Page 34 of Xander
Me – They’re beautiful. Thank you, Xander.
Me – They’re my favorite flower.
Xander – So I did good then?
I smiled.
Me – You did perfectly.
***
I had just finished my test to see what we knew and what we didn’t know when I stepped out of the classroom.
I tagged my phone from my bag, taking it off silent, and saw a ton of missed calls.
Freaking out because no one blew up my phone like this, I hit my Aunt's number as I walked to my car.
The moment she answered, I asked, “What is it, Aunt Tempie?”
“There’s been a shooting at the clubhouse,” I heard through the phone, and then immediately ran to my car, jumped in, and started it up.
I didn’t even remember hanging up the phone, nor did I remember squealing out of the parking lot at the school.
The only thing I could think of was getting to the clubhouse to check on Xander.
The first thing I noticed was that the gate was open, and bikes, cars, and bullet casings littered the ground.
Stopping my car by slamming on the brakes, I put it in park and didn’t even turn the key to shut my car off.
I was out of my door and running through the parking lot, my eyes searching for Xander.
Not seeing him, I ran inside the clubhouse, seeing everyone but the one person I was looking for.
My Aunt Tempie and Uncle Merlin stood to the right near the bar; seeing them whole, I smiled weakly, then scanned again for Xander.
And when I saw that all too familiar bent head, I ran over to him, “Xander?”
His head snapped up, his eyes locking with mine.
And then he did something that I never imagined he would do, he stood up, then opened his arms.
Not needing to say a word, I vaulted my body into his, unaware of how many eyes had landed on us, and as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight into his body, I breathed in his scent.
The one scent that had wafted over to me many times before when I lay on the blanket in the grass.
Sandalwood, mint, rustic vibes, and that something spicy.
Burying my face in his neck, I inhaled the unique scent that was all Xander, “Are you okay?”
I expected a nod or for him to tighten his arms around me, but what I didn’t expect was for him to open his mouth and rasp out, “Yeah.”
I tightened my arms around his neck and breathed him in, then muttered, “Good.”
We stayed like that for long moments, and then he loosened his hold on me, which caused me to loosen my hold on him.
And when I moved to step away, he placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side.
I wrapped my arm around his waist.
