All's Fair in Love and Business: Xavier's Story

Ch. 29

Its been two weeks. I haven't seen or heard from Xavier and to be honest its been hard, but not impossible to get through. I'm not hurting as bad as I was the first time we broke up. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe because I always treated our relationship as temporary or maybe I've grown up enough to realize that life goes on. I didn't even tell Elizabeth until last week, only after Eva called and told her. The first week consisted of a lot of reflection and quietly licking my wounds. However, the second week was all talk with Liz and Eva.

I carry in a ballon arrangement for the foyer of Evas house, placing it at the bottom of a long winding staircase. Its the day of the baby shower and I've literally done nothing to help. I've responded to her ideas through emails and texts, but I've been warily avoiding her, because I just didn't want Xavier to pop up unexpectedly.

Of course, today I will have no choice but to see him but I'm prepared for it, I just hope we can mutually agree not to talk to each other if we cannot be civil. I don't want anything to go wrong at this party. An argument with Truex or any animosity will not be acceptable. I walk through the house to get to the backyard where Liz and Eva are busy with table decorations. I smile when I see a team of servers and helpers watch them as they explain exactly how to place the table centerpiece's.

I can't help but chuckle when a worker attempts to set up a table and Liz and Eva intercept her watching like hawks, making sure she does it perfectly.

"At this rate nothing will get done." I feel my heart pound at the sound of his voice.

I nod my agreement. "But it will be done with a percussion that no one will neither see or care about, but those two perfectionists." I smirk, watching the scene in-front of me.

"Eva, where's Ruxin? Why isn't he helping?" Xavier shouts.

She turns towards us smirking. "I cant trust him. He has a thing for tables." She answers, sounding completely honest.

"Gross." He grumbles, distastefully. He shakes his head entertained as Eva moves a bouquet or flowers about half a millimeter, until her and Liz are satisfied. "Oh, well. It'll keep them busy."

"Aren't you here to help?" I ask, mischievously as I hand him a tray of silverware.

"What the hell am I doing with these?" He asks, unsure.

"The plates and the glasses are already out on the two tables they just finished decorating. I'll put down the napkins and you and set the dinnerware." I instruct.

He nods and we walk to the first table. I fold the napkin and he sets down the fork, spoon and knife. "How are you?" He asks, as I fold another napkin.

I look up and give him a reassuring smile. "I'm doing, okay. How about you?"

He shrugs, "Not sure."

"You'll be fine. We both will." I say, knowingly as I move on to the next place setting. "We were great together but better apart. Sometimes, it just works out that way."

"You think so?" He questions, a little edge to his voice.

I nod. "Absolutely." He looks a little irritated, so I ask, "How's the house coming along?"

"Its done. They finished yesterday." He answers, simply.

Excited for him I ask, "How does it look?"

"No idea." He states, seriously.

"You don't know if you like it or not?" I question, amused.

"I haven't been back to the house yet." He clarifies.

"Oh, working a lot?" I wince. Knowing, he's probably drowning himself in work to avoid everything that's happened between us. To be truthful, I'm doing the exact same thing.

"Yep." He answers.

I concentrate on my task not completely sure how to keep up a conversation with him. There seems to be a building of resentment coming from him and it's directed at me. For the life of me I don't understand why, I thought our breakup was at the very least amicable. I knew we should've have spoken to each other, its too soon.

"You haven't called." He says, as we move to another table. I hear the accusation in his voice as if I have somehow wronged him.

Shocked I turn to look up at him. "No, I haven't." I reply, hesitantly.

"I expected you to." He confesses.

"Xavier, there's really nothing to say." I point out.

"You couldn't even call to say, happy birthday to me?" He asks, hurt.

My mouth drops. "I'm so sorry! I completely forgot. Happy belated birthday." I say, remembering yesterday would've been his 35 birthday. "So, old. How does it feel?"

"Lonely." He states, as he continues to work.

I look up at him, his head down as he carefully places each piece. "It won't always be. Tell me, I'm the only one that forgot." I say, hoping Eva at least remembered and wasn't too caught up in the planning of the party. I know I was too busy with my pity party to remember.

"You're the only one that didn't call, but the only one I was wishing would." He states, looking at me.

"I'm so-" I start to say, feeling crushed.

"I know." He replies, cutting me off. He turns to set the next setting and his eyes narrow on my hands.

"What is it?" I ask, watching him. He hasn't moved.

"Where's the ring?" He asks, his tone short.

Recalling that he hasn't been back to the house I explain. "I left it on your computer keyboard at your house, in the office. If it had been Joe driving me I would've given him the key and the ring, but I didn't know the new guy." I shrug, not feeling the need to justify any further.

    He doesn't look happy with me, but what did he honestly expect me to do? Drive over to Eva's house and ask her to give it to him? Like its a high school break up. I didn't want to involve anyone else and I needed to do it for myself. I can tell he wants to argue with me. I wait for him to start.

"I didnt want the ring back." He says, frustrated.

"We broke up. I can't keep something like that." I reply, honestly.

"I can't fucking do this." He states, throwing his hands up. "Tell Liz to sell the house, I don't want to see it ever again." I watch him walk away angrily, until Eva comes over with Liz following wanting to know what just happened.