His eyes held mine for a moment, then went wide. He definitely recognized me.
"Hello, Xavier," I said. "I'm Zander Wheeler. We met—"
"I remember," he responded, coolly ignoring my outstretched hand. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice full of suspicion. I couldn’t really blame him. I also had no clue how to explain that something about his case had drawn me in and that I'd ended up in Eden because of him.
"Long story," was all I said. "How are you?"
"Fine," he responded curtly. I didn't see a hint of the terrified teenager I'd known ten years earlier.
"Listen, I just wanted to tell you that… that I'm here if you need to talk about anything."
Xavier actually chuckled, but there was nothing amusing about the sound.
"Xavier—" I began, but he cut me off with a hard look.
"Save it, Doc," he said stiffly. I wasn't actually a doctor, but Xavier had always called me that because he’d considered my questions those of a regular shrink. I didn't bother to correct him. As it was, his tone made it pretty clear that he had absolutely no interest in talking to me. I couldn't really blame him.
I stood next to him as he watched the little girl get off the ride and dart through the exit gate. She ran right up to him and began talking a mile a minute about how scary the ride had been but that she’d loved it and wanted to do it again. I heard her ask about where Brooks had gone, but I didn't hear Xavier's answer. When the little girl spied me, she asked Xavier, "Who's that?"
Xavier looked at me briefly. "Nobody," was his response.
As he and the little girl turned to leave, I couldn't help but call Xavier's name. He stopped, but it seemed to take forever for him to turn to face me. I knew I was treading on thin ice, but my need to know that he hadn’t been alone for the past ten years won out. "The friend—the one you were waiting for—did he ever show up?"
He didn't answer right away, but what he did next caught me off guard. He glanced in the direction Brooks had gone and his eyes softened considerably. It was the same look I thought I'd seen moments earlier when Brooks had walked away. But it made no sense because I knew who Brooks was and he was supposed to be the enemy.
Supposed to be.
"Yes and no," was all Xavier said, and I realized he was answering my question about his friend. And then things clicked into place. His friend had been none other than Brooks and if Xavier's look was anything to go by, friends wasn't the right word to describe the relationship.
Neither was enemies.
That left one thing.
"Welcome to Eden, Doc," Xavier said coolly. With that, he turned on his heel and took the little girl's hand and walked away. The man who left definitely wasn’t the boy I'd known. I'd always assumed I'd been one of many to fail him along the way, but seeing the town's reaction to him confirmed my suspicions. And if my intuition was right, just like with Jackson and possibly Brooks too, he’d be facing an even bigger fight if the truth were to come out.
But as I turned and headed back to where I knew the woman who would be my future was waiting for me, I swore to myself that it was a fight that none of the men would have to face on their own ever again. They’d have me and they’d have my Joli.
My Joli who had enough fight and heart in her to win any battle.
Want to see if Jackson can show womanizer, Travis, that maybe what he’s looking for is the thing he’s least expecting?
Need to know if former friends turned enemies Xavier and Brooks can find their way back to each other?
Then check out the next page (did I mention it includes a FREEBIE?!)
Want More of Eden?
Available Now:
Tempting Fate (Jackson and Travis’s story) Get it here.
Always Mine (Xavier and Brooks’s story) Get it here.
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About the Author
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Choosing Fate. Want to know what happens between Travis and Jackson? Their story is called Tempting Fate and is available now! You can also learn more about Xavier and Brooks by reading their story, Always Mine, out now!
As an independent author, I am always grateful for feedback so if you have the time and desire, please leave a review, good or bad, so I can continue to find out what my readers like and don’t like. You can also send me feedback via email at [email protected]
Join my Facebook Fan Group: Sloane’s Secret Sinners
Connect with me:
www.sloanekennedy.com
[email protected]
Also by Sloane Kennedy
(Note: Not all titles will be available on all retail sites)
The Escort Series
Gabriel’s Rule (M/F)
Shane’s Fall (M/F)
Logan’s Need (M/M)
Barretti Security Series
Loving Vin (M/F)
Redeeming Rafe (M/M)
Saving Ren (M/M/M)
Freeing Zane (M/M)
Finding Series
Finding Home (M/M/M)
Finding Trust (M/M)
Finding Peace (M/M)
Finding Forgiveness (M/M)
Finding Hope (M/M/M)
Love in Eden
Always Mine (M/M)
Tempting Fate (M/M)
Pelican Bay Series
Locked in Silence (M/M)
Sanctuary Found (M/M)
The Truth Within (M/M)
The Protectors
Absolution (M/M/M)
Salvation (M/M)
Retribution (M/M)
Forsaken (M/M)
Vengeance (M/M/M)
A Protectors Family Christmas
Atonement (M/M)
Revelation (M/M)
Redemption (M/M)
Defiance (M/M)
Unexpected (M/M/M)
Shattered (M/M)
Unbroken (M/M)
Protecting Elliot: A Protectors Novella (M/M)
Discovering Daisy: A Protectors Novella (M/M/F)
Pretend You’re Mine: A Protectors Short Story (M/M)
Non-Series
Four Ever (M/M/M/M)
Letting Go (M/F)
Short Stories
A Touch of Color
Catching Orion
Twist of Fate Series (co-writing with Lucy Lennox)
Lost and Found (M/M)
Safe and Sound (M/M)
Body and Soul (M/M)
Above and Beyond (M/M)
Crossover Books with Lucy Lennox
Made Mine: A Protectors/Made Marian Crossover (M/M)
The following titles are available in audiobook format with more on the way:
Locked in Silence
Sanctuary Found
The Truth Within
Absolution
Salvation
Retribution
Logan’s Need
Redeeming Rafe
Saving Ren
Freeing Zane
Forsaken
Vengeance
Finding Home
Finding Trust
Finding Peace
Four Ever
Lost and Found
Safe and Sound
Body and Soul
Made Mine
Choosing Fate: A Love in Eden Novella Page 9