Chapter Nine:AVI-My Personal Surveillance System
1489 Words
Two weeks.
Xavier had been in Avi’s life for two weeks.
And Avi was beginning to understand something very important.
Having a husband was stressful.
Having Xavier as a husband was a completely different level of stress.
The man was everywhere.
If Avi went to work, Xavier wanted to know.
If Avi stayed late, Xavier wanted to know.
If Avi went somewhere after work, Xavier wanted to know.
If Avi didn’t answer his phone, Xavier wanted to know why.
If Avi answered his phone, Xavier wanted to know who he was with.
If Avi said he was working, Xavier wanted to know what he was working on.
It was exhausting.
Avi sometimes wondered whether Xavier had secretly become a government surveillance system.
He wouldn’t be surprised.
The man’s favorite questions were:
Where are you?
What are you doing?
Who are you with?
When are you coming home?
Avi was beginning to hate those questions.
Especially the last one.
Because the answer was always obvious.
Home.
The same house.
The same place Xavier had suddenly decided belonged to both of them.
And the worst part?
Xavier had started sleeping in his bedroom.
His bedroom.
Avi had spent three years sleeping alone in that room.
Three years.
Then Xavier had arrived and announced that it was their “marital bedroom.”
Avi still couldn’t believe it.
They were strangers.
How could strangers suddenly share a bedroom simply because a piece of paper said they were married?
But Xavier didn’t seem to understand that concept.
He acted like the three years of separation hadn’t happened.
Like they hadn’t been strangers.
Like they were supposed to wake up one morning and magically become a married couple.
And Avi had absolutely no idea how to bond with someone like Xavier.
Everything Xavier did sounded controlling.
Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Why are you working so late?
Why don’t you want to spend time with me?
When are you coming home?
Who were you with?
Avi was beginning to feel like he needed to submit a daily report.
And today was no different.
He sat behind his desk, working through several client files.
His phone vibrated.
Where are you?
Avi stared at the message.
He typed:
At work.
Thirty seconds later, his phone rang.
A video call.
Avi stared at the screen.
“Seriously?”
He answered.
Xavier’s face appeared.
“Who are you with?”
Avi blinked.
“I’m at work.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“Turn the camera around.”
Avi stared.
“What?”
“Turn the camera around.”
“Why?”
“I want to see who is there.”
Avi rubbed his forehead.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Turn it around.”
Avi reluctantly moved the camera.
The screen showed his office.
His desk.
His files.
His secretary walking past.
He turned it back toward himself.
“There.”
Xavier studied the screen.
“Who was that?”
“My secretary.”
“Male or female?”
Avi’s mouth dropped open.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“She’s a woman.”
Xavier nodded.
“Okay.”
Avi stared at him.
“Are you done?”
“What time are you coming home?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try.”
Avi sighed.
“I have a lot of work.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“Don’t stay too late.”
“I’ll call you later.”
Xavier watched him.
“Promise?”
Avi almost laughed.
“I said I’ll call you later.”
He ended the call.
Then dropped the phone onto his desk.
“This man is insane.”
⸻
By the time Avi got home, dinner was already prepared.
Xavier was there.
Of course.
They sat down.
Avi hoped—prayed, actually—that they could eat in peace.
Apparently, that was too much to ask.
“How was your day?”
“Fine.”
“How was work?”
“Fine.”
“What did you work on?”
“Client matters.”
“Which clients?”
Avi slowly looked up.
“Clients.”
Xavier didn’t look amused.
“Who?”
Avi sighed.
“Why?”
“I want to know.”
“You don’t need to know.”
Xavier’s expression hardened slightly.
“Who were you working with?”
“My clients.”
“And your secretary?”
Avi stared.
“What about her?”
“What’s her name?”
Avi almost choked.
“Why?”
“I asked you a question.”
“Her name is Janet.”
“How long has she worked for you?”
Avi put his fork down.
“Xavier.”
