Page 80 of Never To Suffer (The Hollywoodland #4)

BE MY BABY

THE RONETTES

I haven’t slept in two days, far too hyped up and nervous about the meeting with my first big investor.

There are two cups of coffee, an energy drink, and the bottle of water Theo added to the mix sitting next to me as I work, plugging away at the last pieces of coding I need to finish before the presentation.

I’ve run so many tests, trying to break anything I can so I can fix it before it breaks in front of the people that matter.

So far, it’s running smoother than I expected.

I’m about to start another pass through of the backend coding when the plate touches down on the table. I glance up from my spot on the floor, listening to the growl that emanates from my stomach.

“Baby, you need a break and some food. You’ve been at the coffee table for days without sleep, but I’m not going to let you starve, too.”

“I’m almost done. I’ll stop in a bit.”

“You said that last night, around eight hours ago. You have a meeting tomorrow. You can’t go into that running on caffeine alone. Come on, sit up here and have lunch with me.”

“Lunch? Shit, what time is it?” I haven’t checked a clock since sometime around six. This morning, but now the sun sits high in the sky.

“Time for you to stop. Put it away. If it’s not fixed by now, you’re not going to get it fixed.

You should practice what you’re going to say tomorrow, but more importantly, you need to take care of yourself.

” He leans forward, closing the lid of the laptop as he glares at me.

“Or, better yet, let me take care of you.”

I huff out a slow breath and climb up from the floor, my back cracking in places I don’t think should crack.

At least the ribs have mostly healed. He pulls me down into his arms and we lay there for a while, enjoying each other’s company—no words or worries.

Dani and I don’t do this much. She doesn’t do well with silence.

“You know you’re going to do great, right?” Theo says before sleep takes me.

“I dunno. I mean, maybe. There are bugs in the system and I’m not sure?—”

“There are no bugs, Xander. It’s a prototype, it’s not meant to be perfect.

Isn’t the point of setting up this meeting to plan on ways to attract backers?

” I nod. He sighs. “You and Dani are so good and yet so toxic for each other for this exact reason. Neither of you let go of your pride long enough to see that you need help.”

I pick my head up and smile at him. “I won’t, I promise.

I’m beyond ready to let this thing go and go back to video games and jerking off all day for a few months.

” His laugh rumbles in his chest. It brings out the lines around his mouth and eyes and makes him look stunning.

I shimmy up his body and the kissing starts.

No rush, no need to hurry into the bedroom or rip each other’s clothes off.

We can do that later, for now, it’s just tastes and teases.

“I got you something.”

“Does it have tentacles and a demonic backstory like Dani’s?”

“She told you about that?”

“Doc, she’s used it on me.” He laughs again, shaking his head until I leave a dozen more kisses on his lips. He tastes like coffee and caramel, his drink of choice. “So, what is it?”

His hand dips under the couch cushion that’s holding his head up, pulling out a small red box.

It’s worn and tattered, traces of velvet clinging on in a last-ditch effort to remind people what the box had once looked like.

He opens the box, but it’s facing him so I can’t see what’s inside, only the glimmer of tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

The second he turns the box around, I’m pretty sure my heart stops. I’ve seen the ring before on the man who wore it last. I can’t take my eyes off it as my mind goes blank and eyes well with tears.

“Xander, we haven’t been together long—six months—but it doesn’t need to be long when you know the person is right.

You’ve brought back a spark I didn’t think could ever catch again and turned it into a raging fire that could swallow the sun.

” He licks his lips, and I swipe away the tear from his cheek.

“I don’t care how the presentation goes tomorrow.

I don’t care if you come back with promises of millions, or a rejection and months more work ahead of you. I just want you to come back. Always.”

“I… We…”

He takes the ring out of the box and slips it over my finger. It fits like it was made for me. Maybe he’s right, maybe his lost love’s ghost is inside of me. Reincarnation, but well after I was born.

“I don’t care if it’s official or only between us, just say yes. Please?”

“Yeah. I mean, yes. I mean, fuck yes!”

He pulls my face to his and we clash so hard we lose our balance and fall off the couch, still kissing. Still laughing. Still so deeply in love.

“I can’t wait to show Dani.” My face drops and panic comes rushing back. “Shit, what if this pisses her off again?”

“I already told her about it. Sky knew first. I hid the ring up high and that shit saw it. Both of them were over the moon happy. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re waiting in the other room for you, or listening in on us right now.”

I hurry to my knees and peek over the top of the couch, and sure enough, they’re at the doorway, waving and giving me a thumbs up.

“Well, come over here, jerks. I’m pretty sure I just got engaged!”

Why the hell did nature decide an appropriate response to stress needed to involve sweating?

