Page 37 of Bullied Mate

“What?” I shrugged one shoulder. “You looked like you needed help.”

Izdor grinned. “Could have used a courtesy announcement there, friend. You can’t go sneaking up on guys like that.”

“Why not?”

Xavier grinned ear to ear. “Some of us are doing private things. Or don’t you recall?”

Izdor appeared too interested for my comfort. Ignoring the teasing jab was my best course of action. I went on to inspect the lockers, making sure everything was sturdy for the next line of them. With the help of Izdor and Xavier, we were able to handle the load without many interruptions.

Once a few more were installed, I stepped aside to grab a bottle of water. Xavier joined me, granting me a sweet grin that spoke of our time in the field.

My thoughts again focused on the fact that those things only happened at night. And why was that? Was he ashamed of being seen with me? Clearly, there wasn’t much preventing him from being affectionate in front of others. Though he did tend to stick to being in the company of Izdor when he attempted anything of the sort.

Perhaps this was a game to him.

I swigged my water.

“I could have kissed you when you swooped in to save us,” he joked. “But I didn’t want to offend your friend.”

I squinted at him. “Why would that offend Izzy?”

“Oh, he just seems like the jealous type.”

“Are you completely oblivious to his interest in another woman?”

He stared at me blankly for a moment. “Well, no. I was just making a joke. Sorry, I guess.”

I studied his backside while he wandered off to help Izdor with something else. Why he would joke about jealousy didn’t make sense. Wasn’t that something people of Earth often wanted to avoid?

One more swig settled my nerves. I returned to help the men with the lockers, but was pushed out of the way by Xavier’s shoulder. He grunted and groaned, griped a bit about the heaviness of the load, but still carried it as if I hadn’t just offered my services.

Sweat coated my upper back as I followed after him. “What’s your problem?”

“Nothing at all.” He set the lockers in place and glanced at Izdor. “Ready for lunch?”

“Is it lunch already?” Izdor skipped toward the door. “Actually, I just remembered I’m supposed to fly Sadie somewhere. I’ll see you two later.Alright, bye now.”

Slam.

The metal door practically wailed through the tiled room. Enough lockers had been erected to deflect the sound, creating an odd illusion that the room was full and empty at the same time.

I stared at Xavier. “I don’t understand why you’re being rude.”

“I’m not being rude. I’m being funny.”

“Some people might not find your jokes funny.”

He threw his hands in the air. “Fine. It’s not funny. I don’t know why I bothered to joke with you. You never get my jokes.”

“I get them when they’re humorous.”

“Fine. You’ve made your point, Galanthia. I’m not funny enough for you. Are you happy now? Can I leave?”

It was instinct to step aside. Though it was rather irritating to see him so offended by the movement. Wasn’t that what he had just requested? “You’re not making any sense.”

Crimson bubbled in his forehead. “No,you’renot making any sense. Every time we hook up, you treat me like I don’t exist the next day.”

“That’s not true.”

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