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THAT’S MY GIRL

XANDER

A year and four months ago

April

“I put the table out on the terrace. Do you need help with anything else?” I ask.

Bella moves around the kitchen, completely in her element, focusing all her attention on the meal she’s cooking.

“Babe?” I catch the skirt of her dress, halting her in her tracks.

She meets my gaze, and her eyebrows raise in surprise. “Did you say something?”

“I did.” I chuckle. “I set up the table out on the terrace so we can have dinner in the backyard. What else can I do to help?”

“You’re the best. Thank you so much.” A tender smile pulls at her full lips. “Could you take the dishes outside?”

She’s incredibly beautiful tonight. Her red dress fits her body perfectly, flattering her taut stomach and round breasts. It’s always difficult to keep my hands to myself, but when she looks like this, it’s nearly impossible.

I curve my hand around her waist. “Of course. What else? I feel kinda useless.”

“You’re not useless,” she chastises me with a frown. “You’ve helped so much. You even cut onions! I appreciate you.”

“I cried like a baby,” I murmur, pulling her closer. “Do I get a reward?”

She blinks, then bursts out laughing. “You already got it.”

“Just one kiss?” I pout, feigning disappointment. “That wasn’t enough.”

She narrows her eyes at me, but the expression breaks the moment I slide my hand to her ass. Her focus drifts to my mouth. One, two, three …

The ding of the oven shatters the moment.

I sigh, sulking for real this time.

She cups my face and kisses me quickly. “Thank you.”

“That wasn’t even a kiss,” I goad her. “You owe me a real one.”

“How about I give you a mind-blowing experience later, when it’s just us?” She grins over her shoulder on her way to the oven to check on her strawberry pie.

“Such as?” I keep my eyes trained on her, the warmth in my stomach expanding.

“You’ll need to agree first. Otherwise, I can’t promise anything.”

She’s taunting me, and I’m not too proud to admit it’s working.

“So? Ready to go in blind?”

“Do I have a choice?” I laugh, wiping my hands down my thighs. “I’m in. With you, I’ll go into the deepest of waters, the darkest of woods…wherever you want.”

“And that’s why they say if you meet a bad boy who is also a good man, you should never let him go.” She holds my gaze. “I’m not letting you go, Xander. Ever.”

“Bold words from someone who doesn’t even want to give her boyfriend a kiss. What if I scoop you up and take you to our bedroom? What then?”

“I’d love that, but”—she falls quiet, glancing at the clock on the wall—“we don’t have time.”

I inhale deeply, ready to object, but a knock at the door silences me. Our guests are here.

“Would you get that?” she asks with a smile.

As I open the front door, I’m greeted with a huge bouquet of beige and pink peonies. “Hey, Walker,” Ben says over the top of them.

“Hey.” I step back. “Come on in.”

“Tom and Mom will be here in thirty,” he says as he walks past me. “She forgot something at home and insisted one of us take her back to get it.”

“Okay.” I close the door. “How are you?”

“Good, I’m good.” Ben looks around, his expression tentative. “Where’s Bella?”

“In the kitchen.” I shove my hands into my pockets, flexing my muscles.

Based on his flat tone and the strange look on his face, I’m pretty sure the story about Millie forgetting something at home is made-up. Maybe Ben wants to get me alone?

“I’ll take you to her if you want,” I say, turning on my heel.

“Can I ask you something?”

Looks like I’m right.

Stomach tightening, I spin back around. “Of course.”

“Bella said your sister hired an interior designer.”

I clench my jaw. I’m still mad at myself for allowing Audrey to trick me.

Bella didn’t want anything big for her birthday, just dinner and a movie.

And we did all that…the next day. By the time I got home—after the meeting lasted well over an hour and after my sister insisted I take her home—Bella was barely able to keep her eyes open.

I carried her to bed and set the brochure for the vacation I booked us on the nightstand.

The worst part? I failed her for nothing. The meeting was pointless.

“Yeah…did Bella tell you she was upset with me?” I lick my lips, forcing myself to look Ben in the eye.

I know she was; the look on her face was louder than words.

I was an asshole.

He blinks at me. “Why would she be upset with you?”

“It was her birthday, and we had plans for dinner, but I went to that stupid meeting with Audrey.” The words rush out, one on top of the other. “I figured she said something to you about it.”

“Do you know your girlfriend at all? She’d never say anything bad about you. Ever.” Ben takes a deep breath. “She said the two of you spent the morning together, and that she spent the afternoon with Meg. It’s all good.”

