With all of the runners checked in, and the camera crew for one of the local news stations set up, he picked up the megaphone and hopped onto the platform serving as their temporary stage. "Thank you all for coming out and supporting our foundation. We appreciate your commitment to our cause. Thanks to you and your sponsors, we’ve raised thirteen thousand dollars."
Applause and cheers rang out from the crowd.
He hoped his mom would be proud of what he was trying to accomplish, and wondered if she somehow knew that her boys had all stuck together. He missed her advice and her hugs. At odd moments he kept wondering what she'd think of the lives they’d chosen, and if she would’ve been happy with their choices.
"As some of you know, my family lost my mom to cancer when she was far too young. Every cent of the money we raised will go to cancer research. Together, hopefully, someday soon, we’ll find a cure."
More cheers rang out, and he spotted his brothers and dad in the crowd. Then he glanced at Ashley and wondered what his mother would have thought about her.
"Okay, let’s get this race underway. Runners, on your mark. Get set. Go!"
With a cheer, the pack took off. Xavier handed off the megaphone to an assistant and joined the race. During the three-point-two miles, he laughed and joked with various runners and listened to stories from a few cancer survivors.
Too soon, the finish line came into view. He crossed it and found his family waiting by the finishers’ area. His father, Ryan, and Everson were helping the foundation’s volunteers pass out information sheets. Xavier hugged and thanked them, and continued with his rounds. He gave a quote to the news station, and then stopped to say thank you to every member of his team and the volunteers. He also posed for countless photos with runners. Running the event meant being available to everyone and anyone. He did it happily, because the cause mattered so much.
Ashley’s table was popular. She had cupcakes with pink and white frosting and cookies shaped like sneakers, decorated in pink icing and sprinkles.
Mario’s was busy as well. The cups of coffee and a tray of biscotti disappeared fast. And Shane and Leo had zero problems pulling people in. They tossed water bottles with the gym’s logo to people in the crowd.
The event wound down. When the cleanup crew took over the area, Xavier’s time freed up. A glance at the finishers' area showed tables already broken down. Ashley stood nearby, chatting with Leo and Shane. Mario was off to the side, speaking with one of the volunteers. Xavier rolled his shoulders, put a smile on his face, and headed in that direction. When he reached Mario, the volunteer had gone, and there wasn’t anyone or anything to help break the ice. "Thanks for being here today."
"What are friends for?" Sarcasm coated Mario’s words, matching the displeasure twisting his features.
Disappointment and regret and hurt folded into each other. Xavier stared at his friend and ignored the ache in his chest. "I think you know. Even if we don’t fit the description lately."
With wooden movements, his one-time friend shouldered a bag that held fliers for the café. "I need to get back to the café."
Xavier watched him go, aware of the weight of Leo and Shane’s stares. As always, they were ready to jump to his aid if needed.
Soft, cool fingers touched the back of his arm, and Ashley joined him. "What’s with that guy?"
How did he possibly explain? "We had a sort of disagreement."
"I figured as much." Her gaze was part sympathy and part worry, but she didn't say anything more. Her fingers slid down his arm, crossed his palm, and linked with his.
Xavier gripping her hand as he grasped control of his emotions. "Want to take a walk?"
At her nod, he faced his brothers. "Thanks for being here and helping today. I’ll see you back at Dad’s house."
Holding Ashley’s hand, he headed for the football stadium’s deserted steps. They climbed to the top and sat on cool concrete.
Ashley smiled at him and shivered in the cool air sliding around them like silk. Her hair danced around her face, taunting him to dive his hands in and feel the strands slither through his fingers.
Xavier slipped his arm around her shoulders. "I needed to get away from the rest of the world for a minute."
She snuggled closer and rested her hand on his thigh. "Leo and Shane are so nice. They included me in their conversation the whole morning. I appreciated that. They also told me some stories about you. I really like your family."
"I do, too."
"Most of the people I met were friendly. That Mario guy kept to himself, and that’s fine, everyone doesn’t have to be warm and fuzzy.”
Something in her tone set off his protective instincts. "Was he rude to you?”
"No.” She sighed and seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "He clearly didn’t want to talk to me or your brothers. He kept glaring at you a lot, too. And I heard Leo tell Shane a few times not go over there and start something.”
Shit.
After an intense internal debate, he decided to tell her. The connection they shared, the feeling he had whenever he was around her was deeper than anything he’d ever felt before. If they continued seeing each other, it would come up eventually. After spending so much time with her over the previous weeks, he couldn’t see her as having a hidden agenda. She was kind and amazing, and he hoped like hell that trusting his instincts wouldn’t come back to bite him in the ass. "Up until a few years ago, I blew through all of my football contract money. Some of it was due to enjoying life a little too much, but most of it went to helping
