HOMEWORK SESSIONS ALTERNATED BETWEEN Xavier’s café after hours and Karlee’s house. They met more often than they had to, yet neither of them voiced that. They also talked so much that their progress on the project was slower than it needed to be. The sprinkling number of times Xavier went to Karlee’s house did not allow him to see Rob again. But after their first introduction, Xavier’s hope for his plan to succeed skyrocketed. Rob was easy to be around and his relationship and affection for Karlee were obvious to any observer. Even someone like Xavier, who had zero family relationships to judge from, could see the strong bond between them. Rob was very casual about Xavier being there. He didn’t seem to harbor any suspicion or worry that Xavier was Karlee’s age and he was spending a lot of time in the kitchen with her alone.
Plus, Rob’s straightforwardness with him indicated that Xavier must have passed their stringent security and background checks. Xavier did not bother to indulge the delusion that Rob was ever surprised to find Xavier at his house. The tight security had long since checked out his past or he would not have been sitting inside Rob and Rebecca Williams’ kitchen.
Xavier also met her mom more than once. She was nice but there wasn’t much Xavier could think of to say about her. His interest in her was minimal. Mothers, in general, rarely crossed his mind, so he didn’t pay much attention to Karlee’s mother. He witnessed the affection they shared and what appeared to be a healthy, functioning family. Good for Karlee. No, it was great. She surprised Xavier by turning out to be such a great person, considering what she could have been. She was not an insecure, messed-up, drug addict, looking for love in all the wrong places or a mess of emotions. Xavier had read about the offspring of the super famous whether they were in music or acting or modeling. He came to expect them to be screwed up one way or another.
But Karlee was none of those things. She would never be a victim or try to please guys because she lacked love at home. She was strong, confident and secure in everything she did. He knew he had to be real and genuine with her. In all honesty, he was as close to being himself as he could manage. Other moments occurred when he actually connected with her much more than he pretended. Most of the time, he claimed he wasn’t eager to see Rob, but that was a lie.
He was just as nervous as Karlee predicted when he met Rob. That was no act and Xavier was more than a little surprised by his own reaction. Having hoped and prepared for this pivotal meeting for years, he was ashamed to discover how tongue-tied and in awe he became when he got within handshaking distance of his living legend. It was a far more powerful moment than he’d expected and more than amazing.
When they’d casually started talking about other bands, Xavier was stunned by how much he cherished it. How easily they could discuss all the famous Seattle bands as well as the not-so-famous in a collective appreciation for the unique stamps that inspired entire movements of music. Xavier never dared to hope his introduction to Rob would go so well. Rob failed to notice Karlee’s distinct and sudden yawn as she’d faded from the conversation in total boredom.
It didn’t fail to catch Xavier’s attention though. He had to stifle a laugh, internally, of course. She wasn’t even interested. How ironic and funny that was, considering the source. Xavier found himself liking her even more. She was so adorable. His favorite rock star’s beloved daughter got bored by hearing about her dad’s career, inspiration and personal interests. Never mind his accomplishments and contributions to the entire industry. But hey. Karlee was bored by it.
Karlee really liked it when Xavier came back to be with her. He’d convinced her he wasn’t using her, which was critical in making it all appear organic. Xavier had to keep that in focus even when it got hard. The conversation he’d wished for all his lifetime with Rob and he’d cut it short. Willingly. He chose to end it because he wasn’t looking for conversation. No. He was carving out his entire reputation with it.
He wanted to get Rob to notice him before providing some venue that could catapult him into the spotlight for a brief period of time. Then he planned to work his hardest to do everything he could to capitalize on it and create the perfect career to be exactly as he wanted. It wasn’t like he intended to use Rob or Zenith to gain fame for himself in the long term. He just needed a special moment and a song. Set in the right venue. Then he could launch himself into the music world. Somehow, he would make it happen. He wasn’t sure yet of all the details. But a bold start was necessary in this crowded world of voices, competitions and an endless number of ways to be heard. Xavier wanted much more than a brief, meteoric internet success or a TV spotlight that amounted to no more than a supporting act on a cruise ship.
