Axel rolls his eyes. “Lina, just hug me already.”
I do. I slide my arms around his neck and press my face into his chest. He just lets me melt into him. At first it feels stiff,unfamiliar. But little by little, my body relaxes. My arms grow less tense. My breath slows.
He smells good. Warm, clean, something faintly spicy and male. I breathe it in like it’s the first breath of air taken after drowning for so long. Let it ground me.
We stand like that for what feels like hours, but it’s probably only a minute.
“Lina?”
“Yeah?” I mumble, still buried in his chest.
“Can I hug you back now?”
I nod and feel him shift.
“I’m going to put my arms around you now,” he says, gently narrating the motion.
Even with the warning, I still cringe at the first contact, but he doesn’t tighten his hold. He just waits, standing soft and motionless, until I settle back into him.
Only then does he hug me fully, tightening his arms around me and resting his chin on top of my head.
I can’t remember the last time someone held me like this. Or the last time I let them.
It’s overwhelming. The safe warmth of it. The way his body makes space for mine.
And just like that, I start crying again.
“Hey,” Axel says, voice sounding a bit panicky. “Are you okay? Do you need me to let go?”
“N-no,” I sniffle. “Please don’t. It f-feels nice.”
So, he simply holds me while I cry.
When I finally stop, shame creeps in fast. I pull back and glance down, and sure enough, his T-shirt is damp. I wince.
“I’m so—”
“Stop.” His voice is firm, but not unkind.
Surprised, I look up. His dark eyes are steady on mine.
“It’s just a shirt. It’ll dry.”
My cheeks heat, and I gently push away, untangling myself.
I change the subject. “I can’t believe no one’s come in here.”
“I’m not,” he says easily. “I locked the door behind me on my way in.”
Of course he did.
“I figured you could use some privacy.”
His boldness amazes me. I wonder what it’s like to be Axel Harrington. To seemingly not give two shits about rules or consequences.
He flips the lock on the stall, and we step out. I hurry to the mirror, and yep, I look exactly like someone who just cried in a bathroom stall. Red eyes. Blotchy cheeks. Mascara tracks.
I freshen up while Axel leans patiently against the wall, waiting like this is just a normal part of his day.
