Page 69 of Xander

The enchantment was over the moment we got married. I became indifferent and let things slide, doing as he asked. When Henry suggested that I stay home, I accepted my fate much too easily. I created a self-inflicted prison and barely saw the sun. Like a willing sacrifice, I went into exile because I lost my motivation to fight and didn’t care what happened to me.

I didn’t have a reason for my apathy except that I no longer had the willpower to take a stand. The numbness started the day Xander walked out of my life. I lost the will to live life to its fullest—or at all—and couldn’t comprehend why.

I told myself I felt betrayed because Xander thought I was a gold digger. If I were being fully honest with myself, a part of me also resented him for acting like he cared but then discarding me like trash. Of course, I was wrong in feeling this way. Why would he have stuck around for my sake?

All the same, I couldn’t shake this irrational bitterness—Xander abandoned me in hell without a backward glance. Not even one phone call or email in three long years.

I knew these were unrealistic expectations. Xander had no obligation to me, and I didn’t want to sully his name to Jasper. I wanted to keep Jasper out of the family drama. For such a young age, he had already suffered too much, and I had a soft spot for him.

“Your father and I—” I hesitated, thinking desperately. Why not a partial truth? “We had an argument.”

His dark brows lifted. “What kind of argument?”

“Don’t worry about it, sweetie. It’s between your father and—wait. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in college.”

Jasper rolled his eyes as if such motherly statements were beneath me. “I flew in for winter break.”

Shoot. I forgot. My former home had been devoid of holiday joy. I spent Christmas alone this year since Jasper spent it with Xander, and Henry skipped town in favor of work.

If only I had known work meant mistress.

“I checked Xander’s socials and saw the team was at Secord’s—” He broke off at the sound of approaching footsteps. He turned just as Xander set two drinks on the table. For once, his eyes weren’t on me.

“Jasper,” he said. “Thought you weren’t coming into town until the weekend.”

“I flew in early.” Jasper seemed almost comically relieved to see his brother. “I stopped by to see you before visiting Mom.” Glancing at me warily, he added, “What’s going on? Jordan said she and Dad had a fight?”

“That’s putting it mildly. The sick fuck is back to his old tricks.” The sick fuck being my husband. “He brought his mistress to their house, then put a fist through Jordan’s face.”

Jasper swung around to look at me again, his eyes widening as he belatedly noticed the fading bruise I’d laboriously attempted to cover up with a heavy-duty foundation.

Oh my god, Xander, I thought, giving him a look of my own. Why did you tell him about what Henry did?

“That motherfucker,” Jasper said under his breath. “Did she hit him back?”

“I did,” Xander announced without remorse. “I broke his nose, then got Jordan out of there. Now he’s making pathetic empty threats.”

Jasper wore an unsure look of concern. Henry didn’t make empty threats.

“Can you tell me what he said to you?” I pressed since Xander had been tight-lipped about the exact exchange with his father.

At the same time, Jasper’s eyes flicked between us. “I don’t know what the fuck’s going on, but—” He nodded in the vague direction of a few girls who had noticed Xander’s presence and were creeping closer to listen. “—maybe we should talk about this later.”

Xander glanced at the girls with a look of disinterest. “Good point. Let’s talk about it at home,” he said.

“Sounds good.” Jasper hesitated a moment longer. “Uh. Good to see you, Jordan. I guess I’ll see you back at the house. I’m… uh, really sorry about Dad. He’s a fucking asshole.”

I couldn’t meet his gaze. There was no way Jasper bought what Xander was selling. Why would Xander come to my rescue after we hadn’t seen each other in years? He must know there was more to it.

“Thanks, sweetie.” I wanted to hug him but didn’t quite dare, and the look on Xander’s face was actually starting to scare me. “I’m sorry, too.”

Jasper provided the details of his visit with their mother and made plans to talk to Xander at the estate. While he listed the logistics, Xander kept stealing glances my way. The looks he cast me were marred with impatience, like he couldn’t wait for another second.

As soon as Jasper was out of the door, Xander reclaimed the seat next to mine. My fingertips seared as he purposefully grazed them when handing me a drink. He studied me quietly for a few moments. “We have to hang out here for a little while longer, and then we’re good to go.”

“No problem,” I told him, not minding the delay. Since I didn’t have to host or cater to others, it was the first time in years I was enjoying myself in a social setting.

“This is the bar I was telling you about,” he added in an undertone. “The one where the beer is under five bucks. The time warp.”