“I’m sorry!” I wheeze.
She sighs, wiping flour off the counter. “Go clean yourself up while I finish this. And maybe… find something else to do until dinner. Oh, and if you see Axel, send him down.Hecan actually follow instructions.”
Ouch.
I retreat upstairs, properly chastened, but when I glance in the bathroom mirror, I burst out laughing. A thin layer of flour coats my face and hair, making me look like a dusty Victorian ghost.
I turn the shower on, needing to clean up before dinner anyway.
The bruises from Darren have finally faded, and I’m starting to feel a little more like myself again. Without the visual reminders, it’s like I can almost pretend nothing happened. Almost.
After drying off, I get dressed in a new outfit Maryanne helped me pick out during our last shopping trip. The top is a burnt orange, off-the-shoulder slouchy sweater that’s cute and cozy. It gives the perfect fall vibe. I pair it with dark wash jeans and brown boots.
I’m in the middle of straightening my hair when Axel wanders in without knocking and flops face-first onto my comforter like it’shisbed.
I eye him in the mirror. It’s not lost on me how comfortable he’s gotten being in my bed, lately. I should probably do something about that.
“Hey. Maryanne said you have to keep me company until dinner,” I lie.
He smirks. “Is that what she said? Or was it to get out of her kitchen and send Axel down because he’s the helpful child?”
Busted.
I give him a sheepish grin.
“The carrot thing was an accident.”
“Sure it was.” He flips over onto his back and folds his arms behind his head. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Nevertheless, Axel stays and chats with me while I sit in front of my floor-length mirror, carefully running the straightening iron through sections of my long, golden hair.
I’m just reaching for my mascara when footsteps sound in the hallway. Nik strolls in like he owns the place. He had Thanksgiving lunch with his family, but when he heard we were having dinner, he invited himself over for a second round. Smart guy.
Nik’s in a fitted cobalt sweater that makes his eyes stand out even more than usual, and jeans that leave very little to the imagination. Axel lifts an eyebrow when he walks in and lets out a low whistle.
“Damn. You dressing up for our girl here, or just showing off?”
Our girl?I blush.
“Maybe I dressed up for you.” His gaze slides to me, then back to Axel with a playful glint.
“Keep dreaming, Romeo,” Axel mutters, but there’s no heat in it, just a curl of amusement. And something else. Something unspoken.
Nik leans against the wall near the mirror, watching me put the finishing touches on my makeup. Through the reflection, I glance at him, then at Axel. They’re watching each other with the kind of lazy focus that makes it hard to tell if they’re annoyed or intrigued.
“You two need a room?” I ask, arching a brow.
Nik chuckles breaking their stare off. “Only if you’re in it.”
Axel doesn’t laugh, but his mouth twitches. “Careful. She might take you up on that.”
“Wouldn’t be the worst way to spend a holiday,” Nik replies, tone light, but there’s a weight behind it.
The air tightens. The three of us are balanced on the edge of something dangerous, daring ourselves to step closer.
I step back.
I grab my gloss and swipe it over my lips, acting like I don’t feel the shift.
