Chasing Xander

by Lexi Lawton

  “You should hang out with us tonight,” Xander said.

  “And do what?” Kylie asked.

  A wicked grin lit up his face, and he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Laughing, she playfully shoved him. “I don’t think so.”

  “I don’t know what you thought I was implying, but I’m not that kind of guy.” His face was serious, but his eyes were full of mischief. And then he winked again, his dimple flashing briefly.

  She took a deep, calming breath and reminded herself it was bad manners to jump in his lap and demand he show her exactly what kind of guy he was. “So, what are you suggesting, then?”

  He gave a lazy, one-shoulder shrug. “Whatever you want.”

  “Honestly, we should probably go back to our room and finish unpacking,” Kylie said, shooting Celeste a look that warned her not to argue.

  “We can walk you back to your res hall,” Finn offered.

  “And I’m more than happy to help you put away all that underwear.” Xander bumped her leg with his knee, and a thrill shot through her.

  And that is exactly why she needed distance from him. He wasn’t ever going to let her forget that, and every time she thought about him kneeling on the ground, twirling her sexiest pair of underwear around his finger, her stomach knotted and heat erupted on her face. “Sorry, but your days of playing with my panties are over.”

  “Hmm, we’ll see about that.” Before she could open her mouth to say anything, Xander picked up his tray and headed toward the trash cans. Finn followed. Then Celeste. Kylie stood and followed, too, then dumped her uneaten food into the garbage.

  “You really don’t mind walking us home?” Celeste gazed up at Finn.

  “It’s no problem at all.” Finn held out his arm, and Celeste took it. They disappeared out the exit.

  Kylie turned to Xander. “You don’t have to walk me home if you don’t want to.” She shifted on her feet and dropped her gaze to the floor. Please say you will.

  “And miss the opportunity to spend more time with you?”

  Her head jerked up. “This isn’t some sort of prank you play on the clueless freshman, is it?”

  “No. It’s not a prank.” He smiled. “You’re cool. And you make me laugh.”

  Cool? Not exactly the reaction she wanted—sexy or hot or interesting would have been better—but at least he wasn’t dining and ditching. And she didn’t have any reason to believe he wasn’t being sincere.

  Xander held the door open for her, and she stepped outside. Finn and Celeste were waiting, and when they noticed them, Celeste took the lead and headed back toward their residence hall. Finn was in step beside her, deep in their own private conversation.

  Kylie followed with Xander next to her, neither of them speaking. She really didn’t know what else to say to him. She tucked her hands into her pockets and looked around. There were quite a few people out and about, but they all seemed to be rushing around like they had somewhere important to be. There were still a lot of parents lingering, too.

  “It’s a nice night. Warm.” She rolled her eyes and mentally smacked herself. Talking about the weather? Really?

  He simply nodded.

  She cleared her throat. “Thanks, by the way, for your help earlier.” Embarrassment heated her cheeks. “Sorry I rushed off like I did, but it’s not every day a guy I don’t know fondles my underwear.”

  A hint of a smile played on his face. “Yeah, well, it probably didn’t help that I was teasing you. I’m sorry. But in my defense, you have some really…unique underwear.”

  Oh my God! She never should’ve brought it up. Her face felt like it was going to explode in a fiery burst.

  Xander turned slightly toward her and let his gaze rake slowly over her body like he was memorizing her, caressing her. She held her breath. “I bet they all look damn good on you, too.”

  Her ears rang, and her steps faltered, her toe catching the heel of her other foot. Oh shit. She lurched forward and flailed her arms to gain her balance.

  He grabbed her upper arms to steady her and hauled her against his hard, chiseled chest. His hands were so warm, she swore they could melt the clothing from her body.

  Heart hammering, she looked up at his face and was once again awestruck by how handsome he was. He was so tall that the top of her head barely reached his chin. Why hadn’t she noticed that before?

  “You always this graceful?” he teased, his eyes sparkling.

  “Only when you’re around,” she said before she could stop herself.

