Some Other Way ( Macy/Xavier ff)

Chapter 2 - The dinner (Hudson)

—Hudson—

“Ow !” Xavier grimaces as he slides into his seat beside Macy, who’s blushing furiously for no reason.

Or wait, maybe there is a reason.

“You okay ?” Grace asks, a furrow between her brows, lips pinched with worry, and I love her even more for it, which I didn’t know was possible.

Xavier nods, but it’s obvious he’s lying, so obvious that it breaks my heart all over again, knowing that I was why all that happened to him.

Maybe if I had just tried a little bit harder. Maybe I would have been able to get through Grace, and none of this would have happened.

If only I had been brave enough to do that.

Bit all my guilt and self pity vanishes the moment Jaxon places his hand on Grace’s, giving it a comforting squeeze. Blood red blooms through my vision, the mating bond that exists between us squeezing painfully, but I clamp it down, bite my lower lip in an effort to keep my face straight. I was the one who fucked up. Might as well endure the pain.

Atleast I’m not sitting at one place and brooding like my poor excuse of a brother.

Xavier’s gaze travels around the table before settling at Macy, disgust written on his face. “Are you kidding me ? The day I’m released from the infirmary is a Wingo night ?!”

Macy laughs, delightful and brighter than before. And then it hits me.

The slight jump in her steps throughout the day, the no pouty face when she lost at yet another game of chess, the high pitched voice, bright eyes, small smile – it all made sense.

Xavier was back.

He wasn’t confined to the infirmary anymore, eating only what Marise told him to, doing what he was allowed to – and kissing Macy wasn’t one of them.

Macy slides the plate of cheesecake to him. “Hudson here has got our backs , right Hudson?”

I almost startle when she calls out my name. “Uhh..yeah totally.” I blabber.

Grace's eyes slide to mine, her warm browns locking in mine, silent question burning as bright as the bond between us. I ignore the feelings pooling in the pit of my stomach, instead directing my gaze away from hers – which is way harder than it sounds – and turn back to Macy, who’s laughing lightly at something Eden said. “There you go, Mace.” I say in a mock playful voice, winking at her.

“I could literally kiss you, Mace.” Xavier chuckles, and even I have to bite back my giggle at the embarrassed look on Macy’s face.

“What’s stopping you ?” Macy crosses her arms beneath her chest. I share a look with Flint – who’s currently got his arm around Luca’s shoulder – and raise my eyebrows in amusement.

Xavier, who had gone completely still for a moment or two, clears his throat awkwardly, then leans down to whisper something in Macy’s ear, and she melts. Like completely, totally melts, eyes closing and shoulders slumping forward. She mutters something incoherent, which makes Xavier snicker as he leans back in his chair, eyes focused more on his plate and less on the girl sitting beside him.

The rest of the dinner passes uneventfully with Macy and Xavier engaged in a bickering, Flint and Luca randomly throwing out jokes and Eden passing a comment on each one, and Jaxon and Grace as still as stone.

It’s me, and just me, who’s left confused, at loose ends.

Grace suddenly slams her fork at the table, fixes her brown eyes on Jaxon's hair, and says, “We need to talk.” With a voice that leaves no place for argument.

As soon as she speaks, Xavier suddenly looks at me, his green eyes turning into a molten puddle of lava, questions whispering themselves into my ear.

And then I realize – Life really is a fickle, fickle bitch.