The security remained tight on the Williams/Randall compound and the systems that monitored his comings and goings were flawless. On the third visit, he was granted entrance without Karlee having to identify him. To Xavier, that was like finding the golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka at the Chocolate Factory.
Xavier drove his clunker sedan to the front of Karlee’s house and his gaze glistened with longing at the large building nestled in a row of four. It was the one he believed Zenith practiced in. Where they wrote their songs. And collaborated. And sang. He could only imagine what it must be like inside there.
Zenith featured Rob Williams as lead singer and lead guitarist. Rob played the rhythm guitar as well. Spencer Mattox was Rob’s best friend and their fabled friendship of thirty-plus years was renowned. They never performed without each other. Their consistent drummer for the past few years was Jaxon Mertz and they also had a bass guitarist who was replaced three different times named Danny. Spencer could also play bass guitar and keyboard. He was rumored to be the master of many instruments from drums to classical piano, which was his favorite. Being in a rock band, he extracted all kinds of sounds from the synthesized keyboard. His unique quality gave every one of their songs the distinct signature of Zenith. Spencer’s lyrics were darker, deeper, and often ironic so they were often analyzed, dissected and interpreted. Who knew what Spencer intended to say?
Xavier needed the backup of great musicians and songwriters. And a manager. Whatever it took, he had to start somewhere. He imagined playing with a lousy band around the area as the perfect path to get high on drugs. That wasn’t the kind of success he wanted. He was already on his chosen path. His shortcut. He fully intended to avoid all the pitfalls and dangers of the industry. He just wanted to sing.
How many lost souls uttered those words? Unsuccessful artists whose only asset was their sad desire to be more than they were? He understood that. Being gifted with a singing voice gave him an advantage, but Xavier was also practical and patient. He didn’t like wasting his time. This wonderful path he was on seemed the most direct for him to find success.
Karlee answered his knock on the door. Wearing casual dark pants and a loose t-shirt, she waved him upstairs. “Rob’s got some friends over. Come up.”
Friends? Crap. Who could be visiting? She was so blasé. Naturally, she was more than used to it. Sometimes he found it adorable, but occasionally, it freaked him out. Right now, he was stressed out and fought the urge to shake her and insist that she show him. Introduce him to the other rock stars. Let him spread his wings.
Damn. Karlee was just being herself. No phoniness. She sprinted up the stairs and Xavier followed her, smiling at the gentle sway of her butt cheeks when she walked in front and slightly above him. This time, his gaze was not fastened on her as his meal ticket, but because he found her kind of hot. Her bittersweet personality was growing on him. She attracted him. So what? Again, it just made things easier and better. An experience for both of them to share and enjoy.
Opening the door to her bedroom, it was as typical as any teenager’s bedroom. He dropped his stuff down and she walked over and tossed her phone on her bed. “We pretty much have this report finished, don’t you think? Maybe write the conclusion and we can both study it individually and edit it and compare the results?”
“I agree. We’re about there. Then we’re done with the project altogether, huh?”
“Done.” It sounded unpleasant to him.
“I don’t want to be done hanging out though, do you?” Karlee asked.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” His heart nearly burst and he resisted the urge to raise a fist to the ceiling and exclaim, Yes!
“Well, I did say that.”
He slid his gaze to her and found her staring right back at him. They didn’t move for a moment. He released the temporary spell with a small nod. “I’m really glad you did.”
“Me too,” she said softly, snapping her head to the side and saying too loud, “Well, did you ever write that jingle you needed for your marketing class?”
He made her nervous. That meant she had feelings about him. He tried hard to keep the glee from entering his voice. He was so glad to know he meant something to her. She wanted to keep seeing him, providing another chance for all of this to work out according to his plan.
She hit on his other task because he was whining about it for the last two weeks. He complained that he was assigned to create and record a jingle for a fictitious company in his marketing class. He had a marketing class, true, but that project was never assigned. He used it as a ploy to start singing in front of her without just bursting into song like a freaking asshole.
