“You live here now,” Axel says. “I’m going to buy that apartment. It’s right in this building. It will probably take a few weeks to close.”
“O-okay.”
He nudges my shoulder. “Come on. I’ll make you some tea. The chamomile stuff.”
“You bought chamomile tea?”
“It’s supposed to help you sleep, and you need sleep, Enz. I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
He nods, and for some reason, it feels more like a vow than an agreement.
I follow him to the kitchen, and I don’t say what I’m thinking, which is: I’m in love with you.
Instead I sit at the counter and watch him fill the kettle. He moves easily, removing a mug from the cabinet, and finding a tea bag.
He glances at me, and his expression softens.
Finally, he sets the hot tea in front of me. Steam curls from it, and it smells faintly of honey.
“You sweetened it?”
“Uh-huh.” He winks and sits down beside me. “Now tell me again how you wereso sadandso worriedwhen you thought I wanted you to move out.”
My face heats. “Shut up.”
“You weredevastated. Inagony.”
“I wasn’t—” I shove him. He catches my wrist, grinning, and then somehow, we’re both on the floor, and his laughter fills the apartment, and I’m laughing too, helpless in his arms.
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Enzo
It’s 2 AM and I can’t sleep. Luca isn’t even crying. There’s no excuse.
Footsteps pad toward me.
“Axel?”
“Sorry. I thought I heard something. You’re still awake?” Axel asks.
“Um…”
“We have another game tomorrow.”
“I know,” I say miserably.
“That’s it,” Axel says. “Come to the bedroom.”
My breath catches. He didn’t… I must have misheard him.
“You’re not getting any sleep on the couch,” Axel grumbles.
Maybe I didn’t mishear him.
