Audrey.Xavier’s hand lingers on the stem of his wine glass, his fingers curling around the crystal like he’s contemplating something dangerous. His gaze has been locked on me the entire time—watching, studying, and unraveling me with those dark, unreadable eyes. I should be used to it by now, the way he looks at me like he already knows what I’m thinking before I can even put it into words.But I’m not used to it. Not even close.And maybe that’s why I’m still trying to convince myself that this isn’t a date, that this isn’t something real, that I’m not sitting across from a man who makes my pulse trip over itself every time he so much as smirks at me.I lift my glass, taking a slow sip, pretending like I don’t notice the way his gaze follows the movement, like I don’t feel the heat of it burning into my skin.Then—“Xavier, my boy,” a voice calls out.A smile breaks on Xavier's lips before he turns his head, and instinctively, I do the same.An older man is making his way toward u
Xavier.I slam the door shut behind me, shoving my fingers through my hair as I let out a harsh breath. The evening was supposed to be perfect. The food, the atmosphere, the surprise waiting for Audrey at the end of the night. Instead, we’re in the back of my limo, running from cameras like criminals. I shrug off my suit jacket, tossing it beside me as I glance across the seat at her. She hasn’t said a word. She just sits there, with her hands clenched in her lap. I open my mouth to apologize again because I hate that this happened. I hate that she looks so damn fragile right now. But then I see a single drop of tears, sliding down her cheek, and something tightens in my chest. I move without thinking, crossing the space between us and sitting beside her. I wrap an arm around her, and pull her close, my fingers smoothing over her shoulder. “Audrey,” I whisper, “talk to me.” She doesn’t respond. Instead, she gasps. A sharp, broken sound that sends panic clawing up my throat
Audrey Watson. “A shot of whiskey, please,” I hear a voice say behind me as I clean the shelves. I'm startled a bit, because I didn't hear anyone come in. It has been a slow night if I can even call it that. The Golden Bar where I work is normally the most popular bar in Jefferson—a small town in Texas—where the old men sit to wind down after a long day at work. But lately, our customers have been dwindling until at last, we barely get a customer per night. Which is why I'm surprised when I turn around and am greeted with the sight of a young man. He's literally the most beautiful man I've ever seen, which is saying a lot because I don't easily notice men. I must have been staring for a while because he snaps at me in an impatient tone, “Do you usually scare your customers away with those deadly eyes of yours, or am I just special?” I immediately turn back to the shelf to get a bottle of whiskey and a shot glass, breathing deeply to calm myself down before facing him again. I
Xavier Kingston. My jaw aches as I cock my eyebrow while waiting for the girl's reply. From her expression, she seems stunned but she manages to nod. Then I turn to face the fool that punched me in the face. I release his hand and grab him by the neck, turning around to slam his back onto the counter. “What do you think you're doing? Who do you think you are?” He asks, his face red from the pressure of my hand on his neck. I chuckle as I apply more pressure. “No, Brandon,” I spit his name out, “who do you think you are?” I'm a little tipsy from the whiskey, but the buzz from the alcohol makes me want to squeeze his neck until his eyes pop. Won't be too long now, I think. Judging from the look on his face, it seems like he's struggling to stay conscious. A hand on my forearm makes me turn my head and I see the bar girl pleading with her eyes. “Please, just let him go,” she begs. I stare at her like she's speaking another language. “Are you being serious right
*Trigger warning: Abuse/Violence* Audrey. I'm still looking at the stranger's retreating figure when Brandon speaks. “We're done for the night. Close up the bar and come meet me in my office.” My heart hammers in my throat as he leaves, still massaging his neck. There'll be hell to pay tonight. I let out a shaky breath as I start wiping down the counter. I pick up the hundred dollar bill and pocket it. Keep the change, he said. Well, that's a whole lot of change I'll be keeping. My thoughts stray to him. He was so angry and as much as it felt good to have someone defend me, I knew Brandon would take it out on me when he leaves. That was why I stopped him. And what did he mean by, “you’re pathetic, just like her”? Like who? I shake my head to dispel the thoughts. After cleaning the counter, I go to the back of the building to take the trash out. Glancing at the parking lot, I'm disappointed when his car is nowhere to be seen. I guess it's too much for me to hope
Xavier. It's a bright and chirpy morning when I finally stir awake. I groan in discomfort as light filters in through the window, and my hammering head makes me feel shitty. The call with my therapist went well, I think—and I had to use my meds before going back to sleep after the call. I guess I was too exhausted from the journey, and that was why I forgot to use my meds before falling asleep the first time. Hence, the dreadful nightmare. My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven't eaten anything apart from the burger I had eaten yesterday afternoon, while on the road. Dragging my tired body off the bed, I head to the shower. A few minutes later, I'm in my Porsche heading towards the town. There should be a nice breakfast diner around. It's been three years since I last came here and things have really changed. The breakfast diner I visited then has been turned into a club. I spot the Golden Bar on my way and my mind wanders to the bartender I met with yesterday. I sh
