Xander wasn't used to confusion.
His life had been neatly ordered in its cold, calculating routine for as long as he could remember. Meetings, mergers, silence, and more silence. But lately—ever since she barged into his life—everything had started to feel like a series of interruptions. And worse, he wasn't sure he minded.
Erin Lane was a walking contradiction. A maid who didn't know how to act like one, who rolled her eyes at him, who had the nerve to joke about his breakfast being a royal punishment—and yet somehow made the air in every room warmer.
He didn't know when exactly it started—this quiet irritation under his skin whenever she smiled at someone else. Or the way his gaze kept tracking her even when he told himself not to. Or how his mind kept looping back to the kitchen incident, where she'd clumsily fallen into his arms and they'd frozen, eyes locked, hearts loud.
He'd brushed it off at the time. Accidents happen. Staff trip. Nothing more.
But his thoughts wouldn't let it go. Especially not when she was so close, and so off-limits.
The movie night hadn't been his idea, obviously. It was Elliot's, probably as an excuse to ransack his popcorn stash. Both his brothers had decided to stay over for the night, which, while rare, wasn't unheard of. What was unusual was how easily Erin had clicked with them.
She laughed at their terrible jokes. She made fun of the movie. She didn't shrink from the teasing—she joined in.
And he…sat there like an idiot.
He finally huffed. "Could you all keep it down?"
"You're just mad because you like it," one of the twins teased, nudging him with his elbow. "You're not fooling anyone, big brother."
Xander's face tightened slightly, though his lips quirked upward. "I'm not mad. Just… distracted."
On the same couch. Too aware of her shoulder brushing his every now and then. Too distracted to pretend the movie was even registering.
"So," Elliot said sometime midway through the film, popping a kernel into his mouth with exaggerated flair, "you've been acting different, big brother."
Xander raised an eyebrow without turning. "Define different."
Emerson jumped in. "I dunno… like, softer. Especially when she's around."
Xander didn't respond, but he shot them both a look that said shut up, now. The twins grinned. Erin fell quiet, and he caught her peeking at him from the corner of her eye.
He didn't know what annoyed him more—his brothers being right, or the fact that she noticed.
The movie ended past midnight. Elliot and Evan yawned like it was a performance and wandered off to the guest wing, leaving behind a battlefield of popcorn.
Xander stood to leave—but paused when Erin started gathering the mess. Of course. The ever-dutiful maid, who only half-acted like one.
He hesitated.
Then, before he could second-guess himself, he asked, "You need help?"
Erin blinked. "You're…helping?"
"Is it so hard to believe?" he muttered.
She gave a tiny, amused shrug. "Honestly, a little."
He didn't reply. They moved in quiet rhythm for a few minutes, collecting the scattered popcorn on the floor. The silence wasn't uncomfortable—but it wasn't normal either. Something hovered between them. A question neither wanted to voice.
Xander exhaled and looked at her—really looked. The faintest crease lined her brows. She looked…tired. Like she was battling something he couldn't name.
"Why are you always like this?" he asked quietly.
Erin glanced up. "Like what?"
He didn't know how to explain it. So instead, he said, "You're unpredictable."
"And that's…a problem?"
"No," he said before he could stop himself. "It's not."
"I'll, uh, get some water. I'm calling it a night."
Their eyes met again when she looked back. No sarcasm. No witty remarks. Just silence.
He didn't understand her. He didn't trust her.
But something about her presence was making him forget why he ever preferred being alone.