Page 185 of Detectives in Love
“Hi,” Xavier says—and his voice sounds perfectly normal. Maybe just a little anxious.
“Hi,” I say. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he says, and I hear some background noise on his end.
“Just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Oh,” I say, my face instantly flushing, heat pooling low in my belly. God, Xavier saying things like that is the most arousing thing ever.
“Hi,” I repeat, now completely flustered.
“Hi,” Xavier echoes—and now we’re both chuckling.
I hear birds chirping faintly in the background. Then a blunt thud, and silence.
“What was that noise?” I ask, just to fill the pause.
“Nothing,” Xavier says a little too quickly. “How’s your back?”
I shift my shoulders a bit. “I think I’m fine,” I say. “Though I’m probably so medicated I won’t feel anything for another ten hours.”
Xavier murmurs something noncommittal in response. I hear another sound in the background—and realize it’s the low hum of a car.
“Xavier…are you in a cab?”
“Yes,” he says, reluctantly.
“Where are you going at five in the morning?” I ask, frowning. “Please tell me you’re not out investigating again.”
“I’m not.” He pauses for a moment. “I’m going to the hospital.”
For a second, I just sit there, trying to catch up.
“Wait—here?” I ask, completely baffled.
“Yes,” Xavier says.
“Xavier, visiting hours don’t start for another couple of hours. They won’t let you in.”
“I know,” he says—and then adds, firmer, “I don’t care. I need to see you.”
The words are so simple, I can hardly believe he means what I think he means.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, just to be sure I’m not misreading this.
“Yes,” Xavier says. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Please don’t get in trouble again,” I manage—but he’s already hung up.
I lie there, staring at the ceiling, smiling like an idiot, my phone still clutched in my hand. I feel so stupidly in love—and happy—and so anxious to see him I don’t even care if we get in trouble for this.
We’ll ask Willand to sort it out if it comes to that. I’m sure he won’t say no—not after everything that’s happened.
For the next fifteen minutes, I just lie there, thinking about everything we’ve been through these past few days—but my mind keeps circling back to Xavier. Maybe he wasn’t able to get in. Could the guard have stopped him? But no—if that had happened, Xavier would’ve let me know by now.
I battle the urge to text him for several long minutes…until the door to my room opens.
I sit up, and my heart skips a beat when I see him. I’d pictured him coming in pale and worn down, but he looks completely put together—so much that I suddenly feel self-conscious about how I look. He’s wearing his black button-down, his hair clean and styled, his jaw freshly shaved.
