Chapter 8: Pancakes

Ellie's POV

"I can't believe there's a pancake place open so late!" I exclaimed as I slipped out of the car. I was thankful that I had already sobered up, I didn't wanna continue embarrassing myself in front of Xavier. "Told you," he smiled as he gestured towards the shop, "come on."

I fell into step beside him and we slipped into what Xavier calls the pancake cafe. There were only five people inside and the place was rarely quiet which in a way was comforting.

He led me towards a table beside the door and I lowered myself down opposite him. "So chocolate chip right?" He asked and I nodded my head frantically as he got up from the chair, "I'll be back," he said before pivoting on his heels and making his way towards the counter.

Behind the counter stood a brunette girl. She was tall, visibly beautiful and I bet beside her I'd look like a child. I watched, perplexed as she realized Xavier walking towards her and quickly unfastened the button of her shirt to reveal her cleavage.

I chuckled softly and shook my head in disbelief. Are women these days that desperate?

Xavier didn't seem to realize what she did and if he did then he played it off casually as he placed in our order. With that he pivoted on his heels and trekked back towards the table, "she said she'll bring it to us. And question, this may sound sensitive and I'm sorry in advance but are women these days that desperate?"

I burst into a fit of laughter and doubled over as he eyed me peculiarly. Well, I guess great minds think alike. "What?" He chuckled softly and I shook my head as I leaned back.

"If that were my brother he'd have her number by now, have her in his bed by tonight or this morning whatever! And have her out the house by five then discard of her number like she never existed." I said before my chuckle turned into a frown.

My brother really is a man whore.

"Your brother is a player, I'm not." He winked.

"Chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes for Xavier." The brunette exclaimed as she stalked towards our table. She smiled sweetly and placed the tray of pancakes down before us, her eyes flickering towards Xavier as she leaned in deliberately beside him so that his eyes would meet her cleavage by default.

. . .if he was a player apparently.

"Thanks a lot, appreciate it. And just some words of advice love, not all men are attracted to women who flaunt their bodies around like it's of no value. Respect yourself, you're beautiful and I don't want to wake up one morning and hear that you were murdered because you flashed yourself to the wrong person."

She batted her eyes in shock and lowered her head in embarrassment before grabbing the tray and rushing away. I flickered my eyes towards Xavier, still flabbergasted at the words that escaped his lips and how nonchalantly he said it.

"God, that was excruciating." He exclaimed as he grabbed his knife and fork and sliced through his pancake. I continued staring at him in disbelief and when he realized that I hadn't begun eating he snapped his head towards me and smiled sheepishly, "what?"

"Just. . .what you just told her." I exclaimed and he shrugged nonchalantly as he peered into my eyes, "I hate it when women think that all men are attracted to them for their body so they use that as their tickets to get into their beds. Don't get me wrong, your body, your choice but I hate it when women do it to me. I love a woman who can respect herself, if you respect yourself then others will respect you. If you don't, how do expect to be treated fairly in this world?"

I gaped at him and he chuckled once again, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red as he slipped a pancake into his mouth." I just. . .I don't know what to say." I muttered and he flickered his eyes down towards my pancake before a smile stretched out onto his lips.

"I think you should eat before it gets cold." He said and I snapped my eyes towards it before grabbing my knife and fork and cutting through it. "Xavier, may I ask, what kind of women do you like?"

He peered up from his plate and our eyes immediately interlocked. We fell into silence for a few moments before his lips tugged into a smile, "I guess we're gonna find out."

•••

We pulled up beside my house and I searched the parking lot for our parent's car but it was nowhere to be seen which means Alec hasn't come home yet.

Mom and dad are gonna kill him.

"Thanks for tonight, for saving me from Dave, getting me sober before I got home and bringing me out for pancakes. I appreciate it." I muttered shyly as I tilted my head away from his face, too shy to peer into his eyes.

I jolted in shock when his fingers suddenly grazed my chin and he arched my head towards his and once again our eyes interlocked and it was as if trachea had closed on itself as my breath hitched in my throat.

"Thank you for tonight, I had a lot of fun." He smiled before suddenly leaning in towards me. My eyes widened in fear as he etched his face closer towards me. I expected him to try kissing me on the lips but I was equally shocked when he pressed his lips against my cheek for a few seconds before pulling away.

"Goodnight, Ellie."

"Goodnight, Xavier," I mumbled, a smile making its way onto my lips as I slipped out of the car and slammed the door shut.

I trekked up the path leading towards my house and silently made my way onto the porch. I turned back towards the streets and realized that he was still there, most likely waiting till I got inside safely.

With a sigh, I unlocked the door and slipped inside and with one last glance, I closed it behind me and slid down the door, the air now finding its way back into my lungs as I wondered to myself what the hell just happened.