Page 40 of Puck with Karma
“We know. They suck. They treated him like shit. But then,” she puts a finger up for attention, “he turned it all around and shit all over you.”
“I just need a bit more time,” I mumble, unsure whether I want to continue this conversation or not.
“I wonder if he has a girlfriend,” Riley smiles wistfully.
“You would,” Hannah snorts. “You need to hitch your ride to Abby’s. Go there and state your intentions with the man.”
Riley looks lost. “My intentions? What intentions?”
“To marry him.” Hannah throws her arms up in frustration. “What else?”
“Marry him?” Riley sputters. “I don’t even know the man. How am I gonna tell him I wanna marry him?”
Both me and Hannah are confused. Not because we really expected for Riley to ask for my brother’s hand in marriage, but because she looks appalled at the idea.
“Don’t you have a crush on him?” I ask for clarification.
“Not the kind where I want him to marry me,” Riley bursts into a flurry of movements. “I don’t know him,” she reminds us.
We are stunned into silence. Me and Hannah always tease Riley about this. She’s never had a problem with it until just now. We’re not sure how to react.
“Okey dokey then,” Hannah mumbles under her breath. “We will not talk about Bran Karlsberg for a while. At least not until Abby makes contact,” she makes sure to add. “After that, all bets are off.”
I am about to comment on that as well when there’s a knock at the door. At first, I am confused. No one knows where I live. Besides, I don’t even know people here, so visitors are definitely a surprise.
“Abby, it’s Xander,” I hear from the other side of the door.
I can’t help the grin taking over my face at hearing his voice. Without even bothering to say anything to my friends, I jump out of my seat and run to the door, yanking it open in a flurry of movements that are sure to make me look crazy.
“You’re back,” I gasp, almost out of breath. The smirk he gives me is everything.
“Well, I don’t have anywhere else to go since Noah’s already moved in.” He rolls his eyes. “That didn’t take him long at all.”
I just giggle like an idiot and continue staring at him.
“You should let him in, Abby,” Hannah calls from my computer. “And maybe move out of the way a little so we can see him, too.”
Xander peeks around me in confusion.
“You got company?”
“No,” I laugh. “I’m on a video call with my friends.” I grab him by the arm in an attempt to pull him inside my apartment. “Come on in.”
He steps inside my small living room with zero hesitation. The confidence he always exudes is a huge turn on, and also a bit intimidating.
“These are my best friends,” I point to the screen when he is in front of the table. “Hannah and Riley.”
“And we know who you are,” Hannah chimes in. “We just read your biography online.”
“Hannah!” I try to shush her, but she doesn’t care.
“What? It’s true. And I have a feeling he appreciates honesty.” She stares through the screen at the both of us, but I’m sure it’s meant for Xander. “Am I right?”
Xander drops in the chair I just vacated before rushing to the door. When he brings his arm to wrap it around my hips and bring me closer to him, I am ready to just kiss the life out of him.
“Well,” Hannah squints into the screen, “you do seem to be as good looking as the pictures we found of you online.”
Xander grins in response but doesn’t say anything.
