Page 81 of The Spare
“Yeah.” I sighed, thinking about the Zurich argument.
“Oh no.” Xander grimaced. “I knowthatface.”
“It’s nothing. Typical Marcus stuff.” I wished I could shake the feeling he was hiding things from me. “He doesn’t open up all that much.”
“Wow, you mean sex didn’t fix everything?” Xander tilted his head and dramatically smacked his hand to his heart. “Crazy.”
“A girl could hope.” I grinned.
He barked a laugh. “He bought you a McLaren after a kiss, so maybe?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed, and my grin fell. “Sometimes he’s so clear about what he wants, and other times it’s like deciphering a dead language.”
“That’s such a Sloan way to put it.” Xander’s chest shook with a chuckle. “Did you talk to him about it or are you expecting him to guess?”
“I told him.”Mostly.
“Then give him time.”
I blew out an annoyed sigh. He was right. I had to be patient; it wasn’t my strong suit. “I hate when you’re right about this stuff.”
“You’re the one who forced me into therapy.” He smiled impishly. “It’s not my fault I’m so good at it.”
“What about you?” I asked. He had to know that was coming. He was particularly evasive as of late. The last time I saw Xander really serious about someone was while I was in law school. He was finally getting into a good headspace again. His breakup with Reina took him a long time to recover from.
He only told me parts of why it happened, but he was heartbroken for years afterward. And he never let anyone get close enough to do that to him again. I blamed and hated her for it. It was unfair of me; I didn’t know the whole story. But I saw the fallout. I put him back together, and it was enough for me.
“What would you like to know, Sloan?”
“Is there anyone you’re seeing?” I asked as we turned the corner and re-entered the large atrium. His arms retracted close to his sides, as if bracing himself. “I promise no judgment or opinions—”
He chuckled. “I should think not. You’re sleeping with my brother.”
“I just want you to be happy, Xan.”
“I promise I am.”
I didn’t move when he tried to steer me in the direction of the next wing. I gave him a hard look. “Paris? We always end up telling each other why we used them.”
He ran a nervous hand through his dirty blond locks. He sat at a nearby bench, and I followed. With a long exhale, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. His gaze was straightforward and stern. Stern Xander always scared me. I never knew where that might lead. “I saw her.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. I didn’t need to ask who. The way he saidhermade me sure it was Reina. “When?”
“New Year’s Eve.” He looked at me with a crooked smile. “Closure. Finally.” He whispered the last word.
She had a strange power over him. Like he was waiting for something that never came. His love life had been on pause until it was sorted. Maybe now he’d let someone in. I threw my arms around him. “I’m proud of you.”
“I’m proud of me too,” he said with a chuckle and stood. He offered his hand to me as I did the same.
He motioned to me and began in a new direction, heading into the Egyptian exhibits, his favorites for bothering docents.
* * *
We spent the rest of the day getting lost in a few pubs, discussing our plans for our annual trip. I spent the whole morning figuring out how or if I should tell Xander about Van Der Baun’s pseudo-offer.
“Jeez, what is it?” Xander put his beer down and sighed. The sudden thud of the pint hitting the table shook me from my thoughts. We had settled into a booth at a small pub near my townhouse. “You've had a weird look all day.”
“I got an offer for managing partner.” His face lifted, and his chest rose in excitement. “But, it’s here, in London.”
