Page 87 of Xander
At my words, the man looked at me and said, “Sounds like you're taken, but he doesn’t give a shit what you do. I’m Taz.”
I held out my hand and said, “Hi, I’m Nola.”
Uncle Merlin shook his head, then pushed my hand down and got in front of me, “We’re trying to keep you breathing. Walk away. Now. And if you push this shit, remember, you're in my house.”
The man moved away, then Uncle Merlin turned and looked down at me, just as Aunt Tempie stepped to his side, followed by Agatha.
They all looked over my shoulder, then looked at me.
I turned my head and caught sight of Xander.
He was looking at me, then looked at the man who was walking away and then he looked at me and shrugged.
He. Fucking. Shrugged.
Then I looked at the three of them.
They nodded, then Agatha moved away.
I looked at Aunt Tempie and Uncle Merlin and saw it.
They got it.
Then I shared with them about my new job offer after I graduated.
I saw it again.
They got why I wanted to move.
Because I was so in love with Xander that I could hardly see straight.
He just didn’t love me back.
I was watching as Grimm went at it with a man who was almost a little bigger than he was.
And then in one move, he knocked the other man out with a hard uppercut.
I swear to all that’s holy that I felt the ground shake when the man landed on the mat.
I moved into the clubhouse with everyone else to get a beer.
Standing there, I watched as a woman smirked at her friends, and then I watched as she walked over to the table where Xander was sitting.
And when I saw him take the beer the skank offered him and then wink at her, before he locked eyes with me, I knew. I knew we were over.
He looked away before I did, and then... I left.
***
I felt a tear trail down my cheek as I realized he hadn’t shown up.
So much for him saying he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
I looked at Aunt Tempie and Uncle Merlin and saw that they, too, were frowning.
Then, after the graduation ceremony was over, I made my way to them.
“He’s...” My Uncle Merlin started to say.
