TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE
Xavier watched Zeke walk away, his jaw tightening. There was no point denying it, he was jealous.
Claire might be close to him now, but Zeke was still her father. Still Cassidy's ex-husband. And that alone was enough to sting.
He thought back to when Zeke had said, "Thank you." Polite. Calm. But underneath it, something possessive. Like Xavier was just a stand in. Like Cassidy and Claire were still his.
It made Xavier's blood simmer.
Who did he think he was?
Cassidy wasn't his wife anymore. And Claire was closer to him now. That should've been enough.
But it wasn't.
He was afraid Zeke might take Cassidy and Claire away from him.
Then suddenly, Xavier froze. Realization sank in. A quiet, bitter laugh escaped his lips because the truth was, Cassidy and Claire were never really his to begin with.
"Hey, Xav… you okay over there?"
No response.
"Xavier?"
