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UNKNOWN: ANSWER ME!!!!!!!!!

There goes my hope.

Loud honking noises start outside. Probably another one of my neighbour’s friends picking her up for brunch. It’s a Saturday after all. I don’t bother to look out the window anymore—it just fills me with envy.

But the sound won’t stop. It’s still loudly disrupting my peace and quiet before another chaotic shift.

With Sid curled up in my arms, I stomp over to the window.

I hunt for the sound with my eyes, and someone catches my attention.

One tattooed arm, with white, rolled-up shirt sleeves, hangs out of the window, along with a head of messy, dark brown hair with neatly shaved sides and a chiselled jaw.

Xander.

What the hell is he doing here in a white Audi? He drives a grey car. And what the hell is he doing outside of my apartment?

He grins when our gazes catch, but then his eyes fall to Sid, and his smile drops.

A realisation dawns on me that he drove me home last night, but there’s no possible way he could know my address. I never told him where to go or where I lived.

My heart starts pounding as I rush to my room, throw on some clothes and start heading downstairs, with Sid still in my arms. If I need to protect myself, Sid is the one for the job. Though, it’d be a shame to scratch up that stupidly handsome face.

Clouds cover the sky as I open the door to the apartment building and trudge over to Xander, my stomach flipping as I near. He’s out of the car now, leaning against it with his arms folded across his chest, muscles threatening to burst out of his pristine shirt. His face is his usual mask of calm and control, and his eyes rove over me, snagging on Sid. My face heats under his scrutiny. He’s seen me half naked. Yet, here I am, feeling utterly flustered in my comfortable outfit.

Maybe I should’ve put on something nicer?

He’s totally judging me right now.

Should I turn back? Put something else on?

I’m so deep in thought that I don’t notice how close I’ve gotten to him until my face collides with his hard chest. Sid jumps out of my arms, and Xander’s arms shoot out to steady me, saving me from tripping and falling over his feet.

“Already falling for me, Angel?” he teases, voice wrapped in smooth honey.

I roll my eyes at his poor attempt to flirt. And the nickname. I don’t know why he calls me that. I can’t figure out whether I like it or not.

My body shivers at the loss of contact, almost begging me to go back to him.

I watch as Sid prances away from us. He’ll get back in through the cat flaps later. But as he leaves, I remember why I came down here in the first place. And it’s not to be hypnotised by his charm.

“How did you know where I lived?” I shoot out, arms locking over my chest.

He stills.

It’s like I can hear his answer just from that reaction alone.

My body warms as I anticipate his reply. A drumming starts in my chest.

“The other night. That was you,” I state.

Even the wind between us stills.

I want him to say it—to say that it was him following me that night—even though I shouldn’t.

I came down here with the intention to rage. To tell him to leave me alone. But now that I’m here, with him in front of me, some sick part of me wants his attention.

His jaw ticks, and his eyes are intently fixed on mine.