Audrey. The drive becomes silent as I direct the stranger to Big Ben’s Diner. I keep sneaking glances at his face and my heart rate increases every time. The atmosphere in the car is tense and I know I'm the reason for that. But when he said, “...striking gray eyes,” all I could think of was Brandon slamming my head on his desk last night and growling, “...those gray eyes of yours were a problem…” After a while, I decide to break the ice. “You never told me your name.” “Well, you never asked. It's Xavier.” I nod as I turn my gaze back to the road. Xavier. It fits him. *** “What should I get for you?” My attention shifts to Xavier as he unstraps his seat belt and I realize we're at the diner already. “I'll take blueberry muffins, thank you,” I reply quietly. “And drink?” “Just water.” Then I remove the hundred dollar bill that has been stashed in my pocket since yesterday and extend it to him. He appears insulted and he scoffs as he gets out of the car and slams the
Audrey. “Are you okay?” I didn't realize Xavier had come down from the car until I hear his voice behind me. I nod and turn to face him, annoyed when I see the look of concern on his face. He goes to get the bottle of water he had bought earlier and opens it, extending it to me. Rinsing my mouth, I avoid eye contact with him. “Are you upset with me?” He asks. “Does it matter?” I bite back angrily, still not looking at him. “You're leaving anyway.” He doesn't speak after that. Once I'm sure my mouth is clean, I hand the bottle back to him and make my way to the passenger seat to grab my box of muffins. As I walk towards the Golden Bar, I stop. “Well, I guess this is goodbye.” Not waiting for a reply, I continue walking. He doesn't try to stop me and that hurts a lot. I can feel tears in my eyes but I don't let them fall and I don't turn back. I keep walking until I disappear around the back of the building, using the small door to slip into the bar. It isn't until I make
Xavier.I slam the door shut behind me, shoving my fingers through my hair as I let out a harsh breath. The evening was supposed to be perfect. The food, the atmosphere, the surprise waiting for Audrey at the end of the night. Instead, we’re in the back of my limo, running from cameras like criminals. I shrug off my suit jacket, tossing it beside me as I glance across the seat at her. She hasn’t said a word. She just sits there, with her hands clenched in her lap. I open my mouth to apologize again because I hate that this happened. I hate that she looks so damn fragile right now. But then I see a single drop of tears, sliding down her cheek, and something tightens in my chest. I move without thinking, crossing the space between us and sitting beside her. I wrap an arm around her, and pull her close, my fingers smoothing over her shoulder. “Audrey,” I whisper, “talk to me.” She doesn’t respond. Instead, she gasps. A sharp, broken sound that sends panic clawing up my throat
Audrey.Xavier’s hand lingers on the stem of his wine glass, his fingers curling around the crystal like he’s contemplating something dangerous. His gaze has been locked on me the entire time—watching, studying, and unraveling me with those dark, unreadable eyes. I should be used to it by now, the way he looks at me like he already knows what I’m thinking before I can even put it into words.But I’m not used to it. Not even close.And maybe that’s why I’m still trying to convince myself that this isn’t a date, that this isn’t something real, that I’m not sitting across from a man who makes my pulse trip over itself every time he so much as smirks at me.I lift my glass, taking a slow sip, pretending like I don’t notice the way his gaze follows the movement, like I don’t feel the heat of it burning into my skin.Then—“Xavier, my boy,” a voice calls out.A smile breaks on Xavier's lips before he turns his head, and instinctively, I do the same.An older man is making his way toward u
Xavier.The cheers from inside the apartment follow us all the way down the hallway.I swear I even hear Camila yell, “Get it, girl!” before the door slams shut behind us.Audrey groans. “I hate them.”I smirk, placing a hand on the small of her back as I guide her forward. “No, you don’t.”She doesn’t argue, just shakes her head as we approach the waiting limousine. Ryan is already at his post, pulling the door open the moment we reach him.Audrey hesitates for half a second before stepping inside.I follow, sliding in beside her as Ryan shuts the door and rounds to the front.The second we start moving, I reach for the champagne, popping the cork with a soft pop and pouring her a glass.Her fingers curl around the flute, but she doesn’t take a sip. She keeps staring at the purse in my lap like it holds answers.I can tell from the way she keeps tucking her hair behind her ear that she's nervous. Her knee bounces slightly before she catches herself and finally takes a small sip of th