“I finally did it. Man, nothing ever took me so long to complete. It’s really terrible. But maybe I’ll get an A for the effort, huh? I’m definitely not qualified to do anything in advertising.”
She nudged him with her foot. “Go ahead, let me hear it.”
“No. Hell, no.”
“What? A whole class of strangers gets to hear it but not me? Come on.”
“No way.”
“I won’t let it go, so you’ve gotta do it now. I listened to all your complaints so now I have every right to hear the jingle.”
“All right… here is my terrible version… It had to be a jingle for a brand of baking powder called Kalismet. That’s what I’m marketing. I mean, how do you make that sound the least bit interesting? Obviously, it was not my first choice.”
“Obviously,” she echoed with a smile.
“Okay… fine. Here it goes and no laughing. I borrowed the old jingle from a Kit-Kat commercial and changed it to this: ‘Gimme a break! Gimme a break! Break me off a piece o’ that Kalismet cake.’”
She didn’t laugh but only stared at him, tilting her head. Her expression was unreadable.
Xavier’s stomach tightened. It wasn’t the inanity of his jingle for freaking baking powder that had her studying him now as if she had never met him before. She seemed stunned.
She heard it. His voice. She heard what drove him to her in the first place. What obsessed him. The only reason he was right here. Right now. With Karlee.
He shut his eyes and nearly sighed with relief. She got it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You sing?”
He snorted. “No. I don’t sing. Well, sometimes I sing happy birthday or sing along to the music that I like.”
“But you can… you can sing?”
“Lots of people can sing. Your sister can too, right?”
“Yes. But she’s different.”
“I was singing a jingle for a commercial. Nothing as serious as your sister. Come off it, Karlee. It’s nothing. Let’s move on.”
She pretended to be shuffling through her notebook as she replied, “Do you realize how good your voice is? I mean, unusually good?”
“Yeah. I can carry a tune; but again, so can a lot of people.”
“You never thought about doing anything with it?”
He tossed his phone to the side and finally lifted his face up to look at her. “What and when would I do anything with it? I started working thirty hours a week when I was sixteen. That included every day after school, and most weekends. What could I do with it? Fuck. Join the Sunday choir or something? Not my style. I laid low in school. Barely got through. I’ve been too busy to consider whatever you think I might do with it. Don’t take this the wrong way, even if it sounds shitty to say, but not everyone has the chance and opportunity to pursue their talents. If you can even call it a talent.”
“Oh, it is definitely a talent. Anyone could hear that.”
“Okay. I really don’t know what you expect me to say. Thanks, I guess.”
She didn’t say anymore because he seemed so grumpy about it. He ground his jaw back and forth before dropping his gaze to his phone and ignoring her. But there was no denying what Karlee heard. The short jingle revealed something that instantly caught her ear. He captured her undivided attention, which was a rare feat in itself. His voice jolted down her spine. By messing around with a marketing slogan, he managed to stop her dead as she whipped around when she heard the euphonious depth of his voice. She wanted the jingle to be longer and more varied, just to hear more of what he sounded like. Her curiosity and shock made her bite her tongue as she tried not to react by insisting he sing again. Something. Anything.
Rob would have done it in a heartbeat. He was never shy or protective when it came to broadcasting his singing ability. Rob was driven to share it, and make something of his life with it when he ran away with Spencer. But Xavier? He seemed to know he had a great voice but he didn’t venture beyond it. Or think about singing to an audience somewhere.
Xavier was right, Karlee never had to survive on her own wits, or struggle just to get by. To pay rent. At only age sixteen. Her heart tugged and she dropped her chin so he couldn’t see the sympathy gleaming in her eyes. She pulled her knees up to her chest. There was something special in him. Unique, different, unusual, and just special. Like Rob. No matter how many times Rob sang, Karlee always beamed with pride when she heard Rob’s voice and his songs. She listened to them like any other fan, often forgetting Rob was her dad.
