Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(48)

“Thank you,” is all I can manage to get out because I’m still reeling from the shock of the news of being pregnant.

I walk out of the training room, and the world around me floats by in a fog as I make my way through the maze of hallways to find the women’s locker room. I quickly change into my street clothes and carry my ring outfit outside with me.

“Need a car, Anna?” Freddie asks.

“Please,” I reply. Then, I lean against the wall next to Freddie.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Fine,” I lie. “Just tired.”

He nods. “A good night’s sleep will do wonders after a stressful day.”

A black SUV pulls up, and Freddie opens the back passenger door, allowing me to climb inside.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say.

“Yeah, okay. Bye.” He shuts the door, and the car begins to move.

I fish my cell phone out of my back pocket and frown when I notice there’s no new message from Xavier. I’m unable to stop myself from calling him.

His phone rings twice and then goes straight to voice mail.

“Xavier, if you don’t call me back tonight, I’ll know we’re finished.”

There’s so much more I could say, but I decide what I’ve said is clear and concise. If he doesn’t call back after that, I’ll have my answer.





Chapter 21


Xavier


The distinct aroma of gingerbread cookies fills the entire house, and it makes me smile. Today is going to be a good day. Whenever Mama makes her special cookies, no matter the time of year, she’s always in a good mood.

I step into the kitchen, and my gaze lands on a freshly showered woman wearing a yellow sundress with a grin on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.

Mama notices me watching her and waves me to come farther into the room. “Want to help me? I’m making gingerbread cookies, your favorite.”

I nod as she reaches down and pats my cheek. “Okay then, go get your hands washed. Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

I rush over to the sink and stand on my tiptoes to reach the faucet and soap. Mama says I’m tall for a seven-year-old and that I get my height from my father. I like when she tells me things about him because I don’t have many facts about him.

I hold my hands up for her inspection. “All clean.”

She nods and then gives me the cookie cutter in the shape of a little man. “You can cut out the next batch.”

She kisses my cheek and then nuzzles her nose in the spot her lips touched, causing me to giggle. It’s times like these when I’m truly happy.

More and more often, Mama’s been taking medicine to make her sadness go away, but today she’s happy without using it.

We are on our third batch of cookies when the front door of our apartment flies open, and my grandmother comes flouncing in, wearing her favorite flower dress, which means she came from church.

Grandmother steps into our tiny kitchen and removes the oversize hat from her head. “Gingerbread cookies in the middle of the summer, Gina? You do realize those are intended to be Christmas treats.”

Mama waves her off. “Who says? They’re Xavier’s favorite, so we can make them anytime we want. We don’t follow rules around here.”

Grandmother lifts her chin. “Rules maintain order. Without them, there would be chaos. Speaking of which, have you thought any more about what I said to you? I think you would do much better staying clean if you moved back home where I could keep an eye on you.”

“You mean, smother me, don’t you?” Mother retorts. “I’ve told you, Mother, I’m done living under your rules.”

“Gina, don’t be ridiculous. I don’t—”

“Yes, you do. You’ve always managed to chase off every man who’s ever been important to me, and then you try to control every aspect of my life.”

“I just want what’s best for you. Living life by the good book and finding a man who’s suitable to marry aren’t such bad things for me to want for my only daughter, is it?”

Mother sighs as she rolls out the last batch of dough before her. “No, I guess not, but all the men you pick for me are boring, and I don’t find them the least bit attractive.”

Grandmother’s nostrils flare. “And I suppose that monster who got you pregnant was better? Remind me where he is again. Oh, that’s right. He ran off and left you after his spawn was born.”

Mother slams her hands down hard onto the table. “His name is Xavier. He is your grandson, and if you can’t love him the same way you love me, you can forget about me ever moving back home with you.”

Grandmother’s cool blue eyes lock on to me, and I slink down, trying my best to become invisible to rid myself from the weight of her stare.

“By bringing him along with you, perhaps we’ll get to know one another better.”

That sounds nice, but I know she hates me. The only reason she tolerates me is because she loves Mama. When she’s not around, Grandmother calls me names and shoves me.

I tried to tell Mama about it once, but she explained to me that Grandmother has a right to discipline me when I misbehave while she’s not around. After that, I never told Mama about anything that went on when she left me alone with her. I would do my best to make sure I was never alone with Grandmother though.