Chapter 11 XADEN
Chapter 11
XADEN
My hands moved through the keyboard of my laptop, going through the last document for the day when Kyle’s call came in. My phone buzzed repeatedly on my table, tearing my attention away from the screen of my laptop and the file in my hands.
I dropped the file and picked up my phone, I sighed and answered the call, “Kyle, what’s up?” I answered.
Silence.
My brows furrowed, I peeled the phone from my ears and checked to see if the call was till on and it was. “Yo, dude, are you there?” I asked.
He sighed, “Where the hell are you?” He grunted, the low tone that flowed was evidence that he was pissed.
My eyes flickered, “Uhm, the office, why?” I answered.
“Did you forget something?” He rasped.
I checked the mini calendar on the table and that was when it hit me. Shit.
Today is his birthday and his mother was throwing him a party in the backyard of their mansion. I was supposed to meet up with him by five pm to take his pictures which he begged me to do.
Fuck.
I had been too occupied with work all day, using work as a reason to not think about the twenty-three-year-old girl in my house who has been doing everything in her power to not cross paths with me.
“I’m sorry, man….I’ll be with you in thirty minutes.” I muffled, rubbing my eyes.
“If you are even a minute late, I swear, I will rip your eyes out.” He hissed and ended the call before I could fight him.
Kyle is my only friend, my closest friend. We’ve known each other for years and he is the only one who knows how passionate I am about taking pictures, which is why he begged me to take his pictures.
I grabbed my jacket, phone, and car keys, dashing out of my office. I creaked the door open and bumped into Jane, one of my staff but also a friend, a very good friend.
She leaned back, her long wavy hair, flowing down her shoulder. Dressed in her black blazer jacket and pants, her eyes scanned me, “Uhm, where are you going?” She asked, eye squinted.
“Kyle’s birthday…totally forgot.” I sighed.
“What? No you didn’t.” She responded.
“What are you talking about?” I rasped.
She arched her brows and pulled out her phone, “Do you not remember sending me a text to help you follow up with the birthday gift you got for him?” She rasped.
Then it hit me.
I had ordered him a birthday gift. A car.
A freaking G wagon, the one on his bucket list. The car he told me he wanted for his thirties. I had a message for Jane as soon as I got to the office, begging her to follow up since I was going to be busy for the rest of the day.
How did I forget?
“Hey, are you okay?” Jane leaned forward, and the back of her palm rested on my forehead. “You have not been yourself for a while now. You space out during board meetings and overwork yourself. Is something going on?” She asked.
My eyes flickered, throat bobbed.
There is only one reason I am like this….Sloane.
But I can’t tell Jane that.
What do I say?
The girl I have liked, who I kissed and ditched now lives in the same house and I am having a hard time ignoring her because I miss her so much and want to spend time with her and find out how she is and apologize for leaving her like I did and ask her to …maybe give me another chance which is almost impossible because my brother is being a dick and has clearly draw a line I can’t cross?
‘It’s nothing.” I lied.
“Hmm.” She muffled, clearly not buying it. She rolled her eyes. “The car is ready, should I have it moved to Kyle’s apartment or his mother's, where the party would be held?” She asked.
“Send it to the mother’s house,” I said to her.
“Okay, boss. Take care of yourself. If you need a drinking buddy, you know where to find me.” She waved.
I went home, got changed, grabbed my old camera where I had buried it….Yes, I buried it….I buried it because…because I can’t afford to look at it….I made a promise to Dad the day he died…the day Mom had her first episode…the day my mum almost died…I promised that I would set my priorities right.
I took a deep breath, clenching my jaw into the camera.
I walked down the stairs, heading out when I noticed that Sloane was not home.
It was also then that I remembered, that I do not have her number.
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“Xaden!” Mrs Brown’s voice filled her living room as I walked in with a smile.
“Hi, Aunty.” I muffled.
“Kyle is in his room.” She said to me.
I nodded and made my way to his room, after fist-bumping her husband who kept following his wife around like a puppy. They’ve been married for years and he still very much adores his wife.
I still don’t know how they manage to have Kyle celebrate his 30th birthday in their backyard.
I creaked the door open and walked in and there he was, kissing his girlfriend.
Oh God! My eyes!
“Seriously? You called me here to watch you kiss?” I grunted as I walked in, rolling my eyes as I sat on the couch, shamelessly. Because it’s Lulu and Kyle. They are so touchy that I can’t even feel like I am intruding anymore.
Let’s just say I have gotten used to them being able to do shit anywhere at any time.
“Hi, Xaden.” Lulu cheered, waving at me while sitting on Kyle’s leg with her cheeks red.
“Took you long enough.” Kyle hissed, wrapping his hands around Lulu’s waist, dragging his eyes all over me. “You know, lately, you’ve been acting weird.” He muffled.
“Shut up and let’s take the pictures before I change my mind.” I sneered jokingly, adjusting the camera. I am not about to go through another of those talks. I am still thinking about what Jane has said to me.
“Hey hold on, Isaac is not yet here.” He blurted.
We made our way downstairs, to join the party before his mother called. The garden wasn't all that decorated, it was subtle and very nice. Since we were waiting for Isaac, I made my way to the table to grab a bottle of beer. A few of Kyle’s friends joined us and we all stood by the table, talking and laughing… more like mocking Kyle because he had always and will always be a clown.
“No freaking way!” Kyle gasped, his eyes glued behind me, looking at someone with his eyes glinting.
I turned around, tracing his gaze and it settled on his brother Isaac, dressed in the right outfits. He looked really good.
“Oh, my brother finally knows what fashion means.” Kyle teased as we both walked over to his brother, who rolled his eyes as he hugged his brother.
“Very funny, happy birthday brother.” Isaac muffled.
“No seriously, who did this to you? I need to award the person.” Kyle’s mum insisted. “Is it Daisy?”
“Well, yes, but Sloane did most of the picking and styling…. Oh, I invited her, if that’s okay?”
I almost choked when I heard the name he called.
Sloane? As in Sloane? My Sloane?