Fuck. My brain had compartmentalized that he knew about that. Way to go brain. “Look, I appreciate it. But I’m good.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and fixed me with a steely gaze that was all too familiar now. I’d seen Alexi give me the same look before. “You might be right about leaving the others. But from now on, I’ll drive you home after class.”

“I appreciate the gesture, but you will do no such thing. I’ve had quite enough of people telling me where to go and be and do. I’ll get around on my own steam.”

He stepped into my personal space. “I can make you do as I say.”

I didn’t mean to laugh. I really didn’t. And maybe it was more hysterics than anything. But like Alexi, there wasn’t anything truly threatening about Xander. Yes, he was bigger. Yes, he could crush me if he wanted. But I had known pain before. And he wasn’t the type to administer it.

I lifted my chin. “The last man who tried that ended up with a knife in his gut. You want to take your chances?” Not entirely the truth, but I’d let him wonder about that.

He lifted a brow, and then to my chagrin, he grinned. “I knew I liked you, Little Bird. Now I know why.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Fine, I won’t force you into my car like a dodgy kidnapper. But please let me walk you to the bus stop. I’ll sleep better tonight.”

I could live with that. “Fine.” I started walking and didn’t wait for him to follow.

As he walked beside me in companionable silence, I tried to figure out just what it was that Xander wanted from me.

22

Lex…

For the first time in two weeks, it wasn’t a night terror that woke me out of a sound sleep. It was thumping on my door.

“Lex, open up.” More thumping.

I rubbed my eyes and staggered out of bed. What the hell was wrong with my brother?

When I shuffled to the front door, I was thankful for the small favor that Gemma hadn’t stayed the night. I yanked the door open and glared at, from the smell of it, a very drunk Xander. “What the hell is going on? What are you doing here?”

“What, I can’t see my little brother anytime I want?”

I stepped back to let him in. “Jesus, mate, you smell like a pub.”

“That’s because I’ve spent the better part of the evening in one.”

I frowned. “I thought you had class tonight?”

“I did. First critique. It was brutal.”