CHAPTER 15

"Alright, drive safely," she said as she closed the door behind him.

Xavier sighed as he walked to his car, aware that Ava was simply too tired to engage in conversation.

A few days later at the university,

Xavier noticed Ava looked unusually pale and subdued. Mia and Noah also picked up on the change in her demeanor.

During their lunch break, Xavier watched Ava closely. By the time they reached their last class, Xavier observed her dozing off on his shoulder. Concerned, he noted the feverish warmth radiating from her.

After the final bell rang, Xavier packed up their books and gently touched Ava's arm. She was shivering, and he realized she was running a high fever.

Without a second thought, he gathered her belongings and, taking her car keys from her bag, carried her to her vehicle. The other students watched in surprise as he carefully placed Ava in the car and drove her home.

Upon arriving at her house, Xavier carried Ava inside and gently placed her on her bed. He placed wet hand towels on her forehead, arms, and feet, hoping to bring her temperature down.

As he was tending to her, Mia arrived, looking concerned. She quickly assessed Ava's condition. "Her temperature has come down a bit. She'll be okay," Mia said as she changed Ava into a comfortable outfit.

"Thanks for helping out," Xavier said, continuing to cook in the kitchen. "I'm staying here tonight."

Mia gave him a knowing look. "When are you going to confess, Xavier?"

"Soon," he replied, "but it seems like she's too oblivious to realize it herself."

Mia laughed. "Well, she is a bit clueless."

Mia playfully added, "You know, you really stole my best friend from me."

"And you stole my best friend," Xavier countered with a grin. "That guy you're seeing always talks about you."

"Excuse me, don't refer to him that way," Mia said, though she agreed with the sentiment. "He does have his moments, but he's not that bad."

Xavier chuckled. "I'll make sure to give him a talking-to next time."

Mia said her goodbyes, leaving Xavier to care for Ava.

When Ava slowly woke up,

She was startled by the unfamiliar surroundings and the warmth enveloping her. Confused, she glanced at her attire and noticed she was in a different outfit. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" she screamed in alarm.

Xavier rushed into the room, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Who changed my dress?" Ava demanded, her voice laced with panic.

Xavier looked at her with a mix of amusement and reassurance. "You look adorable. I had to help you change because you were burning up with fever."

"Why didn't you just let me stay in my clothes?" Ava grumbled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Because you looked like you needed some help," Xavier said, trying to suppress a grin. "And, honestly, you looked like a cute baby."

Ava blushed even more. "Oh, shut up. Just let me get up."

"Take it easy," Xavier said with a laugh. "Let's get you some more rest. We'll talk later."

Ava sighed and nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment as she settled back into her bed.

"You jerk!" Ava exclaimed, her voice a mix of exasperation and embarrassment.

Xavier raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Parker, come on. If it were up to me, you'd be wearing nothing but a boxer and an oversized shirt."

"EWWW, you pervert!" Ava shot back, grabbing a nearby pillow and hurling it at him.

Xavier caught the pillow effortlessly and placed it back on the bed with a smirk. "Hey, you started it."

Ignoring his teasing, Ava huffed and turned away. Xavier's hand reached out to touch her forehead and neck gently. His touch was surprisingly tender, and he nodded to himself. "You're feeling a bit cooler now. Your fever's gone down."

Ava felt a rush of warmth at his touch, her heartbeat quickening as he helped her sit up. His closeness was both comforting and unsettling. As he adjusted the pillow behind her, their eyes met, and a charged silence fell over the room. Ava's breath hitched slightly.

Why does this jerk have such a strong effect on me? she thought, feeling her emotions swirl in a confusing mix.

Just then, Ava's stomach let out a loud growl, breaking the tension. Her cheeks turned crimson as she pursed her lips tightly.

Xavier chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Looks like someone's hungry. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

He left the room and returned a short while later with a tray of food. He set it down on her lap with a gentle touch. "I brought you some dinner. I hope you're hungry."

Ava looked at the food with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Xavier. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome. I didn't want you to go to bed on an empty stomach," Xavier said as he settled into a chair beside her.

They chatted casually while Ava ate, Xavier's presence providing a comforting distraction.

With the start of the Christmas holidays,

Ava decided to take advantage of the free time to get back into her jogging routine. She ran for nearly two hours, feeling the satisfying burn of exertion in her muscles. Exhausted but invigorated, she made her way to her favorite café, a local spot she frequented for its warm ambiance and excellent coffee.

She placed her order and then sank into a chair, leaning back with a sigh of relief. The physical strain of the jog had left her pleasantly fatigued. Ava closed her eyes and immersed herself in the soothing music from her headphones, letting it wash over her as she relaxed and caught her breath.

Unaware of the world around her, Ava let herself drift into the rhythm of the music, finding solace in the quiet moment of peace amidst the holiday chaos.

