Chasing the Sun

Chapter 6.

Chapter 6. 

"Well that was scary". Xavier said, steering the car on the road. 

"What? I thought Marcus had always made it clear how he felt about me. He is always over protective". Caroline smiled. It was all new to see Marcus gushing over her and not to forget it was his best friend they were talking about. He was ready to sacrifice their friendship over his love for Caroline. 

"Yeah but.. Can I ask one thing"? He was in deep thoughts. 

"Anything". She replied in a calm tone. 

"About what Angelina said to you…".

"Yeah. I have been crushing on you since the first time Angelina took me to meet Marcus and I saw you". She kept her gaze on the road. She knew it was coming. 

"Why you never said anything"? He was truly shocked at the revelation. 

"What was there to say about Xav. You were always so aloof and distant. And then i always saw you with girls on your arm. So i kept it to myself". Caroline told him with a hint of sadness in her voice. No matter how many times she said that his past didnt matter to her, it did. 

"I am sorry baby. Only if I knew… I never crossed the line because I thought I couldn't approach you. Especially with Marcus. I cannot undo my past. I cannot undo how many times I hurt you without knowing. But I will not make any such mistakes in the future". Xavier said, holding her hand to his lips. 

"I know Xavier. I am here. I won't leave you until and unless you break my trust". Caroline smiled. She had realized that Xavier was even more insecure than her. Maybe it was his past haunting him. He was scared how she would react if she came face to face with someone from his past. Honestly, she had no idea how she would react to it. 

The car stopped at a remodeled warehouse building. She looked at Xavier with a questioning gaze. Xavier took a deep breath before turning to her. 

"Would you like to join me for a cup of coffee"? He asked with a hope that she would say yes because he didn't ask her before bringing her here. 

"Coffee"? She raised her eyebrows but nodded anyway. She had never been to his place. Well he didn't either. 

Xavier opened his door and walked to open the door for Caroline, holding out his hand for her. 

"This is kind of secluded". She looked around.

"Not that secluded to say. I have a neighborhood but I don't like to mingle with anyone so I get much required privacy". He told her as he unlocked the door by punching a code at the panel. Caroline stepped in behind him and her mouth opened in an awe when Xavier flicked the lights on. 

The door opened to a lounge. A high roof lounge in beige and fawns. The L shaped big couches were brown. The coffee table was cut out from a big trunk of wood. Raw yet matching the theme. She had never seen a male place so light in colors. The windows were wall to wall glass. 

To the left of the door was a kitchen. An open island style kitchen with the center stove setting. She loved the white cabinets. Marble drawers with transparent tops. The sitting table could accommodate 8 people in a round setting. 

There was a hallway from the lounge that connected 3 rooms. An Office for Xavier to work from home. A gym, equipped with the latest workout system. And a third room as a guest room with an attached bath. 

"Come". Xavier held her hand to the spiral stairs that led to the first floor. There was an open library to the right of the stairs. Shelves and racks filled with books on all topics. There were 2 comfortable chairs by the wall and a center round table. She noticed 2 books on the table, put upside down as if the reader just left them open.