Taking that to heart, Xavier grabbed his things and left. He already had plans with Auggie the following day, when they would discuss their mom’s date. Cynthia and Big Henry had plans later in the evening. Apparently, Big Henry was taking their mom to dinner and a movie.

Personally, Xavier would forgo a movie on a first date. When trying to get to know someone, having to be quiet while in a theater didn’t seem productive. Then again, Auggie had set their mom up with Big Henry—a nice enough man who put more stock in bulking up than in conversation. But again, he seemed pleasant and was more than interested in their mom.

Once back at the apartment complex and rid of thoughts about his mother dating again—God help me—the rest of Xavier’s night went smoothly. He filtered through emails, answered a few Aunt Truth advice questions, and went over some older notes from his practice, using his time off to update patient files and get better organized.

Despite this minor break, Xavier felt good about his job. He’d come back from his time in the Marine Corps both wiser and happier. A people person, Xavier put stock in emotions and attitudes, and wanting to serve continued in his daily life. He liked helping people, communicating. Top’s sneering about feelings and communication only made him laugh; they were Xavier’s lifeblood. Drawn more to relationship dynamics than individual concerns, he’d focused his career on interpersonal relationships.

Going to school to get his LMFT license, then his masters in the subject, had been enough for him. He didn’t have the patience to go for a doctorate. After a good six years of college and two years to intern and license, he’d spent the past three years helping people heal. But giving his all took its toll, so his current hiatus allowed him to recover.

It hadn’t helped that he’d been mired in Christine’s bullshit for way too long. He needed a healthy homelife to balance work.

And hell, a healthy sex life would have been ideal too.

But after time, his relationship, both emotionally and sexually, had fizzled.

He wondered if it had been the same for Justine. She’d said she tired of trying to please her ex. Just one more thing they had in common.

As he settled into bed, he continued to tell himself to stop making more out of his friendship with the woman. He finally had a great friend—not his sister, a work associate, or gym rat—that he could easily talk to. One who had expressly said she wasn’t looking for a relationship. He didn’t want to ruin that by being just another swinging dick pestering her for what she didn’t want to give.

No. He respected Justine. He liked the heck out of her. Every time they spoke, he looked forward to the next time they’d meet. And that was...nice. Normal. Something men and women should be able to be without complicating everything with sex.

He kept telling himself that as he fell asleep.