Ava was relishing a peaceful afternoon at her favorite café. The place was her sanctuary—cozy, with soft music playing and a calming atmosphere. After a two-hour jog, she was feeling worn out but content as she took a sip from her water glass. She leaned back in her chair, letting the soothing ambiance wash over her.

Unbeknownst to Ava, a group of boys at a nearby table were openly commenting on her.

"Dude, look at her. She's smoking hot," one of them said, his gaze lingering.

"Yeah, check out her neckline. I'd love to have her as my meal tonight," another added, grinning lewdly.

The boys' voices were loud and their comments crude, but Ava was lost in her own world, too absorbed in her thoughts and music to notice. She finished her drink and stood up, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, a black blazer was thrown over her face. She felt herself being lifted off the ground. Her heart raced as she pushed the blazer away, recognizing Xavier's familiar scent.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" she exclaimed, trying to pull the blazer off her face.

"Xavier, what the hell? Put me down!" she demanded, wriggling in his arms.

"Shut up, Ava," Xavier snapped, his tone sharp with irritation. "I don't want to hear a word from you right now."

Ava could feel his anger radiating off him. Xavier carried her to his car, opened the door, and gently set her inside. He buckled her seatbelt with an almost mechanical precision, then locked the door and stormed back into the café.

Inside, Xavier's presence was like a storm. He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table with the boys, his demeanor menacing.

"You high school clowns think you're so tough, commenting on girls like that?" Xavier's voice was a low growl. "Let me make something clear. The girl you were talking about—Ava—is someone you do not want to mess with. And her boyfriend, who's sitting right here, is even worse. I could make sure you never look at a girl the same way again."

He cracked his knuckles and rolled his neck, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"Are you trying to scare us, Mr. Boyfriend?" one of the boys asked, trying to sound brave but failing to hide his fear.

"Scare you? You're already scared out of your minds," Xavier said, smirking. "William, right? Mrs. Thomas's son? I'm sure she'd love to hear about your little chat here."

The boys' faces turned ashen as they realized they were dealing with someone far beyond their league. They nodded vigorously, their bravado evaporating.

"Next time I hear you talking about someone like that, you'll wish you'd never been born," Xavier warned, his voice a deadly whisper.

With a final glare, Xavier stood up and returned to his car. He slid into the driver's seat, visibly tense. Ava, sitting beside him, was curious but also slightly uneasy.

"Do you know those boys were talking about you? And not in a good way?" Xavier asked, his jaw clenched as he drove.

"Well, I didn't catch their conversation," Ava said defensively.

"Of course not, you were too busy lost in your music to notice," Xavier said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "If you want to show off, maybe hit the gym instead of jogging all the time."

"I wasn't showing off. And the gym is too expensive for me," Ava replied, a hint of frustration in her voice.

Xavier chuckled, shaking his head. "Expensive? Says the girl who drives an Aston Martin. If the gym's too much of a burden, come to my place. I've got a personal gym, and I'm more than capable of giving you a proper workout."

He leaned closer, his gaze intense. "And I'd prefer it if you wore that adorable frock you had on a few days ago. I don't want any more boys ogling you. We don't need to deal with blind idiots, do we?"

Ava blinked, her face turning red. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as he leaned in closer.

Without a word, Xavier unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. "Bye, Jones," he said with a mischievous smile.

Ava watched as he walked away, her mind spinning. She sat there for a moment, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't help but smile, her cheeks flushed as she thought about Xavier and his unexpected protectiveness. As she finally got out of the car and headed inside, her thoughts were filled with a mix of curiosity and warmth.

Xavier was driving home after dropping Ava off, his mind swirling with thoughts of their recent time together. The evening had been filled with moments that left him reflecting on his feelings for her.

He remembered how breathtakingly attractive Ava looked during the recent basketball game. The fierce expression on her face when she was angry had been something to behold. She had been upset about a spat with Britney and another girl, but when she was on the court, her fiery intensity had captivated everyone.

When her team clinched the victory and she gave a triumphant middle finger, accompanied by a triumphant scream, Xavier couldn't help but smile. There was something incredibly alluring about her spirited nature, and he felt a surge of pride at how she'd conducted herself.

Then, there was that day he went to her house to study. Xavier had been taken aback by her appearance. He had always known her as a tomboy, but seeing her in those clothes—her wet hair dripping down her shoulders, her bare legs and slightly flushed face—was a revelation. His heart had skipped a beat, and he found himself grappling with a sudden urge to kiss her. But just as he was about to lean in, the doorbell rang, and his moment was interrupted. It had been a memorable day, with the highlight being her reaction to the horror movies. He chuckled at the memory of her terrified expression. Despite her usual bravado, she had never admitted her fear, which made her vulnerability even more endearing.

The trip to the zoo with the kids had been another unforgettable experience. Xavier had enjoyed the playful dynamics between them, and the way Ava's face had flushed with embarrassment during their time together had been a clear indication of her feelings. The day had felt like a glimpse into what a relationship with her could be like, and he had relished every moment.