Lost in her thoughts, she was startled when Xavier’s foot nudged her leg. She lifted her head from her knees. She had her phone out and was trying to focus on the novel she had to read for Lit class. She also had to plan her discussion notes for it.
“Whatever you’ve been mulling over, it can’t be found in that book. You haven’t touched the screen in hours and now it’s gone black.”
She blinked as she glanced down. Sure enough, the screen was black. “Oh.”
“What were you dreaming about?”
She set her phone to the side and tugged her knees tightly to her chest, wrapping her arms around her calves and rocking back on her butt. She never felt particularly brave in her entire life. Despite her experience with some rather interesting things, like trips to fancy resorts and islands over the years, while traveling with Rob and her family to different continents, she always felt safe. She witnessed the sweeping crowds, all screaming and hysterical, and got lost in their excitement and overwhelmed by the sheer force of it all. In her teens, she grew even more inured until it became normal. She missed being home, and wished her life were more average than doing all of those other things. Rob toured less as they and he got older and his success became solidified. He hadn’t toured for five or more years. Living a glamorous lifestyle faded into the past. Here. Right here. This exact place. Her room was where her heart was.
Karlee was watched over and guarded all of her life. She resisted empty friendships from almost everyone her own age because she feared the damage her lifestyle could bring. She trusted her sisters and cousins. Cousin Jody was her only connection to a normal world of her peers until now. Until Xavier.
Her eyelids fluttered as she squeezed her legs tighter. “Karlee?” His tone was quizzical, but not suspicious.
In many ways, Zenith’s fame had made her a bird in a gilded cage. She had no burning desire to fly free from it. She never discussed leaving. A deep apathy seemed to exist in her that compelled her to accept things just as they were. The default line that ran deep in her soul. Was it laziness? She didn’t bother to fight over any of the restrictions in her life. She didn’t really care. The security was fine. Just another part of daily routine. No friends her age that she trusted? Eh. Also fine. She made do with her sisters and cousin. She never really cared to find another one. Her curiosity about sex? Meh. She chose a partner she barely said two words to because he was nonthreatening. Again, nothing. Not bad. Not good. Just another experience. Fine.
Was she ever brave about anything she did or experienced? Her freaking parents gave her everything. She was born into success. She never had to work for anything. She never had to give up something to get something else. What did she ever strive to achieve? Nothing.
She wasn’t unhappy or depressed and her family filled her with deep loyalty, love and strong feelings inside her that were real. But when it came to others? There was no one. Nothing.
Until Xavier showed up.
She could fall back to her penchant for sarcasm. At least he got it. That was refreshing. She could unleash her sharp tongue in ways she only allowed herself to do with Rob. He got it too. With her mom and her sisters, she invariably toned it down.
But that wasn’t being very honest. She didn’t often like being honest. Not when it made her vulnerable or fragile. Like this was about to make her feel.
Licking her lips, her stomach knotting, she said simply, “I was thinking about you.”
“Me?” Xavier was startled as he sat up a few inches straighter. “All that time you were thinking what about me exactly?”
“How hard it was for you to survive, while I had both a loving family and material comforts. All I’ve ever done is pass the time. And you never even had the time to sing if you’d wanted to.”
He leaned back and slouched against her bed. “Oh. You’re still on that.” His mouth had a little smile. “I wouldn’t stress about it so hard. And if I were you, I’d have been sitting right here enjoying my life too. There’s nothing wrong with that. Crap. You could have turned out all screwed up and really filled the cliché. I’d be pretty proud that you’re not.”
“No. I’m definitely not. Neither are my sisters.”
“That says a lot, huh? Considering what might have happened.”
“Yeah. True. Instead of being the worldliest person you ever met, my entire life experience is confined to these four walls.”
His gaze changed from casually looking at her to focusing more closely on her. He was listening intently. “What do I have to do with your life experiences and these four walls?”
