Reach Out For The Sunrise Ch. 13

"I'll miss you, Xavier chico," he said bravely. "It was good knowing you."

Xavier stole a quick glance at Nicolas and back to Chavez, a smile tugging at his lips. He figured Chavez would soon have other diversions to help keep him from missing him too much. What he said though, with a wink and another quick kiss, was, "I'm sure I'll see you again."

He didn't do well with goodbyes, he always felt awkward and unsettled.

Nicolas wished him farewell with a sort of wistful airiness, but Xav noticed his hand didn't stray too far from Chavez's waist. Knowing that those two had formed a bond of sorts made him feel better about his own choices.

Then, with final smiles and waves, they were out the door and in the spacious Cayenne, Lord Warren up front with Aldo, and Xav and Rayne settling into the backseat. Both Dominic and Rayne seemed somewhere between amused and surprised that Xavier had never been on a train before. San Francisco didn't have a subway, and the only concept Xav had of trains was something that carried freight.

"Well..." Dominic exclaimed cheerfully. "England here we come, then!"

Rayne turned his head to exchange a long look with Xavier. His lips were smiling, his pale eyes slightly concerned.

"Are you okay?" he asked, almost under his breath.

Xavier smiled back and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'm fine." And he was, for the most part. He couldn't help a little bit of anxiety though. His world, and the only life he knew, had been pretty much turned upside down. The weeks they'd spent in Italy had given him time to get used to the idea that he wasn't going to be able to go back to that city or that life, but it had also given him a chance to get comfortable, if he didn't think too far ahead.

Staying at Aldo's had been a bit like putting life on hold for a while, and now someone had gone and pressed the play button again. He was very happy Rayne wasn't trying to cut him out of his life anymore, but there were still uncertainties ahead. Xavier wasn't too worried though. He could handle just about anything and, as usual, he decided, he would figure it out as he went along.

The high-powered car rolled out of the drive and onto the highway and was swallowed up in the golden glow of the Italian sunrise.

*

REACH OUT FOR THE SUNRISE

© SADIE ROSE BERMINGHAM & BELLORA QUINN 2010

THE END