Chapter 9

WEST Xander leans against the kitchen island with his signature cocksure grin on his face. Xander shakes his head. “Well, nothing more than a kiss. I was a good boy. As much as I wanted to take her up on her invite to come in for a beer.” Leaning forward, I rest my hands on the countertop. “She invited you in?” Of course she fucking did. He looks like Ryan Gosling’s better-looking younger brother. “I told her I’d see her at dinner tomorrow.” He checks his watch. “Or more like tonight now, I guess.” Zeke pours himself another Scotch and sits on a stool. “So we’re doing this again?” Xander hops up and sits on the counter while I stare at Zeke, his face etched with worry and a deep-seated sadness that makes my heart feel heavy. “Do you want to try this again?” I ask. “It’s not my decision to make,” he replies with a shrug, staring into his glass. “No. It’s all of ours, Zeke.” He lifts his head, his dark eyes piercing into mine. “But you and Fitch want to, yeah?” I glance at Xander who nod