  His chest rumbled with laughter and vibrated through her in the most delicious way. “Well, this is the first time a girl has ever tripped over herself trying to get to me.”

  “I wasn’t trying to get to you,” she said, even though that wasn’t completely truthful.

  “Can’t say I don’t like it.” He stared down at her, his already dark eyes darkening even more.

  Desire pulsed through her veins and pooled between her legs. It wasn’t until then she noticed he hadn’t let go of her arms. Not that she had any reason to complain. Xander dragged his hands down the length of her arms, his fingers teasing her hands as if he wanted to hold them. A shiver worked through her body, and goose bumps broke out in the wake of his touch. She leaned into him, pressing closer to his chest, and she swore she heard him groan.

  “Hey! What the hell is taking you two so long? Everything okay?” Finn shouted.

  Xander cursed under his breath and released Kylie. He dragged a hand through his hair.

  Stepping back, she prayed her legs wouldn’t give out, but with the way they were trembling, she had a feeling her prayers wouldn’t be answered. She crossed her arms and tucked her hands under her armpits to hide how badly they were shaking. “Everything’s fine,” Kylie called.

  “He seriously has the worst timing,” Xander muttered.

  “Well, in his defense, our res hall isn’t much farther. Maybe he’s worried you’ll get lost or something.”

  He laughed. “Or maybe you’re hoping I’ll get lost so you can get rid of me.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Good luck with that.” He began walking again, and she hurried to catch up to him. “I know where you live, remember?”

  She scrunched up her face. “Yeah, that’s not creepy at all.”

  He stopped and stared at her. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He frowned. “Really, I just meant…well, if I…”

  She laughed and put her hand on his arm. His biceps was rock solid. She’d give anything to feel those arms wrapped around her. “I’m only teasing you.”

  He visibly relaxed and shook his head. They walked in silence until they reached her building. “So, what’re the chances I can get your number?” he asked before they joined Finn and Celeste on the steps.

  Her heart rate quickened. She wanted to blurt out her number and then ask for his, but she didn’t want to appear too eager, either. “Slim to none.” She bit back a smile.

  “You’re really not going to make this easy, are you?”

  “Nope.” She patted his chest. “I’m not an easy type of girl.” Letting her hand slide down his torso, she stepped back. “Thanks for walking me home.”

  “Will I see you again?” he asked as she climbed the steps to her res hall.

  “If you’re lucky.” She unlocked the door and walked inside, Celeste on her heels.

  Chapter Four

  “I can’t believe you’re dragging me to this,” Kylie complained as she and Celeste walked across campus. It was nine a.m. on a Sunday morning. She should still be in bed sleeping.

  “How else will we know what’s happening on campus? Besides, I thought you said you wanted to check out a few sororities, too?”

  She sighed. “I do, but the activities fair? People will be shouting at us and shoving flyers into our hands. Pressuring us. That doesn’t sound fun.”

  “Not everything needs to be fun.” Celeste clutched Kylie’s arm and dragged her forward as if afraid Kylie would change her m
ind and take off back to the res hall. The thought had crossed her mind. “Can you please try to have a positive outlook about this? For me?”

  “Fine, but you’re going to owe me.”

  Celeste grinned. “Deal!”

  They approached the main quad, and the place was packed. Brightly colored booths dotted the concrete. People shouted and chanted about whatever club or group they represented. Kylie couldn’t deny the atmosphere was electric, and she moved farther into the crowd, eager to see what was on display. There were booths for language clubs, student government, journalism, future leaders, and lawyers.

  “Hey, there’s the booth for Sigma house.” Celeste pointed to a table decorated with hot-pink, black, and white balloons and flowers. “C’mon, let’s check them out.”

  Kylie grabbed Celeste’s hand before they got separated, and they squeezed their way through the crowd. There were so many people forcing their way toward the Sigma booth that they could barely see the table, let alone get anywhere near it. Someone elbowed Kylie in the back, and she attempted to jump out of the way but ended up knocking into the girl next to her. “Sorry.” She frowned and tugged on Celeste’s hand. “This is crazy. Let’s come back when it’s not so crowded.”

