My stomach drops.
I stare at the listing. The photos show a small, clean space—kitchenette, bathroom, a window facing the city. It’s nice. It’s exactly the kind of place you’d put someone you wanted nearby but not too nearby.
My first thought is the obvious one—he’s moving me out. But I’ve been wrong before. Patricia needs her own space. That’s probably all this is.
Right.
My hands shake anyway.
I try to remember what Axel was saying about loyalty. But maybe he doesn’t like arguing at 3 AM with someone he doesn’t really like.
I hurry away from the laptop like it burned me. My heart is doing something painful in my chest.
Of course. Of course this was always the plan. Axel is Luca’s father. He has legal rights. He has the space, the charm. I’m just the uncle. The sad, grieving uncle who sleeps on his couch and can’t even keep a toddler from having nightmares.
I knew this was temporary. Iknewit.
The door to Axel’s bedroom opens, and he comes out, toweling his hair, wearing sweatpants and nothing else. Water droplets trail down his chest. I look at the ceiling.
“Hey, have you seen my—” He stops. “Enzo? You okay?”
“Fine.” My voice comes out wrong.
He frowns. “You don’t look fine.”
“I’m tired,” I say. “I’m going to check on Luca.”
I’m halfway to Luca’s room when his voice stops me.
“Enz. Wait.”
I turn around reluctantly.
He’s holding up his laptop. “Did you see this?”
“Uh… Yeah, I did.”
He grins wide. “It’s right in this building. Isn’t that great?”
I nod slowly. “Yeah. That’s good. I-I can buy it.”
He frowns. “I can get it.”
“You’re not buying me an apartment, Axel.”
“You?” For a moment he looks confused, then a smile breaks over his face. “You don’t want to leave.”
I step back. My stomach tenses.
He can tell?
He approaches me, still smiling. His expression is soft. “Enz…”
I swallow hard.
He wants me to leave.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” I say. “And you’re right. That’s a good find. I can buy my own apartment though. I’m, uh, sorry that I didn’t think to look for one before. I would still like to see as much of Luca as possible. I know you don’t want someone on your couch indefinitely.”