She rubbed her nose just to give her hands something to do. Fidgeting some more, she tapped her toe. “Well, I don’t want to stop seeing you. I’ve grown used to your company.”
He stared at her and a slow smile began to appear. It started tugging his lips to each side as his gaze stayed fastened on her. She was suddenly frozen and paralyzed as she gazed back at him. Gulping at the drama, he must have heard her. What the hell? She rubbed her hands together when they got all clammy from sweat suddenly.
Then as the smile sparkled in his dark eyes, he said with a slight edge of amusement in his tone, “You’ve grown used to my company?”
“Yes. I have.” Her voice came out a little too high and crisp. Like she was reporting to court for jury duty or something equally mundane but necessary. What was happening?
Xavier set his laptop to the side while holding her gaze as he swung his legs around and began crawling the few feet of distance from her, closing the gap. His smile disappeared as slowly as it manifested, moving in sync with his approach to her. He was right in front of her, and she was sure her eyes were as big as an owl’s when her breath hitched in her throat and she gasped as she tried to breathe.
Now, his smile was all gone. His eyes kept drilling into her and the look he had on his face was dark and strange. He looked very different from the Xavier she’d grown accustomed to all these weeks. There was no teasing and no secret smile ready to come out and snap the tension that periodically popped up between them.
Close to her now, he pulled himself up on his knees until he was above her. Staring up at him, her face heated up into flames. Tilting her head back, she followed his progress as if her eyes were connected by a string to his and she had to trace the trajectory of wherever he looked. Did he hear her hammering heart? Staring down at her, he said simply, “I’ve grown used to you too.”
Her gaze was alarmed and scared. She felt it. The shallow breathing. The urge to look away, but knowing she couldn’t. The thickening of electric energy around them. The slamming of her heart into her chest. His tone sounded normal, but nothing about his look was normal. Just the fact that he was moving closer, so much closer, set off fire alarms. Right there. They didn’t do that. Nothing like this. They kept it purely friends. But not like hangout buddies. Not so comfortable that if bodily noises escaped from either of them, they’d laugh over it.
There was something going on. Something indefinable that felt new and somewhat alarming so she ignored it as she ignored anything that threatened her continued apathy.
Lifting his hand from his side, he lowered his butt onto his heels and his hand moved towards her. Her mouth opened to take a quick breath and she stared at him, her eyes huge, confused, and unsure. This was much more than growing used to someone.
His hand touched her skin and her entire nervous system reacted. An electric bolt of feelings shot through her gut. His fingertips slowly drifted to her neck, and he put his index finger below her ear while his other fingers touched her hairline, and his thumb brushed the side of her mouth. Everything inside her reacted with instantaneous awareness. So many feelings began swirling inside her and the whites of her eyes revealed her crippling fear. What? What was he doing? And why couldn’t he do it faster?
Her blood rushed and her mouth went completely dry. Her whole body zeroed in on the sensation created by his warm fingertips on her skin. It was heavenly. The massage of a lifetime. Like butterfly wings fluttering on naked skin. The whisper that gives you chills. That’s how it felt.
Xavier’s gaze showed no fear, but suddenly seemed hard, sure and serious. He tipped his forehead onto hers and slowly lowered his mouth the few inches between them. Her gaze studied his face, greedily absorbing every detail. Was it panic? Or hope? She didn’t know. She watched his lips when they parted only an inch from hers. The way he gulped… did he have a lump of feelings lodged in his throat too? His breath was soft on her mouth and his lips hovered right above hers.
Pressing his fingers deeper into her skin, he whispered, “Karlee…” as if her name were an anthem. It sounded beautiful. Strange. Haunting.
Then his mouth landed on hers with the softest pressure. Like a snowflake falling into your mouth. It’s there, but light as the air. When his mouth grazed over hers, he pressed his fingertips into her skin at the exact same moment. Her heart thudded with excitement. Her ears rang like church bells. It all happened in barely a split second, from the slightest touch. So pristine and almost virginal. Suddenly everything that was dark and passionate and lacking inside her exploded. Her gut roiled with unfamiliar emotions she couldn’t name or explain. She never felt them before. As soon as that happened, he released her. She swallowed a big gulp and so did he. Eyes as huge as saucers on both of them, they slowly evaluated each other.