  Celeste nodded.

  Pledging a sorority was not high on Kylie’s priority list, but she’d do it with Celeste if that’s what she wanted. After all, they had promised each other they’d experience college life together. And Kylie wasn’t going to go back on her word, not when she knew how shitty it was to be on the receiving end of broken promises. A lesson her father had unknowingly taught her.

  Kylie looked around and caught sight of Xander a few booths down. He and Finn stood in the middle of the walkway, both dressed in pressed khaki shorts and baby-blue polo shirts, a stack of flyers in their hands. Her heart fluttered at the memory of his touch, of how his chest had felt pressed against her. She really should have given him her number. No better time than now to rectify that.

  She tapped Celeste on the shoulder and pointed toward Xander and Finn. That’s when she noticed Xander was engaged in a conversation with not one, but two very attractive girls. They were laughing at something he’d said, touching his arms and leaning into him. Doing the same thing she’d done last night when she’d flirted with him. She might have ignored that, except for the fact Xander wasn’t pushing them away. Granted, he wasn’t hugging them or kissing them. Or touching them back. But he appeared pleased to have their attention.

  Heaviness settled on her chest, and her shoulders slumped. Celeste attempted to lead the way toward them, but the crowds were making it impossible to move more than a step or two at a time. Kylie stole glances at Xander. The two girls had left, and two more were in their place. She clenched her teeth.

  The moment her gaze collided with Xander’s, his face lit up with the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. He said something to the girl standing in front of him and then made his way toward Kylie.

  “Hey! I didn’t know you’d be here today.”

  She shrugged. “Celeste forced me out of bed at the ass crack of dawn. I’d rather be sleeping.”

  Xander laughed. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.”

  “I’m going to go talk to Finn.” Celeste walked away.

  Kylie acknowledged her with a nod, then turned back to Xander. “You are?” Skepticism dripped from her tone.

  He tilted his head as if he didn’t understand her question. “Yeah. So, you going to give me your number now?”

  “No.”

  “No?” His eyebrows lifted in surprise.

  “Looks to me like you’ve got all the girls’ phone numbers you can handle.”

  “You mean Jess and Amber?” One corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “They’re just friends. Actually, they’re girlfriends of a couple of the brothers.”

  “Oh.”

  “I really would like your number.” His voice was low and sincere.

  She chewed on the inside of her cheek. What harm could come from giving him her number? It would give her the chance to get to know him better. “Got something to write it down with?”

  Grinning, he pulled his phone from his pocket. “Okay.”

  She rattled off her number. A second later, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out.

  “There, now you have my number, too.” He tucked his phone away. “Feel free to abuse the hell out of it.”

  “Xander!”

  He rolled his eyes. “Sorry, duty calls.” He held up the flyers. “I’ll call you later, though. Okay?”

  “Yeah, sure.” She nodded.

  No sooner than he’d walked away, her phone rang again. Her stomach dropped at the all too familiar number on the screen. “Hello?” She moved away from the crowd, hoping to get a bit of privacy and some quiet.

  “Miss Quinn? This is Sheriff McIntire.”

  She groaned. “Hi, Rick. What can I do for you today?”

  “Got your old man here with us again.”

  Bile rose up her throat, and she inhaled deeply through her nose, hoping to keep her breakfast from coming back up. “I’m halfway across the country at college. I’m not sure what you expect me to do.” Her words were harsher than she intended. None of this was Rick’s fault. Still, it wasn’t exactly easy to hear his voice when he was constantly the bearer of bad news. College was supposed to be her fresh start, but no matter how far she ran, her past would always follow her.

  “I know, and I wouldn’t call if this was his usual drunk and disorderly and public intoxication. Unfortunately, it’s much worse. He’s been arrested for inciting a riot and destruction of property.”

