Chapter 27
Selena managed to work on her chores, finish her homework, and care for her animals while trying to keep thoughts away of Cherise. It wasn’t easy. Not easy at all. Cherise had arrived at Selena’s home like a shark that was too close to shore. Also, Selena couldn’t help worrying about Xavier. Was he safe? As she made herself a simple cheese quesadilla, the phone blared.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Selena, is it you?” questioned the male voice.
“Who is this?”
“Selena, this is Steve.”
“Steve?” she asked, surprised.
“Cherise said you needed to talk to me.”
“She did?” retorted Selena, not being able to help the sharpness in her voice.
He let out an exasperated breath. “You don’t need to talk to me? Was she lying?”
“Steve, how did you get my number?”
“”Moonflower gave it to me,” he said quietly.
Selena winced. “Moonflower?”
“Yes, Moonflower.”
“How is she?”
“She’s fine,” informed Steve.
Selena decided to change the subject. “Cherise shouldn’t have told you to call me.
“I’m sorry if my phone call upsets you. I shouldn’t have listened to Cherise.”
“As long as I’ve got you on the line . . .”
“What can I help you with?”
Selena hated herself for asking him the question, for falling into Cherise’s trap but she had to do it—just had to. “Did you see Xavier last night at the Montgomery home?” she blurted.
“Yes, I saw him. Why?”
“Are you telling me the truth or are you telling me what Cherise told you to tell me?”
“Selena,” he stated, “I don’t lie for anybody.”
“Were Xavier and Cherise . . . together?”
“Together?”
“You know, into each other?”
“Well, with Xavier it’s hard to tell.”
“Did he kiss her?”
“No, not in front of us.”
“Were they alone together?”
“Yes,” Steve said with hesitation. “And . . .”
“And what?” Selena asked impatiently.
“Cherise told us later that night that Xavier had kissed her, that he seemed to really want to be with her.”
“Later that night?”
“Yes, we were on our way to a 10 o’clock movie when she told Chad, Asher, and me about her thing with Xavier.”
“You went to the movies without Xavier?”
“He didn’t go with us.”
“Yes, of course,” she blurted more to herself than to him. “He called me at that time.”
At least he didn’t go with them. Xavier has a lot of explaining to do when he gets back, thought Selena. A lot!
The Key of Hearts Page 27
