Xavier behind the wheel of Quinn’s compact Honda would be almost comical if he didn’t appear to be so tired this morning. He’s so tall and broad that he barely fits in the seat, but it was necessary to borrow her car to drive me to the airport. Suitcases don’t exactly fit on the back of a motorcycle.
He’s wearing the same clothes he had on last night, and judging by the bags under his eyes, he hasn’t slept a wink.
I know the feeling because I tossed and turned all night, wondering if refusing to go home with Xavier last night was the right thing to do even though I needed to make it clear that I demand honesty from him.
After we go to the house on Sycamore to pick up my suitcase, we head to the airport. We haven’t said much to each other. Some tension from the things we said last night is clearly lingering between us, and it seems neither of us is going to budge to compromise.
Xavier parks the car next to the curb in the passenger drop-off area. “Guess this is it.”
“I don’t want to leave you, but this is the best thing for us right now. I want to be by your side when this is over.”
The sadness in his eyes is unmistakable, but surprisingly, he hasn’t asked me to quit my job with Tension in order to stay with him. It’s like it’s finally clicked with him that I need to keep this job, so we can be together when his suspension is lifted.
He reaches over and touches my cheek. He opens his mouth, like he wants to say something else, but he quickly closes it. Instead, he sighs and then flips open the door handle of the car. “Better get your bag. Planes don’t wait.”
I swallow hard when Xavier leaves me alone in the car. It’s hitting me that I won’t see him until Wednesday. Four days apart doesn’t sound like a long time, but we haven’t spent one day away from each other since we’ve met. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this without breaking down into a complete puddle of tears.
I haven’t even left yet, and I’m missing him like crazy.
Xavier can’t see me like this. If he sees me hurting, he’ll ask me to stay, and I won’t say no.
I take a deep breath and lift my chin before opening the door. Xavier’s standing there with his hands shoved into his pockets with my suitcase by his side.
He sucks in his bottom lip before slowly pulling it through his teeth. “You got everything?”
Everything but you, I want to say, but instead, I run through the mental checklist I made when I was packing. “I think so.”
He nods. “Just remember, stick with Brian and Liv. They’ll help you out if you need anything.”
“Got it.”
There’s a weird uncertainty between us, and I can’t think of a way to make it any better because leaving is something I have to do. There’s no time for a long heart-to-heart talk about what happened between us.
Xavier stretches his tattooed arms out toward me and then wraps them around me. He buries his face into my hair, and he inhales deeply, like he’s trying to commit my scent to his memory. “I’ll miss you every damn day. If you have any problems, call me.”
I cling to him, feeling the heat of his skin against me. “I will.”
He pulls back first. “Head in there before I make a huge mistake and throw you back in this car.”
I run my fingers along his jaw, scratching his stubble from his day-old beard. “I love you. This won’t last forever. The only thing that’s permanent is you and me.”
He nods and then leans in and presses his lips to mine. “Love you, too. Now, go.” He takes a step back as I grab the handle of my suitcase. “Later, beautiful.”
I head into the building, and when I turn to get a final glimpse of Xavier, he’s already gone.
The flight from Detroit to Seattle takes forever. Last time I flew cross-country like this, I was thoroughly distracted by the sexy wrestler sitting next to me while he was busy attempting to get into my pants.
When I finally get off the plane, I make my way through the airport to the exit. Seattle is a little cooler than Detroit, but it’s still a comfortable summer evening.
I search for a sign to point me in the direction of a taxi, but my eyes widen when they land on a familiar face.
Liv waves to me. “Anna!”
I head in her direction, rolling my suitcase behind me, and notice that she’s completely alone. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you. X texted Brian and asked if we could look out for you, so I took the liberty of picking you up once X gave us your flight information. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” I say as I lean in to hug her. “That’s so sweet of you. Thank you.”
She releases me. “You’re welcome. Now, come on. Let’s get you over to the hotel. I parked just over here.”
Once everything is loaded into the back of Liv’s SUV, we hop into the cab.
She weaves in and out of traffic until we’re coursing down the highway.