  “A riot?” she yelled, then lowered her voice when a couple of girls gave her a dirty look. Her father had been known to get into a bar fight every now and then, but a riot? That was new. Sweat beaded on her brow, and she wiped at her forehead with the back of her hand. “What the hell did he do?”

  “He started a fight with a group of bikers passing through town. Things got out of hand. They busted up Jimmy’s bar pretty bad. One patron was hospitalized, and another suffered some injuries.”

  “Was my father injured, too?” As much as she despised his drunken debauchery, she couldn’t help but ask. He was her father, and she couldn’t just shut off her concern for him. Even if he didn’t deserve it.

  “He has a busted lip and a black eye, but nothing too serious. I’m pretty sure his hangover is worse than any of his injuries.”

  Her head spun, and she looked around for a place to sit. Finding an empty bench on the other side of the quad, she hurried toward it. Her father was in jail more often than he was home, but he’d never gone this far. Those were some serious charges. “I appreciate the call, Sheriff, but there’s nothing I can do, and Nammy Joyce is in a home.” Her voice cracked at the mention of her grandmother. “Please don’t bother her with this.”

  “I know, hon. This is a courtesy call, but I might have to call Joyce. One of my deputies had his arm broken while trying to break up the riot. Your father needs all the help he can get.”

  She snorted. That was a huge understatement. There was no one left to help him this time, though. He was on his own. A pang of guilt punched her in the gut, and she doubled over. Maybe she should’ve stayed closer to home.

  “He’s being arraigned tomorrow morning, and the DA is confident bail won’t be set this time. Your father has always been a public nuisance, but causing injury to an officer of the law is taken very seriously around here, especially when that officer is the judge’s great-nephew.”

  “Okay,” she said with a heavy sigh. One of the main reasons she chose a college in Florida was so she could get away from her father and the trouble he caused. She’d dealt with it her entire life. Didn’t she deserve a break?

  “Just wanted to let you know.”

  “Thanks.” Kylie ended the call and resisted the urge to scream with frustration. She was tired of being the adult in the relationship with her father. He could s
it his ass in jail for all she cared. He wasn’t her problem anymore, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to let him ruin everything she’d worked so hard to achieve.

  “Hey, I’ve been looking all over for you.” Celeste came over and sat beside her. “Everything all right?”

  She forced a smile, still fighting against the tears trying to spill free. “Dad’s causing trouble again.”

  Celeste put her arm around her in an awkward side-hug. “I’m sorry.”

  She rested her head on her friend’s shoulder. “It’s bad this time. He probably won’t get off with just a warning.” No matter how much she hated her father for everything he’d done, she couldn’t stand the thought of him being locked up in jail. She sighed, taking comfort in Nammy Joyce’s favorite saying: It’ll do that man some good to get locked up. Maybe he’ll sober up and stop being a jackass. She would say that every single time Dad was arrested.

  “You can’t keep feeling sorry for him, Ky. He has no one to blame but himself.” Celeste’s tone was full of compassion.

  “I know. I guess I hoped he’d realize me and Nammy Joyce aren’t around to help him, and he’d behave.” Kylie straightened. “I should’ve known better.” She stood, needing to distract herself from the worry taking up residence in her mind. “So, how’s Finn?”

  “He asked me out.” Her eyes twinkled with excitement.

  “Oh my gosh! That’s awesome! When?”

  Celeste stood. “Tonight, actually. We’re going to dinner.”

  “I’m happy for you.” And she was, but deep down a flame of jealousy ignited. All she’d gotten from Xander was a noncommittal, “I’ll call you later.” She really didn’t know if he would or not, but she wasn’t going to get her hopes up.

  “Where to now?” Celeste asked.

  “I thought you wanted to check out the Sigma booth?”

  Celeste held up a pink sheet of paper. “It’s still packed, but I managed to snag a flyer on my way by. We can go to one of their events and talk to someone then.”

  “Okay.” Kylie nodded. “How about we grab some food?”

  “Sounds good to me.” They headed away from the activities fair. “We’ll go to Nelson Dining Hall again. It has the best food on campus.”