Vox: A FanFic/X-Reader

Chapter Nine

After a late leisurely breakfast and more time spent naked, we finally leave the room. I stare at him thinking I shouldn't put this much faith in him. After all, what do I know? I don't ask questions. I exist and let live. But then I catch him looking at me the same way I'm looking at him—hesitant and unsure. It makes me want to take the shadows out of his eyes. If he breaks my heart, I'll just sort myself out later. Sometimes you only get one chance at something. Best make use of it when you can. And I will.

"The friend you met last night is asking if we'll have lunch with them. Or we can go do our own thing and eat with them tomorrow?"

"It's up to you," I tell him.

He drapes an arm around my shoulders and pulls me back to his chest. "I'd like it if you would decide. I want you to meet them but tomorrow is good too. I'm happy to keep you to myself." He rubs his prickly chin against my neck and I laugh.

"Tomorrow then. Let's do our thing one more day."

"You're worried about meeting them?

"A little. What if they hate me?"

"How could they?" He turns me around, gathers my hair behind my shoulders in his hand and tugs my hair back. "You don't have to. They're curious about you because they're aware we've talked for months. They're not used to seeing me so happy. I'm broody, or was."

I smile because he wants me to meet them. For us to all get along. It's important to him. "Okay. I'm being selfish with you because of limited time, but you're right and I'm curious too."

He wraps both arms around my shoulders, and I lean against him as I circle my arms around his waist. "Thank you, Dea."

"Dea?"

"Goddess."

"Hmm, I like it."

"Thought you might."

"See if they have room for two more."

***

The restaurant is downtown. It's elite and swanky—probably needs a reservation. Their friend that hooked them up knows someone. We enter wearing t-shirts, jeans, and Docs.

"Label lunch," he tells the hostess and we breeze by.

In the back room, he opens the door and the eight men and three women quieten. "Yup, I'm alive. Now piss off. There won't be a Q&A."

They laugh, except for one of the women who looks angry. Uh oh, there's always one.

"She's with me and assuming we make it through tomorrow, you'll be seeing a lot more of her." More laughs fill the room. I stare at him confused, hoping he'll explain later. I won't call him out for it now.

"Good to see you again. And with pants!" The tall one says.

"Nice to see you too, nosy," I sass.

A waitress comes in carrying drinks and passes them out. She asks for our drink order.

Lively conversation booms around us and I squeeze his hand. "I'll be right back." I kiss his cheek and move to exit, but he grabs my hand and pulls me back in, kissing me on the lips. The peanut gallery starts in and I leave them to it for the bathroom.

In the bathroom, I scoot up on the edge of the sink and text my family and friends, reassuring everyone I'm alive and well, despite the usual barrage of photos and videos. I lie and tell them the battery was too low yesterday.

The door opens and the angry woman walks in, scoffing at me and entering the stall. When she's done she comes to the sink and glares at me. "I know what you're doing."