His sweet breath was hot and so close. He cupped her face with his hands and her eyeballs darted all around. Leaning much closer this time, without a whisper or hesitation, Xavier’s mouth fit over hers completely. She sighed and felt like she just discovered a piece of heaven. He pressed against her and she reciprocated, feeling the weight of each other, which was so new and different. Indescribable. Beyond anything usual, ordinary, friendly or lustful. They shared a soul kiss. Filled with feelings and intensity. They remained still for the kiss, and barely moved. They hardly touched but all points of contact were more than stimulating. The drama of something innovative and dynamic and different began to play out.
As his mouth pressed on hers, she welcomed the touch of his tongue when it slipped into her mouth. He kissed her tenderly as if it were the first kiss of true meaning and importance. It was just a kiss but it made her entire body aware of it. She turned hot and cold, to the point of shivering and then she went stock still before leaning and pushing against him. She massaged his shoulders and held his frame closer to her as he slipped his tongue beside hers, sliding over hers like fine silk. His mouth was as hot as fire but it did not burn her. Their slippery tongues dueled over and over. She sighed at the way it felt. Oh, how delightful it was. She groaned into his mouth as his attention on her continued. His lips framed hers in soft, liquid fire.
She leaned fully against him and her mouth captured his before their kiss took off like a NASA rocket into the stratosphere. Their twisting, sliding, slick tongues were the rocket fuel that powered an explosion of emotion inside her. The lava-hot flow traveled through her circulatory system and she was on fire. Mashing tongues mingling into the most mind-blowing sensation she could ever imagine. It was glorious and so easy. Her apathy vanished. This new activity engaged every fiber of her body and soul. It made her heart burst and her brain buzz. She could finally immerse herself totally into passion. All the stars and fame and riches that enhanced her life paled in comparison. This was the first thing to make her feel.
It lasted for seconds, then minutes, then forever. Time came to a standstill. Even physical space failed to matter anymore. The boundaries of ordinary and normal did not apply here.
The minutes ticked by along with the magical effects of their kiss. The chemistry ignited both of them into flames. His hands traveled over her scalp, descending to her neck where he pressed a bit to increase the pressure of their fervent mouths. The softest sigh, or was it a moan? escaped her and she relished the swirling ecstasy with closed eyes and a thumping heart. On and on, the kiss elevated her from her body, her brain, her room, her house, and her whole life.
Pushing his hands on her with gentle tugs, he lifted his lips from hers and kissed the side of her face. He tucked her neatly alongside him.
“I lied to you.” His tone sounded gravelly. Was he as affected as she was? Karlee’s throat felt so dry, if she tried to speak, all the volume would have been gone.
“Why?”
He chuckled and the motion made his chest bump and vibrate against her ear. The side of her face leaned against his shoulder. “Only you would ask about my motivation and not what I lied about. You’re always surprising me. I think that’s why I like you so much.”
“Then why did you lie to me? If you say you like me so much?”
“Because I was embarrassed and I didn’t want you to know the truth.”
“Now that you mentioned it, what is the truth?”
“You mean, what did I lie about?”
“Yeah. Duh.”
He released her and she tilted her face to look up at him. Staring down at his lap, he said in a wooden tone, “I think I have a good voice and I like to sing and know how to play the guitar. I’ve done so for as long as I can remember. It was my only escape, the one thing I lived for. I was always hiding out in an old, decrepit garden shed in my dad’s yard. I used to hide in there and play anything and everything I could manage to get my hands on.”
“So why did you lie about it?”
“You surprised me when you asked. I mean, not everyone notices a good voice from a bad one. So I imagined your experience with Zenith, the music you were weaned on, and knew I couldn’t compare to Rob and them. So I tried to be cool about it. You know? Not every idiot covers Rob’s music from his bedroom. Massacring his mastery.”
