Chapter 30: (Aubrey's POV)- Third-Wheeling

I woke up at the usual time and got ready to head over to Xavier's for babysitting. I remembered to gather my belongings for the weekend since Catherine and Sheriff Clarke are going on a little getaway for the weekend to Rock Hill.

My mom was gone already, as I thought, and I made sure to grab the keys before keeping my backpack on and getting on my bike, making my way over to the Parker household. I parked in their driveway to see Catherine and Sheriff Clarke throwing Catherine's bags into the trunk of his car. 

"Take care, do not cause her trouble, love you!" Catherine announced before noticing me. "Thank you for staying, I owe you." She gave me a quick hug before I greeted Robert. They quickly got into the car and sped off. 

I stood at the beginning of the driveway as Xavier stood in the doorway of the front door, leaning on the doorframe, shirtless, squinting at the brightness of the sun. Did he just wake up? He smirked as I walked up the driveway. "Welcome home." He held the door open, letting me walk as I eyed him suspiciously. He seems giddy. "Now Carthy, from our conversation last night, I get the impression you have a challenge for me, which I accept, however, I have a challenge for you too." He waited for my reaction but I just observed him. "The first one to fall loses." His eyes twinkled with amusement. 

"Challenge accepted, Parker." I shrugged casually before plopping down on the couch as he headed upstairs. 

"Oh, by the way, I invited Julie over to hang out." His head peeped out from the doorway as he winked before going into his bedroom. 

That asshole.

Why would he invite her after everything that happened? 

Oh my god. 

I am so incredibly stupid. 

He wanted me to agree to the challenge so my jealousy would confirm my falling and my dumbass agreed without thinking of any possibilities and consequences. It takes two to tango, babe. 

If you want to play, I can too. With that dancing thought, I picked up my phone and dialed Peter's number without hesitation. "Hey, are you free today? I was wondering if you'd want to hang out?" I smirked to myself while playing it cool and casual over the phone. 

"Sure, where?" he asked. 

"Xavier's house. Don't worry, I got it covered. Meet me in thirty?" 

He agreed and with that, we said bye and hung up, just as Xavier came downstairs, now dressed and his hair slightly damp. 

"Oh, by the way, I invited Peter over to hang out," I smirked while aimlessly scrolling through my social media, keeping my gaze glued to my phone as he froze in his tracks to the kitchen and turned in my direction. 

"You did what?" he questioned in shock. "Why?" he asked through gritted teeth while taking a seat beside me. 

"You invited Julie." I shrugged. "It takes two to tango, babe." I teased before getting up and going into the kitchen to make myself a fruit salad since I skipped breakfast to be here earlier since Catherine requested as she was leaving. 

"Okay, but why Peter?" he groaned while sitting on a barstool as I grabbed strawberries and washed them. 

"Why Julie?" 

He opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it. "Parker, don't even try saying it's different. It's not different at all. She's the other girl and Peter's the other guy." I shrugged.

He had a pout on his face the entire time until the doorbell rang. I was hoping it was Peter so that I wouldn't have to be the third wheel today but of course, it was Julie. I just told Peter thirty minutes because I didn't know when she was getting here, whatever, guess I just have to deal with it. 

"Hey." Parker greeted her and she greeted him back with a tight hug, a little too tight. 

I resisted an eye roll as I continued chopping the top off my strawberries since the fridge had no other good fruits, just boring old apples. Maybe I should've had an apple. Maybe an apple a day could've kept a Julie away if not a doctor. 

"We have company today." He brought her into the kitchen. 

Her eyes widened a little before she smirked. 

I plastered a smile on my face before narrowing my eyes at her slightly. 

Geez, Aubrey. Back off, he's not yours now.

"We'll have more company joining us later too," I grinned at the sight of Xavier squirming slightly in his spot. 

"Will you be making us breakfast?" she smirked at me. 

I raised an eyebrow slightly before responding. "Xavier can do that for you, won't you Xavier?" If he didn't like her, then I'm sure it would be amusing to see him stuck with her. 

"You said you can't cook." She turned to him in confusion. 

"For people that are special, I can," he spoke while looking straight into my eyes. 

"Am I not special, Xav?" she spoke, stunned.  

I raised my eyebrows while turning my eyes to her and biting back a smile before popping a strawberry in my mouth and walking away to the couch. I sat there, going on my phone to pass time while hearing the very annoying giggles which were giving me a headache of Julie and feeling the eyes of Xavier burning holes into me. 

Damn, third-wheeling sucks. 

Just as that thought crossed my head, the doorbell rang. I guess my company is here. I smiled and glanced at Parker to see his jaw clench before I skipped to the door and answered it. "Hey," I greeted him with a smile before he engulfed me in a hug as I smirked. 

"Hey, you look pretty." He checked me out, eyeing my peach sundress head to toe. 

"Thank you," I smiled sweetly. I looped my arm through his before leading him to the kitchen, leading him there. "Peter, this is Julie." I introduced him. I saw the way she checked him out and began batting her eyelashes. 

"Why don't you two get to know each other a bit?" Xavier grabbed my wrist, pulling me upstairs. 

"What is wrong with your boyfriend? Why is he checking her out like that?" Is he talking about Peter? Hypocritical much? 

"Well, kudos to your girlfriend for batting her fucking two-dollar lashes at my boyfriend!" I countered. "If you cared, why leave them alone together?" I questioned. 

"Seems to me you don't care either. You'd rather be up here with me," he smirked. 

"Excuse me? You dragged me up here." I accused. I take it he hasn't noticed his firm grip that is still there on my wrist. 

"Did I now?" he raised an eyebrow. 

I mirrored his action before lifting my arm that he was clutching. 

He realized that and quickly let it go. 

"Tell her to back off," I smirked before heading back downstairs to see her trying to get a little touchy with Peter as he got uncomfortable. I felt Xavier standing beside me as I turned to him with a look that read 'I told you so'.

He rolled his eyes before heading downstairs while I followed. 

"Aubrey," Peter sighed as I went and stood beside him while Xavier pulled Julie back a step. 

"Sorry," I whispered to him.

He gave me a small smile before we went and sat on the couch. 

"Any plans?" Julie questioned. 

"We could play Mario kart?" I suggested as Julie rolled her eyes at my suggestion. 

I bet you it's only because she doesn't know how to play. 

"Deal, losers cook lunch," Xavier announced as he set up the game. "We'll do girls and boys against each other so one of each cooks. Fair enough?" he turned to all three of us, seated on the couch. 

Peter and I nodded while Julie whined. "Come on? Mario Kart? This is pathetic," she argued while we all side-eyed her. 

"Shut up," Peter and I whispered under our breaths in synch before biting back our laughter. 

"Ladies, you can go first." He tossed me a remote which I swiftly caught while Julie missed the catch, I guess someone didn't get the memo. 

"Guys come on how old are we? Five? We're going to sit here and play fucking Mario kart?" she rolled her eyes to the back of her head. Who knows, maybe she'll find a brain back there. "We should be playing drinking games," she suggested. 

Xavier and I spoke, "We don't drink," we said simultaneously. 

"Ready?" I smirked at her as Xavier chose the location.

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