“What?”
“This is ridiculous.”
“I’m asking about your workplace.”
“No, you’re interrogating me.”
“I’m your husband.”
“And?”
Xavier looked at him.
Avi looked back.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Avi picked up his fork again.
He wasn’t going to argue.
He argued for a living.
Every day.
Courtrooms.
Clients.
Opposing lawyers.
Judges.
He didn’t have the energy to come home and argue with the man who was supposed to be his husband.
So he finished dinner.
Then he went upstairs.
As usual.
He went into his office.
Opened his laptop.
And worked.
Hours passed.
One document became another.
Then another.
By the time Avi checked the clock, it was after midnight.
He sighed.
He was exhausted.
Then the office door opened.
Avi looked up.
Xavier stood there.
“Why are you still working?”
Avi looked at the clock.
“It’s past midnight.”
“I can see that.”
“Then why are you asking?”
“You should be sleeping.”
“I’m working.”
“You’ve been working all day.”
“I have a lot to do.”
Xavier stepped closer.
“Enough.”
Avi frowned.
“What?”
“Go to bed.”
The tone was firm.
Not angry.
Not threatening.
Just firm.
Avi stared at him.
He couldn’t decide what Xavier was trying to be.
A husband?
A father?
A boss?
A bodyguard?
A timekeeper?
He wasn’t sure.
But he knew he was tired.
And he didn’t want another argument.
So he closed his laptop.
“Fine.”
Xavier stepped aside.
Avi walked past him.
Neither spoke.
⸻
When they reached the bedroom, Xavier changed into comfortable clothes and got into bed.
Avi followed.
He was no longer fighting the sleeping arrangement.
Not because he liked it.
He was simply too tired to argue.
He climbed into bed and immediately moved toward his usual side.
The far side.
Xavier looked at him.
Avi ignored him.
For a few minutes, everything was quiet.
Then Xavier spoke.
“So you’re going to sleep like that?”
Avi turned his head.
“Like what?”
“All the way over there.”
Avi stared at him.
“What did you expect?”
Xavier didn’t answer.
Avi raised an eyebrow.
“Was I supposed to scooch over?”
Xavier remained silent.
“No.”
Avi turned back around.
“I’m comfortable here.”
There was a pause.
Then Xavier simply said,
“Okay.”
Avi blinked.
That was it?
No argument?
No lecture?
No question?
He looked over.
Xavier was already settling beneath the blanket.
“Good night.”
Avi stared at him.
“Good night.”
He turned around.
Then frowned into the darkness.
Who does that?
Who asks whether you are going to move closer, gets rejected, and simply says okay?
Avi didn’t understand Xavier.
He didn’t understand his moods.
His behavior.
His possessiveness.
His strange concern.
His endless questions.
But there was one thing Avi had learned.
When Xavier had told him two weeks ago that he would never hurt him, he had believed him.
He still believed him.
Avi didn’t know why.
Maybe it was the way Xavier had said it.
Maybe it was the fact that Xavier had never actually crossed that line.
Maybe there was something beneath all that control that Avi hadn’t figured out yet.
Whatever it was, he trusted that one promise.
Avi closed his eyes.
He was still irritated.
Still confused.
Still convinced Xavier was completely insane.
But for the first time, he didn’t feel quite as uncomfortable sharing the room.
And beside him, Xavier remained silent.
No questions.
No demands.
No where are you?
No what are you doing?
Just silence.
Avi smiled faintly despite himself.
“Finally.”
He closed his eyes.
Then Xavier spoke.
“Are you asleep?”
Avi’s eyes flew open.
He stared at the ceiling.
Of course.
He sighed.
“No.”
“Okay.”
Silence.
Avi waited.
Nothing.
He slowly turned his head.
Xavier was already facing the other direction.
Avi stared at him.
Then whispered to himself,
“Unbelievable.”
And somehow, despite everything, he fell asleep smiling.
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