“That’s a stupid thing to lie about.”
He smiled, staring down at his feet. “Is it, Karlee Randall Williams?” His voice rolled over the famous last name of her step dad.
“So Rob is your idol? You want to be like him?”
“He’s just one of many. Not him specifically. I was thrilled and still am to meet him and hang out at his house with his daughter.”
“Is that why you kissed me?”
“No.” He grabbed the shoelace of his black canvas shoe and twirled it. “At least, I don’t think so. But I don’t want to be an asshole who does that. I’ve told you the truth of it from the start. I just don’t know how to like you when I’d have done anything when I was younger to be in the position where I find myself right this moment. How do I not blow it? I mean, I want to make sure that subconsciously I’m not trying to use you.”
“Are you?”
His head shook and his hair flopped forward with it. “I really like you.”
“Why?”
He had a small smile as he stared at his shoelace. “Never one to let me off the hook, are you? Probing me for the reason why, as always. Because you’re funny and dry and sarcastic and I get all your humor. You keep me on my toes and I’m never sure what you’ll say or how you’ll react. Just when I expect you’ll be making fun of me, you’re suddenly kind, sweet and supportive. And you hate small talk, so when you speak, it’s worth listening to. And you’re pretty too but you don’t know it. But your sweet look isn’t anything like who or what you are. I thought it was and I like knowing the fiery you a lot better.”
She kept her gaze glued on him as he spoke. Was it the unvarnished truth? His miserably glum look suggested it might be.
“But since I’m connected to Zenith, you see it as a drawback? Or you doubt that I’ll believe your motive for being here.”
“Yeah.”
“Well? Is this all about meeting Rob?”
“No. You mean, our kissing? Definitely not about Rob.”
“Well, that’s a relief. He’s taken.”
His head bobbed up her way and a slow smile replaced the almost tragically serious face.
“Making a joke?”
“Well, why not when you’re so bitterly serious.”
“Yeah? Well, now you know.”
She wondered what she knew or didn’t know so she asked, “So you cover Rob’s songs, huh?”
He looked away, but she saw the corners of his mouth beginning to smile. “You will never, ever hear me do a cover of one of Rob’s songs.”
“Why? Because you suck?” She tried to make her tone saccharine sweet as if she were complimenting him.
“Because you would never let me hear the end of it.”
“True. I wouldn’t. Unless you didn’t suck. Then I’d give you credit for having the guts to sing for me, considering I was weaned on Rob’s songs, to use your words.”
His shoulders shrugged forward as she spoke before he relaxed and let out a small bark of laughter. “You aren’t going to goad or dare me into it either.”
“Oh. So you do suck? I know that would be embarrassing.”
His shoulders pulled back, tensing and straightening his back. “Oh fuck, no. I don’t suck and you’d be shamed into an apology for ever doubting me.”
She smiled. That was the Xavier she most liked. Kidding and not acting uncomfortable that Rob was such a big deal between her and him.
But they’d kissed. Since they no longer needed to work together on the class project, they had to arrange to see each other. What next?
“So fine. What do we do now?”
He was quiet but glanced at her and away. “Did you want me to kiss you?”
“Did you want to?” she countered.
“I asked you first. Now who’s the brave one?”
“Fine. Yes. I did. It was pretty decent too.”
He whipped his face up to hers and gave her a once-over. Then he glared and squinted. “Bullshit. It was epic. And you know it.”
“It was… okay.” She shrugged and smiled, dipping her head and appearing to become fascinated with her socks.
“Whom do you normally kiss then? What do you consider good?”
She shrugged. Yawning. “Oh, the usual rock stars. Actors. Billionaire playboys. You know the glamour that I call my life.”
“Not. Ours was an epic kiss.”
She didn’t answer but grudgingly gave him a nudge. “Fine. Be still my beating heart.”
Her heart was beating fast. She wasn’t ready to admit that to him yet, or to herself.
But damn. Something happened here. Something really big and huge.