Execution (Off Balance 2)

"Your list is long enough," I said under my breath.

Xavier continued to smile, so I kicked him again, this time harder. "Get out." I glared at him.

"Did we interrupt something?" Hayden asked.

Xavier stood and walked toward them. He held out his hand. "I'm Xavier, Ana's older brother. I see she's lost the manners our parents heavily instilled in her."

I butted in. "I did not! I just don't want you talking to my friends."

"Hayden. It’s nice to meet you." Hayden introduced himself with a smile. They exchanged a firm handshake, then he gestured to Holly. "This is my sister, Holly."

"Holly, a pleasure," Xavier said. Her chestnut eyes were all over him. I swear on all that is sacred, if my dumbass brother even thought about going after her for even a split second, I'd junk punch him myself. Holly didn't need her own line and a score in his little black book.

"Okay, goodbye, Xavier!" I yelled, making it clear it was time for him to go, but he ignored me.

He shot a scrutinizing gaze down Hayden's body. "I was told you may need to borrow some clothes for tonight, but now I'm thinking you might not be able to fit in them. You on 'roids, bro?"

I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut in humiliation, then opened them. Hayden and Holly didn't have the proper dress attire for a party like we hosted, so we offered to let them borrow clothes. "Xavier! You're such an asshole. What is wrong with you?"

"Ah, no. Never." Hayden laughed nervously and shot me a startled look. A rosy hue glowed on his cheeks. Hayden was stacked. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, and my dumb brother reached out to grab one of his biceps.

Xavier's eyebrows shot up. "So that's from doing gymnastics? Well, shit. Sign me up." He gave Hayden a friendly slap on the shoulder. "When you're done with my sis, come down to the pool house and I'll see what clothes I can hook you up with."

"What's rocket fuel?" Holly asked, shifting the conversation. It took me a moment to figure out what she was talking about. I chuckled. Saying I drank rocket fuel wasn't the best way to describe java.

"Ana's coffee," Xavier answered. "I've never met someone who drinks it the way she does—or the amount."

"Why did that man call it that?" Holly asked.

Just then, Avery waltzed into my room carrying a paper tray and a heavy armful of dresses in clear zippered bags.

"Because her coffee can stimulate the dead," Avery volunteered with a huge grin, then quickly said hi to Hayden and Holly. "She likes her coffee like she likes her men—dark, bitter, and bold."

"Yeah, the opposite of you," Xavier said, looking at Avery. "Light, weak, and boring."

Avery placed the tray that contained four cups of coffee on my nightstand, then swiftly backhanded Xavier in the ribs. He faked a grunt and held his stomach, pretending he hurt.

"Shut the fuck up, Xavier, and get out."

Avery glanced at me and I giggled. Her eyes lit up. "Hey, girl." Turning around, she walked over to the free-standing clothes rack and began to hang the dresses.

Long strides took Xavier to Avery. I watched them as he slid the clothes already hanging to the side to make room on the steel bar. He then took the heavy load from her arm and hung the items for her. His lips moved as he murmured something next to hear ear, but he spoke low, and I couldn't make out what he said. She shook her head, and he threw a hand up in the air and sighed before storming out of the room.

"He's so annoying!" Avery declared dramatically once my brother left. She handed out the Styrofoam cups. "It's like having a third brother."

I took a sip from my coffee. "That's how I feel about your brothers." Holly and Avery plopped down on my bed, while Hayden took a seat on the chair in the corner of my room. One more sip and I asked Avery, "What did Xavier say to you?"

She stared at me like a deer caught in the headlights. "Oh! For a second I didn't know what you

meant. He asked me if I had any more clothes in my car to bring up." She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "As if I would give him the keys to my car after what they did. Mama didn't raise no fool."

"Good thinking." I turned toward my friends. "You guys slept well?"

"I did. That mattress is like sleeping on a cloud."

"Probably the best sleep I've gotten in a while."

"Oh good. I didn't want to wake you guys. Figured you needed it since you flew in so late."