I replied. “We don’t need to be friends, but we can still be cordial for the sake of Karla and Trevor.” Before he could respond, I added, “Besides, Brant is a small town. There’s no need to make enemies where there doesn’t need to be.”
He ran his hands through his hair again, a nervous trait, maybe. The look he gave me was one of pure frustration. “I was having a shitty day, Fallon,” he said as a way of an explanation. “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
I decided to take the coward’s way out. “Look, Xander, it’s been a long goddamn week,” I said, ignoring his explanation. “I just want to get some rest before I have to tackle the next phase of my life on Monday.” I wasn’t necessarily lying.
He regarded me with eyes too pretty to belong on a man. “Okay, Fallon,” he replied. “I’ll give you this, but this isn’t over.”
Wow.
I cocked my head at him trying to understand his game. “Which is it, Xander?”
“Which is what?” he growled.
“Are you the asshole who treated a stranger like shit? Are you the remorseful guy who wants to make things right? Or are you a dick who doesn’t like to be questioned?” I challenged. “Because I gotta tell you, your many personalities are giving me whiplash.”
Xander stepped to me and I should probably take exception but for the fact that, if I was going to face down a stalker, I needed to toughen up. “I’m all three, Fallon,” he snapped. “I’m the guy who had a shitty day, and acted like an asshole, but felt like shit afterwards and came to apologize. I’m also the guy who has no problem being a dick if it means people are safe.” Xander turned and slammed the door behind before I could comment on his little rant.
What a day.
What a goddamn disaster.
Chapter 12
Xander~
“Well, at least she didn’t murder you on the spot.” As comforting as that should have sounded, it didn’t. It was Sunday afternoon and Trevor was helping me with my shed. I didn’t need the help, so I suspected he was here checking on me more than anything else.
I turned to side-eye the man. I had just finished telling him about the fight or not fight or whatever the fuck it was between me and Fallon yesterday. “Yeah, Trev,” I said drolly, “that’s a great plus.”
He finished hammering the plank nails. “Xander, you were a fucking dick to her,” he replied incredulously. “You’re lucky you’re in one piece, considering Karla would have stood back and let her murder you.”
I turned the saw back on to drown the motherfucker out, but he came over, yanked on the cord, and unplugged it. “Hey, asshole! Don’t be doing that. It’s dangerous,” I grumbled.
He didn’t listen. He just stood there with his arms folded over his chest. “I’ll tell you what’s dangerous, Xan, and that’s two pissed off women. Forget a damn power saw.”
I winced because I didn’t like the idea of Karla being pissed at me. “Is Karla really pissed at me?”
Trevor let out a sigh. “No. I think she’s more disappointed than anything.”
The punch to the gut was real. “Jesus, Trevor, that’s worse!”
He just shrugged a shoulder. “Dude, don’t yell at me. I’m not the one who acted like a jackass.”
Pushing work to the side, I looked at my friend and asked the question I was hoping he had the answer to. “How do I fix this, Trev?”
“Come on, man,” he said sympathetically. “You know Karla won’t stay mad-”
“I mean with Fallon,” I corrected. I knew Karla wouldn’t stay mad at me forever, but it’s because I had history with her working on my side. Karla knew I was a nice guy for the most part. She wouldn’t believe the worst of me and hold on to that. Fallon on the other hand…
Trevor’s brows shot up. “Fallon?”
“Yes. Fallon. You dick,” I snapped, my voice brittle.
“Well, well, well,” he chuckled.
The dick.
“I didn’t think you cared that much,” he taunted. “You know, seeing as how she’s a gold-digging attention seeker, and all.” My face must have conveyed what I thought about his remark because he put his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, man. I couldn’t help myself.”
“I already feel like shit as it is, Trev. Can you just not?” I knew I sounded like a whining brat, but I hadn’t slept a wink last night, worried about how to make shit right with that girl.
Trevor took mercy on me. “Sorry, Xan,” he