Play the Game Boy (BWWM)

chapter 20

Faith

B R E N D A N : throwing a party at my house tonight after u get off work, u down?

F A I T H : who's going to be there?

B R E N D A N : don't worry about it
B R E N D A N : i'll pick u up

I rolled my eyes as I stared at my phone, a sly smile adorning my lips. It never was like I had a choice with him. I began to write a witty response when Sebastian showed up to my desk and loudly cleared his throat.

I looked up from the digital screen to face my colleague. His little arrogant smirk irked me, but I managed to keep a calm composure as I asked him for his presence here.

He simply slammed a thick folder on my desk. "When you're done grinning at your phone, can you photocopy those please?"

If he walked all the way to my desk, couldn't he also walk all the way to the photocopying room? This guy just loved to get on my nerves.

"Whatever," I murmured as I took the file and got up.

"Uh, I didn't think you'd be this happy today, considering..." Sebastian started before stopping himself. He looked away with that same damn smirk I was dying to smear off.

"Considering what?" I pressed him, inching closer to him.

"They dropped Xander's charges. All of them. The man's free," the intern said.

How did I not know? Was Sebastian bluffing? I tried to reign in my initial shock and simply muttered out :

"Why'd you think I'd care?"

I headed to the photocopiers with the heavy folder, not looking back for fear he'd notice the hidden terror on my face.

+  +  +

Brendan picked me up from work and he would've done so whether I'd agreed to attend his stupid party or not. Today was definitely not the day for celebration, Xander was free and that wasn't exactly a happy thought to me.

Brendan noticed my gloomy mood as soon as I climbed up.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Did you know they dropped Xander's charges?" I replied with an inquiry. His silence gave me the answer I needed. I reclined back into my seat, sighing loudly. "What, everybody knew but me?"

Brendan shrugged. "You should consider looking up the news more often. Besides, Mason told me his parents are sending Xander away to some military school abroad. He should be on a plane to Europe as we speak, so no stress."

But it was hard not to stress when all I could remember were the angry green eyes that had once stared me down with so much hatred in his living room.

Why would they even drop his charges? But then I remembered that money and influence could certainly buy a man's freedom and those were two things Xander and Mason's parents had in abundance.

Brendan grabbed my hand in his, keeping the other on the wheel. "And even if that idiot skipped his plane ride, he won't do anything to you with me there."

I chuckled out softly. That was sweet of him to say, considering Xander was taller and brawnier than him. Still, there was no doubt in my mind that Brendan would do his best to protect me if I were in danger, just like I saved him when he was framed.