Chapter 65

The wind gently flowed into the car through the seemingly cracked tinted window, and for the first time in a long while, I found myself watching the houses and shops blur past without succumbing to a sense of dread. I was aware, of course, that my apprehension was justified given the nature of our outing, but my mind was not consumed by terror; rather, it manifested as a raw, persistent worry. The one unwavering truth in my mind was that I would feel safe with Xavier.

I rubbed my lips together, careful to avoid smudging the pale mauve lip gloss I had just applied. It had a delightful peppermint flavor, causing the sweet scent to rise to my nose with this small motion.

Glancing down at my attire, I noted that I was dressed simply in jeans and a sweatshirt, but they belonged to me. They fit me well, and importantly, they were clean. My stylish sneakers echoed that same sentiment. I tucked a shiny strand of hair behind my ear and cast a sidelong glance at Xavier.

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