Audrey.“Don't you dare leave.”Xavier’s text sits on my screen, the words possessive and teasing at the same time.I roll my eyes but feel the tug of a smile anyway.I don’t respond. Not because I don’t want to, but because a customer steps up to the counter, eyeing the pastries like they hold the answers to life’s mysteries.By the time I take her order and hand her a paper bag filled with croissants, the moment has passed. But the warmth in my chest lingers, and when I glance at my reflection in the pastry case, I catch the embarrassing truth—I’m blushing.“Good Lord, Audrey. You’re a walking cliché.”Talia’s voice comes from behind me, dripping with amusement, and I don’t have to turn around to know she’s watching me like a predator with fresh gossip.I glare at her over my shoulder. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”She smirks. “Uh-huh. So you’re just randomly blushing into a tray of muffins for no reason?”I shove the tray into the display case and ignore her while she
Xavier.It's been three days since I kissed Audrey in her apartment. Three days since I gave her the box before leaving. It wasn't until after I left before she realized that it was a brand new phone in the box, the latest model.I had barely stepped out of the elevator that led to my penthouse that night when my phone rang. I quickly punched in my code and entered my house before I accepted the incoming video call from Talia.But it was Audrey's face I saw. She held the phone I bought her in her right hand, eyes wide, lips parted in shock before shaking her head furiously and saying, “Xavier, this is too much.”I smirked and said, “Too bad. It's yours now. And why are you calling with Talia's phone? My number is already programmed into yours.”“I don't want it, Xavier.”“You either keep it, or I start showing up at your workplace every day until you accept it.”That got her. She scowled at me and ended the call. Later that night, she texted me a single word: Fine.I went to sleep t
Audrey.The moment Xavier steps into the café, my heart reacts before my mind does. It seizes in my chest, like it forgot how to function for a split second. Then it picks up again—too fast, too hard—thudding against my ribs in a way that makes me feel alive and terrified all at once. I grip the tray in my hands, my fingers tightening around the edges like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to the ground. He’s here. He came for me.That has to be the reason, right? That’s the only thing that makes sense. But he only glances at me for not more than a second. Then, his eyes sweep past me like I’m just another face in the crowd, and then they land on Talia. And he walks straight to her. Something inside me withers. I feel it like a physical thing, like a flower blooming for the sun, only to realize the light isn’t for her. For a moment, I stand there, frozen and breathless, watching as they exchange words I can’t hear. Then Xavier gestures toward the door, and Tali
Xavier.The pencil glides across the page like it has a mind of its own.I don’t think or second-guess. My hand moves on instinct, sketching lines that turn into curves, curves that turn into lace, and lace that turns into something dangerous. Something sinful. Something I can’t take my eyes off. By the time I come up for air, my chest is tight, my pulse erratic. Because I know exactly what I’ve drawn. It’s her. The red fabric with beaded gold threads, the delicate lace tracing over soft skin, the way the straps dip into places I shouldn’t be thinking about. I realize that this isn’t just a lingerie design. It’s something I created for her, something I desperately want to see on her. I lean back, dragging a hand through my hair as I exhale a sharp laugh. I should be frustrated. I should be furious that even when I try to focus, even when I tell myself I’m done with her, she’s still in my head. But instead, I smile. Because for the first time in weeks, I can create agai
Xavier.I promised myself I wasn't going to drink anymore. But as I stand by my counter, I pour myself a swig and down it.The whiskey burns going down, but it doesn’t burn enough to erase the way her lips felt against mine. It doesn't burn enough to silence the words that left my mouth before I could stop them. ‘I don’t want to lose you again.’I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping the glass tighter, hating myself for letting the words slip out. For actually meaning them. The promise I made to myself—no more Audrey—was broken the second I saw her on that dance floor. The moment I grabbed her, dragged her outside, and kissed her like I had any fucking right to. So what’s one more promise to break? I pour another drink, the ice clinking as I down it in one gulp. “You swore you weren’t drinking anymore,” Ethan says from his position on the couch. I left the club after Audrey left, needing to be alone but the shit head followed me home.I let out a dry laugh and tilt the glass towa
Audrey.Xavier kisses like he owns me. Like he has every right to pull me against him, like he knows exactly how to unravel me with nothing but his hands and his lips and the way he breathes me in like I’m something worth needing. I hate that my body listens before my mind does. Because the second his fingers tangle in my hair and his mouth claims mine, I’m gone. Lost in the heat of him, in the way he tastes—whiskey and something deeper, something familiar. Something I'm not supposed to miss, but I do nonetheless. I shouldn’t be doing this. But my fingers betray me, fisting the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer when I should be pushing him away. And just when I think I might drown in him completely, the sharp ring of his phone slices through the moment like a blade. He curses under his breath, and I pull back just enough for the cold air to settle between us. His chest rises and falls, his grip still firm on me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear. I might. I take a