XANDRY
Riley was so damn ecstatic when I sent a quick text before my flight to pick me up at the airport. I just wanted to surprise Blaine and now this dude was hugging me and kissing my cheek.
“Stop it, I don’t want these folks to think I will fifteen you.” I wiped my cheek playfully and wrinkled my nose.
He laughed loudly and got back to his truck after I loaded up my suitcase and two paper bags in the back seat. “So, Blaine doesn’t know you’re coming, huh? And how long will you stay?”
My stomach sank that I had only a weekend with her. “Two days.”
“And you’ll travel back and forth like this?” He pulled out of the airport parking lot.
“I have a job there, so yeah.”
“Blaine avoided relationship since you know, but I’m not blind not to see what’s between you two...” he trailed off, and this was what I was not good at— a confrontation between man to man over a
BLAINEAfter taking Ben from my parents’ home, we went home immediately to prepare our dinner. Mom was so happy to see Xandry and we had to spend lunch with them—she had to impress him with her new stew recipe.I made a simple creamy white lasagna—Ben’s favorite since he’d been asking me for over a week now, but my mind was somewhere else. I guessed I was starting to be a terrible mother for Ben, yet he never complained although he didn’t miss to ask about Xandry occasionally.The fact Ben liked Xandry so a lot, terrified me, and the last thing I wanted was to hurt my son and to keep him under false pretenses.This was my first time to have a man in my life since his father, and I couldn’t help but question myself of how was I going to explain to my son if Xandry was done with me?“Sweetheart, I think I heard the oven dinged.” Xandry already prepared the table as he insisted on helping, he placed the wine given by
XANDRYSomething was wrong with Blaine. Everything around here was pleasant—from the music to the booze. Even the people were warm—tipping their heads to acknowledge my presence. Her friends were enthusiastic and witty, but Blaine seemed distant and restrained.Riley joined us later, and damn if this wasn’t a fun night—a good way of forgetting Dad’s anger for a while. Thankfully, he didn’t shower me with calls and messages like he used to do. I guessed he finally accepted my decisions. Or he was planning something.“You okay, sweetheart?” I asked her for the umpteenth times because she was still tense. And all I could think of a reason was the people would gossip about seeing her with a man for the first time.I didn’t know how to crack her open. Blamed it on my-fucking-self for being so ignorant about dealing with relationship troubles.But we are not in trouble, are we?“I’m good, just a little tip
BLAINE“Did he call you yet?” Olive followed me with her horse, Rory as I rode Queen silently.I needed this moment, but my best friend never allowed me to be alone.The last time I had a heart problem was five years ago, and she and Charlie were always by my side up to this moment. They both had been heartbroken, and I was there for them as well.That’s what friends do, right?Now, the table had turned again. On me.“He will call,” I answered nonchalantly. I didn’t want to talk so much about Xandry. The food I prepared was spoiled, even inside the fridge. I’ve waited for him for two frigging weeks, and no image of Xandry appeared on my door. I received three messages on his first day since he got back to New York, then he called that night that he was pretty tired with his last famous seven words.I need you to understand me, Blaine.“It’s only been two weeks, right? I’m sure he
XANDRYWeeks earlier...My Dad was in his chair behind the desk. Mom was sitting in front of him, but what I wasn’t prepared to see was Sunshine, and I was not entirely stupid not to get why she was here with a baby bump.A sudden flush of adrenaline tingling through my body when the realization hit me like a sucker punch to my gut.She’s pregnant.I went to her apartment after I had a fight with Pyke to confront her about the issue. She was the only one who heard my conversation with Pyke about the bet. Then, we ended up on her bed, got drunk, but Sunshine denied we had unprotected sex since we both saw the wrappers of condoms in her bedroom when we woke up in the morning. And everything was vague to me.Seeing her in my dad’s office answered my unanswered question. I closed my gaping mouth and reluctantly walked towards them with legs that weighed tons. It was not that I could
BLAINEBeing back in New York City reminded me of something we had back at the yacht, but I was here not to reminisce about what happened in the past.I am here for Bianca.“Blaine!” Bianca called out enthusiastically as if I was the only person standing at the airport.“Silly.” A wide smile curved across my lips as I walked toward her, and she was getting bigger. I wasn’t big as hers when I was roughly in the first week of the third trimester.“I miss you, sis.” She squeezed me into a tight hug, which I badly needed it right now. I was thankful Ethan didn’t show up again. Ben didn’t ask why I was crying that day.My emotions were over the edge when her advice flashed through me. I was not blaming her because it was completely my own choice to believe that there was something between me and Xandry, Bianca just boosted my confidence.“I missed you too, B.” I bit my lip and took a deep breath as m
