Dare Me Not | 18+ ✔

16. Lost (Xander)

I'm completely fucked up, and I'm aware of that. Instead of working on my problem with Emma, I texted Blair and asked her to meet me at the café downtown after work. And instead of channeling my frustration about my relationship to healthier activity, I'm spewing my lava to my little sister right now. In my defense, I'm trying to save her from that Flitz asshole.

And what is coming back at me now? A furious sister.

"This isn't your goddamn business, Xandie," she says in a hardened tone. "I'm a legit adult, and I can date and fuck anyone I want."

"Language," I warn.

"I'm a legit adult who is allowed to swear whenever I please." Her voice is dangerously low. "You can use your pretentious girlfriend's tone at someone else, but not at me. And I don't understand why the hell I'm still sitting here."

I sit stiffly in my chair, ignoring the coffee that has gone cold in front of me. My eyes bore into my baby sister's pupils, that are now sending daggers at me. "You're sitting here because your big brother said so. We're not done talking."

"Fuck you. You're not my boss. You don't get to tell me shit," she replies, almost growling, before bending over to grab her bag from the café floor. "I'm done here."

In one swift movement, I jump and stand in front of her, blocking her way. "Blair–"

"Get the hell out of my way, Xandie. I'm not going to listen to you lecturing me on how to live my life. One Emma is enough, and I don't need my brother to be a stuck-up person too."

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry," I say, reaching out to touch her arms, but she takes a step backward. "I'm sorry if I came across as stuck up, pretentious, or whatever you call it. I'm just worried sick here, Blair. You're my only sister."

My words seem to affect her, proven by her softening eyes. "Then treat me like one."

"Alright. Just don't leave yet. Please."

Blair glowers at me for several seconds before nodding and plopping back in her chair. "You can tell me your concerns or whatever, but don't judge me. I mean it, Xandie."

"I promise I won't judge you," I say as I sit next to her. "I just want to know if you know what kind of person Roy Flitz is."

"I know he's bad news," she says, "but it's not like I'm going to marry him. He's just fun. And I kinda enjoy spending time with him."

It's hard to believe what she's said. After what happened that night, after the boy stranded her alone in that room, she should've known better than to keep seeing that son of a bitch. "You know that he's not only going out with you, right?"

She sucks in her breath, looking jittery for a hot moment. "I know. Or at least I've heard he's been fooling around."

"And you're okay with that?"

She shrugs, tucking her pink hair behind her ears. "I'm doing exactly the same, Xandie. So, I'm no hypocrite."

At this point, I want to scream but I have no idea at whom and what for. "It's an open relationship then?"

"Not exactly, but kinda. We never talked about it, though."

I frown deeper. Crude remarks are on the tip of my tongue, but I need to refrain from saying them, or she will leave and disappear for months. "Are you happy with the way he treats you?"

"Happy is a big word." She sighs and shifts her gaze to the cafe window next to our table. "Look, things aren't that great with him and me at the moment, just like you saw that night, but it's just a phase. When he's back in town, we will be okay again."