“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen,” Axel says flatly. “I thought you’d learned your lesson, but maybe I need to help remind you how to forget about her.Again.”
My eyes widen. Wait.Axel did that to him?
Darren raises both hands, the twisted version of a peace offering. “Nah, man. We’re cool. I’m just being friendly orwhatever.”
Friendly, my ass.
“You’re not a friendly guy, Darren,” Axel says, voice low and dark. “Now fuck off before I make you.”
Darren mutters something under his breath, something aboutincestuous whores, but finally turns and slinks away. Axel doesn’t so much as blink until Darren’s completely out of sight. When he finally turns to face me, I’m forced to release my grip on him.
“You did that?” I whisper.
Maybe I should be horrified. But I’m not. I’m in awe.
Axel’s gone out of his way to defend me,again. Is it healthy to feel safe around someone who uses violence as retribution? Probably not. But right now, I do.
“Yes,” Axel says, unapologetic. “And I’d do it again. Darren needs to learn how to treat women with respect. Unfortunately, I think it’ll take a few more lessons before that sinks in. Is that okay with you?”
I pause. Considering.
“Yeah,” I say. “It is.”
Because if Darren acted that way with me, a girl he’d just met, God knows how many others he’s hurt. I was lucky. I had Axel. Not everyone does.
We head back inside without another word. Our friends shoot us nosy glances, but neither of us offers an explanation. They don’t need to know. Apparently, Axel doesn’t feel the same about keeping things quiet.
“Rachel,” he says evenly, sitting down across from her. “Can you explain why people think we’re dating?”
Her fork freezes halfway to her mouth. Jessie’s brow furrows. Nik leans forward with barely concealed interest,amusement twitching at the corner of his mouth.
Rachel finally sets her fork down and lets out a high-pitched, fake laugh.
“I mean… everyone knows we’re sleeping together,babe.”
My stomach hurts. The image of them together burns into my brain, and I hate how it makes me feel.
Axel’s tone doesn’t change. “Slept. Past tense. The last time was well over two months ago. You know that. So again, why do people think we’restilltogether? Because I know I sure as shit haven’t told anyone that.”
Rachel looks like she wants to crawl under the table and die. Ialmostfeel bad for her. Almost.
“I don’t know,” she shrugs. “Ask the people who’re saying it.”
“Funny thing,” Axel replies. “I did. They saidJessietold them I was off-limits.”
Jessie shoots me a knowing look, and now, I want to crawl under the table and die. Maybe Rachel and I have something in common after all. We can start a club.
“I can’t control what Jessie says,” Rachel snaps.
Jessie’s jaw drops. “Excuse me?”
Without another word, Rachel stands and storms off. Jessie follows, fuming. That’s one conversation I’m happy not to be part of.
Axel scoots back his chair, standing. “I need a minute,” he says, walking off.
Nik whistles low beside me. “Damn.”
He leans back, arms folding across his chest as he studies me.