BLAINESaph parked her car in the parking area of the Williams’ building. She said this was bought by her dad, Phoenix when he found out Sam, her mother was staying in this building during their breakup.I wasn’t in the right mind agreeing to Saph or maybe I was, but I was dying of finding out what was going on with Xandry.“I already talked to the doorman and Jun is expecting you. As much as I wanted to come with you, I have a meeting in less than an hour. You’ll be fine, Blaine.” She kissed my cheek.I nodded. “Thanks for helping me, Saph, or are you doing this for your brother’s sake?”She frowned. “You are my friend, Blaine, and I care about you too.”“I should really go and I have to go back before my son will find out I’m gone.” I kissed her cheek and got out of her car. I was approached immediately by the doorman in a dark blue uniform.“Ms. Harris?” The bald thin old man asked politely.“Y
XANDRYI was wholly unprepared for the sharp stab of the pain at the left side of my chest. I hadn’t seen and talked to her for over two weeks and it opened up the fresh waves of longing and searing pain when she broke up with me. Over. The. Fucking. Phone.I lost her.Let’s end this. These three words repeatedly electrocuted my brain. I took another sip of the scotch Forrest filled me. I ignored his cold and stoic looked and gestured him to pour me another shot, and he didn’t hesitate. And that confirmed my suspicion that this guy hated my guts. For whatever reason, I didn’t have any idea.“Hmm, if it’s not my dear cousin,” Pyke sang, took a seat beside me, and Forrest quickly placed down a cold beer for him.“I’m not in a mood for chit-chat, Pyke. I came here as a customer and not a cousin, so, fuck off.” I gulped the last shot of the scotch, willingly took in the burn into my throat, hoping to numb my b
BLAINEOh, my God!He is here.He came.He stood there like a fallen angel. His eyes landed on the sign posted on the glass door.How did he find out I lied?He had a scruffy and looked rugged. I meant, he was still handsome though, with disheveled hair, dark circles under his eyes. His crumpled clothes like he had been sleeping on it for days, but I still wanted to jump on him right now.Get a grip, Blaine.My heart leaped in my chest and my skin instantly tingled in anticipation of his kiss, his touch, and him inside me. Crap!Holy crap!The door swung open and chimed. He walked inside, then stopped and roamed his bluer eyes around like searching for something. Or maybe for someone.I froze in my place, knees weakened to his presence. My hand gripped the counter for support as his eyes landed on Ethan. A large hand grip on my waist made me more stiff
XANDRYThe sun shone through the scattered clouds as I sat down on the fine sand beside my wife. Yes, my wife. I literally kidnapped her when she was with my sister stressing out about planning our wedding. When I figured out she had not traveled outside the country, I pulled out some of my connections. Well, one of the perks of being a VP.And here we were on the beach of Harbour Island in the Bahamas and got married not longer than five hours ago. And we just broke the bedposts of the hotel bed earlier. But still, I couldn’t help but turned my head on my wife, lying peacefully on the sand with only a skimpy yellow two-piece swimsuit, sunglasses that covered her eyes, but I knew she was staring back at me. So, I strolled down my gaze to her neck where she still had a hickey on its right side and at the swell of her left breast. The light stretch marks on her flat stomach made her sexier
BLAINEI was in the shower when I heard a soft knock. I knew who was in there without looking through the misty glass wall. So, instead, I pressed my naked and wet body against the glass door. I wiped it to see Xandry’s reaction.“You want me to join and take you there again?” he asked, smiling mischievously.“What do you want, pretty boy?” I asked then bit my lip.He groaned. “Don’t give me a hard-on when I’m about to meet your cousins, sweetheart. And I’m sure as hell I’ll think a lot about that wet body while I’m with them.”I opened the door. “You always go out after sex—”“Lovemaking, Blaine.”“Okay, lovemaking, since we’re back to town three days ago. What are you all up to?”“Wait, were you jealous that I spent some time with your cousins and Troy?” His brows furrowed. His face expressed sadness.“No, baby. I was just wondering what were you doing with them. And I’m not
XANDRYDad looked at me with pride. “Xandry deserves something better. As a Vice president of the Williams holdings, I turned over my position to you, as of yesterday, so, Congratulations, son! And I’d like also to welcome my son’s fiancee’s family—”“What!” Blaine exclaimed beside me.“Harrises, welcome and enjoy the party. And son?”“Go ahead, Xandry,” Mom whispered, and I couldn’t remember how she got beside me. Everything just happened in a blur.I was thrilled, scared, and overwhelmed as I walked down the aisle to the stage, and everyone moved back, giving me the way like I was about to be crowned as their prince. Funny, I was in a second of ditching the party and yet here I am, walking toward Dad.“You didn’t propose?” the first thing he asked.“Seriously? Did I just hear you said my fiancee’s family?”“Your sister told me you bought a ring, so I thought you already proposed, a
