15. Xavier

15

XAVIER

N yx has been quieter than ever since we got back from Napa .

We had a good time, visited various vineyards, I took her to my favorite restaurants in the area, and every night I fucked her in a different spot of the house.

But once we got back, it felt as though she retreated into herself. Her typical snark and sarcasm seems to have been replaced with a more demure personality.

" Is everything okay?" I ask as we walk around Central Park on Saturday morning, coffees in hand.

" Yeah , why?"

I point at a bench along the path, and she follows my lead. " I feel like something has been off since we got back. If this isn't something you're interested in anymore, I need you to say it."

She raises her eyebrow and a smirk plants itself on her face. " If I'm not interested in what anymore?"

" I know we haven't had an official discussion about it, but we spend damn near every day together and when we aren't together, I'm thinking about the next time I'll get to see you. At my age, calling someone my girlfriend sounds childish, but if I were to call you anything, it would be that."

" I thought if you were to call me anything, it would be your favorite little whore." She looks at me out of the corner of her eye while finishing the last of her latte.

" That too," I snort. " But that being said, if all of this is too much—or if you're not where I am, I'd rather you tell me now."

" It's not that." She shifts in her seat. " It's the exact opposite. I don't want this to end, but…" her words drift off.

" What is it?"

She sighs. " I don't know how to be a girlfriend. And I don't want to fuck it all up. There's still so much you don't know about me."

" The only way you could fuck it up is by not being yourself."

" That's what I'm worried about."

" Don't be. I'm not asking you to be anyone but you."

" Okay ." She gives me a small smile, and I lean over to kiss her. I look down at the watch on my wrist. The usual one I wear day-to-day got misplaced a little while ago and has yet to turn up.

" How about we stay in this evening?"

" Fucking finally," she says dramatically. " We can put that theater room to good use."

" Whatever you want, hurricane. But I've got to head over to the office for a little while."

She stares at me, puzzled. " On a Saturday ?"

" I know, but there's going to be a press conference on Monday morning, and we need all hands on deck to be prepared. It shouldn't take long, though." She nods with understanding and it makes me feel worse about lying to her.

" Take this." I pull out the key to my home and hand it to her. I can see the look of surprise written all over her face.

" You know, some people might say that giving your girlfriend a key this early is jumping the gun."

" When I know what I want, I'm all in. I don't like to play games," I assure her. " I'll meet you back at my place and we'll have the movie marathon of your dreams."

" With unlimited popcorn?"

" With unlimited popcorn," I confirm.

" Okay , deal."

We walk out of the park together, and when she turns in the direction of my apartment, I pull out my phone and call Levi . " I'm on my way."

When I step into my office, my PI is already sitting on a couch, lounging with a drink in hand.

" I'm glad you're comfortable," I grumble. " Do you have it?"

He tosses a file down on the coffee table, and I pick it up, scanning its contents. I already knew what I would find. It's not entirely surprising, but that doesn't stop the sinking feeling in my gut.

" How's the father and son reunion shaping up?"

I purse my lips. I'm as eager to talk about that as I am to have a bullet in my head. " It's not."

" You changed your mind?"

" No . There's just been a roadblock." I shut the folder, no longer wanting to look at it. " It'll be resolved soon, though."

When I get home, I find Nyx in the living room. Her long hair is swept up in a ponytail and she's in a matching black tracksuit. Her favorite color to wear.

" That was quick!"

" As promised." I smile, heading up the stairs to my office.

" Did you get everything done?"

" For the most part, yes. There are a few things that still need to be sorted out, but that can wait for after the weekend."

" Perfect . Okay , so I've decided on today's movie line up."

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

" We're watching all of the Halloween movies!"

" Slasher films? What happened to classic rom-coms?"

" Boy meets girl, they fall in love, the end. Puke . Those are so boring. Besides , it's spooky season. It's only right."

" Whatever you want, hurricane. I'll watch every damn horror movie with you."

" That's the spirit. I'll start making the popcorn and you can change into something more comfortable." She looks me up and down appreciatively. " Preferably gray sweatpants."

I chuckle as I continue up the stairs. I tuck the file Levi gave me into my desk drawer. Until I decide what I'm going to do, it's out of sight, out of mind.

Quickly , I change then head back down to Nyx .

She hands me a bowl of popcorn. " We're ready to go."

We sit on one of the reclining loveseats. " I'm happy we talked today. I've been in my head over the last few days. I'm sorry if I gave you any reason to doubt me. You know you're who I want, right?"

I stare into the piercing blue eyes I've been enamored with from the very beginning.

" I know." My stomach twists as I press my lips against her forehead. " You're who I want, too."

I've seen a few of these movies before, but by the time we're halfway through the third one I have to ask, " I mean, why don't these people just leave Haddonfield ? They're all pretty much asking to be murdered at this point."

" I think that's the point. No one ever thinks it'll be their fate. It's almost comical. We always think we're immune to the bad things that could happen to us. Even when they're staring us right in the face."

" I guess so," I murmur. " You never really know who or what you're dealing with."

She faces me, her eyes inquisitive. " True . And the fact that it's a fictional movie. It wouldn't be much fun to watch if everyone in town cleared out."

Nyx glances down at her bowl of popcorn. " Looks like it's time for a refill. I'll be right back."

When she reaches the door of the theater room, she turns back and faces me with a small smile. " Don't get scared while I'm gone."