That only makes it worse, and yet that’s the response evolution decided to keep around instead of adapting to produce the scent of lavender or something relaxing?

Sometimes, I agree with Skylar’s concept when they wax on and on about Loki being the true god of the universe we live in.

It explains so damn much about anatomy and bodily functions.

I wipe my hand on my pants for the tenth time when my phone buzzes in my pocket.

I glance up at the door. Maybe I should walk out, maybe this was a terrible idea.

Pulling it out and trying to check without looking like I’m playing on my phone is difficult, but I pull it off.

It’s worth the risk as I stare down at a picture of the people I love holding a sign that says, ‘You’ve got this, baby! ’

It couldn’t come at a better time.

“You must be Xander Maxwell.” A tall guy with a goatee and glasses says as he heads toward me. I stand up, taking his hand when offered. “I’m Miguel. Come on up, we’ve got the team ready for you.”

“The team? Great, that’s…good.”

“Hey, I wanted to ask, are you related to the Maxwells?”

“Uhm, will it help or hinder this presentation?”

“Neither.”

“Okay, yeah. I’m their son. Sort of.”

He stops, turning to give me a look I’ve seen too many times in my life. “Are they not interested? I assume you’d give them first denial?”

“I didn’t. I didn’t give them anything, honestly. They’re in the dark about the project, and I don’t want them involved in any way. Long story, but we're kind of estranged.”

He smirks, swipes his badge, and presses the button. I’m expecting him to tell me to leave, to say I’m an idiot and toss me out. “Ballsy. I like that. Sorry to hear about the family troubles, but it happens to the best of us.”

“Yeah? I’m thinking of a name change, to keep it separated.”

“Oh, yeah? Probably a solid move. What are you thinking?”

“Not sure.” My finger brushes against the phone in my pocket. “I've been playing around with Clay and Silva.”

He thinks it over as the elevator climbs to the top of the high-rise, and as we walk toward the conference room, he turns. “What about Silva Clay Enterprises? There’s a ring to it, and it flows better as a name with Silva reference first.” He winks and holds the door open for me.

“Yeah, it does.”

“Relax, kid. By the way, nice suit.”

I don’t text them until I’m almost back at our building, telling them nothing other than I’ll be up shortly.

I pop the trunk on Theo’s car and pull the bag out, careful to shove something between the bottles so they don’t clank around as I stick them into my backpack.

As I expected them to be, Dani, Theo, and Skylar are all standing outside of our doors.

“Oh, honeybee,” Dani comes to me first, throwing her arms around me as I keep my head down. I’m surprised she doesn’t catch on that I’m faking it and hiding my smile.

“It’s cool,” I choke out. “I, uhm, grabbed lunch on the way back. Not in the mood to go out.”

Skylar reaches around me and lifts the backpack, trying to take it off my shoulders. “Dude, what the hell do you have in here? A pound of bricks? I thought you said you stopped for lunch?”

“It’s nothing.” I shrug. “A couple of bottles of champagne to celebrate that they’re on board to fund the project.” They all step away from me and I pick my head up. “I’m going to talk to Laurie’s guy tomorrow about contract negotiations. But they loved the concept. They’re all in.”

“Ahhh!” Dani screams as they all hug me.

Their contagious excitement has me laughing and hugging them back.

I’m not a fuckup. For the first time in a long time, I’m overwhelmed by the notion I’ve done something right, and now I’m being rewarded for it.

Not for my name, or what my parents have done with their lives, but for me, for my ideas.

And I have a family to share it with, a family that’s proud of me and believed in me from the beginning. A family that doesn’t give a shit about the content I’ll be working with or judge me for the things I like. In fact, they love me and all my weird little kinks.

“Hey Xan,” Skylar says, biting their lip nervously. “I was, uhm—I asked Dani first, but what if…uhm…”

“They want to do a video with you!” Dani blurts out, causing Theo to choke and Skylar to blush.

“What? Seriously? Like, for the site?” I’m in shock. “You know what that means, right? I mean, the only way to hide your identity involves, like, a full body suit or something.”

“No hiding. One stipulation.” I narrow my eyes, curiosity eating away at me. “I want it to be live. I want to know people are watching us.”

“Well look at that,” Theo teases. “You’ve finally found a way to take care of that exhibitionist streak without the cops coming after you for indecent exposure. You were getting pretty close on stage, my friend.”

“I’m not your friend, Theo,” Skylar laughs. “I’m your lover, lover.”

“Yes, to that request, Sky. In fact, we’re going to be the first live stream for the site! Now come on, I’m starving.”

Dani kisses my cheek. “I’m going to watch the hell out of that live stream while Theo eats me out. But yeah, let’s get inside. Your man has been stress-baking since you left, and we have so much food right now!”