“Then what?”

“I was kinda surprised Audrey didn’t ask Bella to help her design the nursery. Surely she’s seen how incredible your bathroom turned out.”

“Honestly, I’m glad Audrey didn’t ask her. My sister is difficult to work with, trust me.” Though it did cross my mind. It’s Audrey’s choice, of course, but she could’ve at least talked to Bella about it.

Ben shrugs. “Okay. Sorry for asking; it’s not my?—”

“Guys, what are you doing?” Bella comes to the foyer and stops short, her gaze darting between Ben and me.

“Hey.” He wraps an arm around her shoulder and kisses her cheek. “Happy birthday. Again.”

As she takes the bouquet, her face lights up. “Thank you so much.” Then her expression quickly drops into one of concern. “Where’s Aunt Millie? Tom?”

“They’re on their way. Don’t worry,” Ben says. “Do you need help with anything?”

Her eyes land on me. “Could you help Xander? We’re eating outside, so the table out there needs to be set.”

“Lead the way, Walker,” Ben orders, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I shake my head and walk toward the kitchen with him in tow.

After dinner, we sit in the backyard and chat amiably, drinks in hand. The day has been perfect. The atmosphere is pleasant, the conversation flowing. Milo quietly sleeps beside Bella’s chair.

With an arm draped over the back of Bella’s chair, my fingers drawing designs on her skin, I take in each person around the table. It feels good to see how happy they all make my girl.

Tom takes a sip of whiskey and squints at Ben. “Did you talk to Bella about her future?”

Her face falls, and her body stiffens. “What about my future? Did you find someone to replace me?”

“Of course not.” Ben shoots an angry glare in his fiancé’s direction.

My throat pricks with needles when I take a sip of my whiskey. The alcohol swirls around with the uneasiness in my gut.

“Then what?” Brows pinched, Bella looks from Ben to Tom and back.

“When we were in New York the other day, we visited a place that made me think of you,” Ben says slowly. “Have you ever heard of the New York School of Interior and Landscape Design?”

“I think so,” she hedges. “What about it?”

“They offer a one-year interior design program?—”

“You could earn a certificate, and the program often leads to other opportunities. They work with companies looking for interns too, so you could hone your skills with a reputable firm.” Tom is practically bouncing in his seat with excitement.

“You mentioned you’d considered going back to school.

Wouldn’t this be perfect? The program starts in September. ”

“You said it’s a year long? In New York?” she asks, her voice a little shaky.

“They have online classes too. I looked into it,” Ben says, sitting up straighter. “It would be an amazing opportunity for you. You love interior design, and you’ve got so much natural talent. What if you did more than just learn from books and magazines?”

“I don’t know.” She worries her bottom lip, her attention on the table in front of her as she wraps her fingers around the stem of her wineglass.

Fuck. My instinct is to snap at them, to shut them up. Don’t they see what they’re doing? Don’t they see how she’s shutting down? Retreating into her shell? She needs space and time to make decisions like this.

“Bella?” I put a hand on her thigh, drawing her attention to me. “It’s an idea, right? You can look at the school’s website, or any other schools. There are probably other options out there?—”

“There are!” Tom says, a little too brightly.

I bite back a growl of frustration. Read the fucking room, Tom.

“There’s a program at Syracuse,” he continues. “That one is even?—”

“New York City has more to offer,” Ben supplies.

“Stop, both of you,” Millie commands, drowning the space in silence. “Give her a breather. You’re making her uncomfortable.”

“Mom, but this opportunity?—”

“Could be great, I know. But you can’t expect Bella to decide right this instant. She has a life here. Xander. She has a lot of things to figure out before she can think about going back to school, whether in New York or not.”

“Sorry.” Tom tosses back the last of his drink.

“I’m sorry too.” Ben reaches over the table and takes Bella’s hand. “I was just excited. I guess I got a little ahead of myself. You have a life here to consider, and it’s not a decision you should make at your birthday dinner.”

“That’s okay.” She smiles at him warmly. “I’ll definitely look into it. If they have online classes, maybe it’s worth trying?”

“I’m sure it will be,” Millie says, her gaze softening. “But only if it’s something you want, not something you think we want for you.”

She nods, a bright smile stretching across her face. That’s my girl. Whatever she decides to do, I will always support her.

Be it Manhattan or Syracuse. Anything.