“No, it’s more than that.” She examined me like I was a puzzle missing pieces. “Trust me, after growing up in the foster care system, you become really good at reading people. It’s a survival skill.”
There was something behind those words that I wanted to explore, a shadow that darkened her eyes momentarily, making me wonder,What had made reading people a matter of survival for her?But I didn’t know her well enough to push on that particular door.
“What’s the history of you two?” Faith asked. “Because the sexual tension between you guys could power a small city.”
“Sexual tension?” I feigned shock. “We hate each other.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” Faith’s smirk said she wasn’t buying it. “Spill. Because my imagination is running wild right now.”
I sighed, regretting this conversation. “When my brother, Knox, was in college, I used to visit him all the time. Enter tall, dark, and absolutely impossible.”
“Mysterious backstory. I’m here for it.”
“I felt something between us right away. All those stolen glances, finding excuses to bump into each other. You know, the usualI’m totally not staring at youdance.”
Faith leaned forward. “Classic lovers setup. Continue.”
“But then one weekend, like someone flipped a switch, Axel didn’t just push me away; he shoved. Hard.” The memory still stung, even buzzed on wine. “At first, I kept asking myself, what happened? I replayed everything, looking for clues. Had I said something? Done something? We’d had the best time together just days before. When I couldn’t figure it out, I mustered the courage to ask him.”
“What did Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding say when you confronted him?”
“And I quote, ‘Nothing happened, Sunshine. Whatever you thought was going on between us, you thought wrong.’”
Faith winced. “Ouch. That’s some premium-grade rejection right there.”
“Right? And that was the first time he used that stupid nickname, which made it ten times worse. Like, thanks for the emotional whiplash, wrapped in fake affection.” I took another sip. “When my eyes welled up, his whole body deflated like he wanted to take it back. But I left before he had the chance to apologize because … screw him, you know?”
“So, he basically led you on and then slammed the door in your face.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I imagined the whole thing.” I shrugged, hating how uncertain I still sounded. “Either way, I decided if he was going to be a complete ass, I’d be one right back. I’d never been mean to anyone before, but with him, I would literally rehearse my insults in the shower.”
Faith snorted. “Please tell me you didn’t use index cards.”
I grinned despite myself. “I’d deliver these carefully crafted verbal daggers with total fake confidence, and he’d just?—”
“What?”
“Smirk. Then get right in my space, close enough that I had to crane my neck to glare at his ridiculously sexy face, and he’d say something like, ‘Did you practice that in the mirror, Sunshine?’” My cheeks heated at the memory of how he knew me so well, even back then. “The infuriating part was how he’d get this look in his eyes, like he was enjoying every second of our little battles.”
“Girl.” Faith set down her glass. “He was definitely into you fighting back.”
“That’s what made it worse! Every time I’d launch into one of my prepared attacks, he’d stalk across the room like he owned the place, invade my personal space, and then do that thing where he’d run his thumb across his bottom lip while smirking down at me. It was like he was weaponizing his own mouth.”
Faith bit her lip to keep from smiling. “Sounds to me like he looked forward to your jabs as much as you liked rehearsing them.”
“Yeah, well, then Knox got arrested, and everything changed.” The lightness in my voice dimmed. “My whole world imploded. One day at the courthouse, Axel saw me shaking and tried to comfort me. But I was so raw, so angry at everything, I told him he was the last person I’d ever want comfort from.”
“Ouch.”
“I know. I was a mess. Before Knox’s arrest, my biggest problem was decoding mixed signals from my brother’s hot friend. After? I just wanted to get through each day without completely falling apart.” I twisted my wineglass. “Axel tried reaching out after Knox went to prison, but I shut him down every time. Instead of spending those last free months really being with my brother, I’d wasted all my mental energy obsessing over someone who apparently didn’t want anything to do with me.”
Faith reached over and squeezed my hand. “You were young and had no idea your brother was about to go to prison. Cut yourself some slack.”
“I guess. But now here we are, years later, and I still don’t know if what I felt back then from Axel was real or just wishful thinking.” I laughed, but it came out hollow. “And somehow, that’s still the story of my life with Axel Pierce. Never knowing what’s real and what’s fake.”
Faith’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Well, fake engagement or not, one thing’s crystal clear: that man is still very much affected by you.”
“Did you not hear the part about how rude he was?” I challenged.