XANDRYOur birthdays had always been a bash. Mom chose our grandma’s mansion as the venue, and instead of the usual party we did at Night Stalker since we turned twenty-one, it was different this time. Dad’s business partners, family friends, and relatives were invited and of course, Rexwell, Hugheses, and Kings. On my part, I invited Blaine’s family and friends.Unfortunately, I and Dad barely talked these past few weeks other than he said he was glad that Sammer had finally discharged from the hospital. So, as I tried to be a good son, I respected his silence and stayed away from trouble as much as possible.I had been talking to Rexwell if he could offer me a job after this party and he was willing to help. Dad was supposed to announce my position tonight, or maybe he had another plan on humiliating me in front of our guests, or finally, he decided to give me a seat in his compan
BLAINEMy heart accelerated and I was worried I might pass out. I just stared at him with wide eyes. His eyes glowed when he said the five words earlier.“Y-you l-love me?” I asked in disbelief.“You heard it right.” He loosened his grip on my waist, completely releasing me from his arms. He stepped backward and ran his fingers through his hair, then propped his hands on his hips.“I-I just wanna hear it again, you know.” I shrugged and looked down, licking my swollen lips that his taste was still on them.The tension suddenly thickened when he didn’t talk. I lifted my gaze and that was when I saw him grinning with eyes filled with humor and love.He stepped closer, cupping my face. “I love you, Blaine Noelle Harris. So much. I’ll make sure to tell you this every day until you believe me, and I’m going to make you feel it too. I love you since I rushed to see you and press you against the wall of the barn.” H
XANDRYDays went by uneventful. I submitted the first half-year report a week earlier than I used to, but Dad, well, he wasn’t impressed. During our family dinner, I was like an invisible person to him, until after dinner when I walked to his office. Dad was in the red lounge chair with an empty glass, where he usually sat when not behind his desk.My stomach rolled. “What’s the deal with your silence, Dad? Did I happen to develop some kind of invisibility?”He didn’t reply or move. He kept staring at the old painting owned by his late father, Henry Archibald Williams.“Are you going to ignore me throughout our lives? Until one of us is eventually dead? Because I have no plan on leaving Blaine if that’s the reason why you’re doing this to me. You talked to her but it didn’t scare her away, in fact, I’m asking her to move in with me. With her son. Just do me a favor not to be harsh on her. Treat her civilly at least.”
BLAINEMom placed some potatoes to the preheated oven, and for the first time in like forever she allowed me to help in her kitchen. I was back home for almost a week now, but we hadn’t gotten a chance to spend time together. She invited me or rather forced me to stay for dinner, and I knew there was something she wanted to talk about so urgently.I sliced some red radish and tossed them into the bowl. I left Ben with Daddy in the living room as they tried to solve some puzzles on his iPad app.Mom sighed deeply as if she wanted to say something but holding it back.“Just say it, Mom.” I watched her moves closely as she wiped her hands with the flowery kitchen towel Bianca had slipped into my luggage for her.She finally moved beside me, tapping her short fingernails against the wooden countertop. “So, what is your plan, sweetie?”I slowed down slicing and met her gaze. “What plan? For Ben?”“For you an
XANDRYMy stomach churned as I walked out of Dad’s, determined to prove to him that I deserved to be happy and the position he had for me at the Williams was mine. I did everything I could and it wasn’t my goddamn problem if he wasn’t satisfied with the effort I did. Hell, I didn’t fucking care anymore.Gasping for some air, I walked outside of the employees’ exit of the club. It smelled cigarettes, pees, vomit, and alleys, but I couldn’t care less. All I wanted right now was to scream all my frustrations out of my fucking life, then made love to Blaine in my bed all night.Fuck!“Hey.”I turned to face the voice calling me from my back, and to my surprise, Blaine looked like she was carrying the world on her shoulder. Closing the space between us, I cupped her face and searched for the answer in her eyes. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”She shook her head, pressing he
BLAINEXandry helped me out of the crowded dance floor to the bar, then talked to the broody tattooed bartender. He wore all black just like all the bartenders with him. If Kyland was scary, this man screamed danger—dangerously handsome in mysterious ways, but there was something in him that seemed warm—his eyes? The way he sided-glance at me. He was quite a good looking guy if he happened to smile just a little bit. He nodded at Xandry, then turned to me as I slid to sit on the dark bar stool.“Can I get you something to drink? It’s in the house, ma’am.” His voice was friendly and warm, but he kept his stoic looked the same.The whole bar was opposite of Max’s. This one flashed with modern designs with a dim-lit interior that was perfect for New Yorkers’ vibe.I smiled shyly. “Yes, a Phoenix’s princess, please,” I swore his lips curled into a smile, then nodded and mixed my d