Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(18)

Anna sighs across from me, dragging my attention back to her.

“Something wrong, beautiful?”

The way she’s chewing on the corner of her lower lip is a telltale sign that she’s nervous. Whatever is on her mind, she’s scared to talk to me about it, which has my brain running wild with possibilities.

“Um . . .” She swallows hard, and her lips pull into a tight line. “There was one more thing Vicky told me when she called.”

“What was that?”

Anna twists her lips. “They want to start that love-triangle story between me and Rex to get things geared up for your return.”

My fingers ball into fists, and I thump one fist on the table, causing Anna to jump. “No. I told you before, that’s not f*cking happening. You call Vicky back and tell her that you quit.”

“You know I can’t do that,” she whispers. “I need this job. We need the money, and above all else, I don’t want to lose the privilege of going on the road with you when your suspension is over.”

“I don’t give a shit about the money, Anna. Those motherf*ckers are not going to use you against me. I won’t let that shit happen.”

“Xavier—”

“No, Anna,” I snap, rage filling every inch of me. “You’re not going.”

“Yes, I am,” she argues. “I told you earlier to trust me. If you would take a moment and calm down—”

“You’re mine! You. Are. Mine.”

Her eyes widen. “I’m not a possession to be controlled. I came to Detroit to get away from one man who wanted to control my life. Don’t make me leave you, too, Xavier.”

The monster inside me rears its ugly head, and before I say something to Anna that I don’t mean, I shove myself out of the booth.

“Where are you going?” Anna asks.

I can’t answer her as I storm out of the diner. I can’t even look at her right now because I don’t understand how she doesn’t see my side on this. I can’t have Rex trying to touch her without me there to stop him. I won’t allow him to take her away from me—ever.





Chapter 8


Anna


“Xavier!” Nettie yells his name as he shoves the front door open and disappears through it. She turns back to me, a frown etched into her face, as she carries food to my table. She sets a plate of pancakes in front of me. “I swear, that boy has a temper and a half on him. What’s he so pissed for?”

I sigh as I stare at the plate she puts in front of Xavier’s now empty seat. “Tension wants me to pretend to be Rex’s girlfriend to up the angst for Xavier’s return to the show. They think a love triangle will get the crowd behind their rivalry.”

Nettie leans her hip against the side of the booth. “I see where my boy would take issue with that. He’s used to things he loves being taken away from him.”

It breaks my heart that he would believe that for one second. “He should realize that I’m not going anywhere.”

She tilts her head as she stares down at me. “It’s hard to trust something good is going to stay in your life when you’ve been through what he has. He’s never had something worth losing, like what he has with you. Be patient with him. I know it’s hard, but if you love him, be there for him. He’s waiting for the bottom to fall out of your relationship, for you to leave him like his mama did.”

“It’s awful—what happened with his mother. The story he told me was the most heart-wrenching thing I’ve heard in my life. I can’t imagine waking up in your dead mother’s arms. What that must’ve done to him as a little boy—”

Nettie’s gray eyebrows shoot up. “He told you about that?”

I nod. “I don’t think he really wanted to. He had a nightmare, and it all just sort of came out.”

“Well, honey, if he’s opened up to you that much, you’re really bringing him out of the darkness where he has kept himself secluded. It took years before he let me in. He needs you. Don’t give up on him, especially now that he’s back in that house. Being there is going to test your relationship.” Nettie stares down at Xavier’s plate. “I’ll get this boxed up and have Carl give you a ride. He has a key to the house.”

After Nettie boxes everything up, Carl struts over to me and twirls his car keys around his index finger. “Ready, girl?”

I follow Carl through the diner and eventually out the back door to the parking lot where an old dark blue Cutlass is sitting under the streetlight. He walks over to it, and then he manually unlocks the passenger door and opens it. I haven’t been in a car that didn’t have automatic locks before.

I slip into the seat, and I am instantly surprised by how well kept the vehicle is. While it’s dated, it still appears to be brand-new.

I run my hand along the dashboard as Carl gets behind the wheel. “This car is in great shape. What year is it?”

“Nineteen eighty-eight. It’s a classic, like me.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

I laugh as he pulls out of the parking lot and onto the main road. The song playing on the radio reminds me of those old R&B songs that Father used to play before he turned his life over to Jesus. I haven’t heard this kind of music since then. When Father decided to give his life over to the Lord, he banished all music in our house, except for secular songs, so my exposure to anything other than that is limited.