Night Fury: Second Act by Belle Aurora Page B

tight ly. “I’m going to miss you. Who’s going to feed me soggy cereal now?”
    He puffs out a breath I can only assume is an attempt at laughter and pats my hand with his wrist. I press my lips to his cheek and try to ignore the thickness in my throat and the tingling in the bridge of my nose.
    I still have Ari. I guess that’s something.
    Sniffling, I tell him, “Don’t you let anyone tell you you’re different or that something’s wrong with you. You’re exceptional. You’re smart. And you’re funny. You’ll always have a friend in me, buddy. Always. If you ever need anything, you find a way to get to me.” Standing, I pat his shoulder, “You come visit me when you can.”
    My legs straighten and the hairs at the back of my neck stand. I turn and see Xavier in the doorway, holding a black duffle bag. He looks different today. Smartly dressed in blue jeans, a black tee and sneakers. Cleanly shaven, his hair is styled as neatly as I’ve seen it. His eyes drift down to his brother then back up to me. With a jerk of his chin, he places the bag on the ground and opens his arms.
    This is a bad idea.
    It’s a little known fact that when a woman is emotional, a hug usually tips the scale from I’m okay to dear God, will the pain ever stop .
    But I need to be in those arms.
    My feet move with a mind of their own till I’m safely cocooned in Xavier’s hold. He wraps one arm around my waist and strokes my arm with the other while resting his chin on my head. There’s something profoundly gentle about this hard man.
    He speaks so quietly, my ears strain to hear him. “I know you’re going to think this is bullshit , but you helped me through this.” I bury my nose into his collarbone. I’m rewarded with a gentle squeeze. “You’re a pistol, Cat. I don’t know what I would’ve done without some little spoilt princess to argue with. Ouch!” He jumps away from me, chuckling, after I pinch the skin at his waist.
    Grinning from ear to ear, he bites the tip of his tongue and I don’t even try to hide my returning smile. “Well, seems I have something of a magnetic effect towards assholes , so this friendship was bound to happen.”
    His amused gaze turns soft. “You’re pretty cool, you know, for a nun and all.”
    I can’t help but tease. “Thought I was a pistol.”
    His lip tilts at the corner. “ Yeah, we already went through this. You’re a pistol all right. But only for me.”
    My face heats.
    Jesus, Mary and Joseph ! When did our teasing become blatant flirting?
    And why do I want to flirt back?
    It’s probably been a long time since he’s been with a woman. You know, with prison and all. The last time he probably went on a date was with a guy names Bob in the last toilet stall.
    My body shudders at the thought.
    Standing close to him, I can’t help but reach out and touch the back of his hand. “You ever need an escape, you come see me.”
    He looks up and away from me. “I can’t always come here when I’ve got a problem, Cat. I need to learn to deal with things. I mean, fuck , I’m an adult. I have to start acting like one.”
    My fingers curl around his. I look him dead in the eye and repeat firmly, “If you ever need anything , come see us.” He rolls his eyes and I know he’s about to argue with me, so I fight dirty. “Please. For Tomas’s sake.”
    His eyes narrow to slits. “When you fight, you fuckin’ fight .” He shakes his head and mutters, “Pistol.”
    Still holding onto him, I turn to watch the rocking back of a guy I’ve come to have strong feelings for. Although we can’t communicate well, we get by okay. I make him smile. He makes me laugh. He has all the affection in the world saved up for me. And I would give him all of mine if I felt I had it in me to give.
    Xavier breaks my thoughts with, “He’s different with you.”
    “I know.” My response is neither triumph nor gloating. My response is humbled and humbling.
    His fingers play with mine. “I spent