. He wanted to be with her all the time. Hell, he was risking everything he had for her.
“Does she give a shit?”
Xander smiled and shook his head. “No. In fact, she acted repulsed by the fact I had a trust fund.” He laughed.
“Well, you know what Dad always says.”
“Yeah, I do.” And he knew what that meant, too. Deep down, he always knew; he was just afraid to let himself think it, let alone feel it.
