“That’s very kind of you.”
He shrugs. “It’s the least I can do since you’re sacrificing Christmas Eve to help.”
The guilt wraps me like a tourniquet. This was supposed to be a simple job. Get the scoop and get out. Then again, I’ve learned that when it comes to Axel, nothing is simple.
“How about you? Are you spending Christmas here with Zoe?” Even as the words leave my mouth, my jaw tightens. The idea of Axel and Zoe together shouldn’t bother me, but it does.
He shakes his head. “No, Zoe’s spending Christmas with her family in Florida. I’ll be in Mt. Pleasant with mine. I can help with the benefit and stay over.”
I’m surprised. “So you’ll actually fly me back alone?”
He grins. “Sure. If you think you can handle it. Not afraid of flying solo, are you?”
“Not at all,” I say quickly. “That’s just … generous of you.”
He flashes me that easy smile again, and for a split second, it’s hard to look away. Suddenly, I’m back in band, where one look from him had me walking on air.Reel it in, I order myself. This isn’t junior high, and I’m no longer the naïve metal mouth. I need to remember who I’m dealing with here. Axel stood me up without a word of explanation. Only a lameSorry, something came up. Can’t make it.I meant so little to him that he doesn’t even recognize me. That speaks volumes.
We lapse into silence. Outside, the city glows with the soft shimmer of Christmas lights. It must’ve rained earlier. The pavement gleams like glass.
“It’s supposed to snow later tonight, but we should be fine getting back after the soup kitchen.”
“Sounds good,” I murmur.
He turns on the radio, scanning stations untilJingle Bell Rockbursts from the speakers. Before long, he’s singing along. His notable voice fills the car, and I can’t help but smile. Axel’s distinctive sound is what made him an icon—it’s both melodic and husky with a hint of bad boy thrown into the mix. No wonder all the girls swoon.
“Sing with me.”
I groan. “Haven’t we sung enough today?” Good grief. He doesn’t stop.
“Never. Come on, let’s hear it.”
“Fine.” I join in, and before I know it, we’re both belting out the chorus, laughing between lines like old friends.
When the song ends, he glances at me. “Not half bad.”
“Not half good either,” I shoot back.
“Speak for yourself.”
“Ha ha. I see how you are.”
A few minutes later, he turns into the parking lot of an old church.
The corners of my mouth dip. “I thought we were going to the soup kitchen.”
“We are. It’s in the fellowship hall here—the church got converted into an outreach center.”
He goes around and opens the door for me—again. He helped me into the car when we left. Who would’ve guessed that he would turn out to be a gentleman? It’s hard to reconcile the man before me with the memory of the man I’ve detested for so long.
Shivers wrack my body as I hug my arms and quicken my pace to get inside. It’s cold to the bone. We enter through the back and go into the hall, where we’re greeted with the hum of voices and the sound of Christmas music drifting from speakers. The scent of soup and bread hangs in the air. Red and gold garland drapes the walls. Colored lights sparkle on a Christmas tree in the corner. The hall is homey and welcoming.
As we go over to the long serving table, a woman in her early forties with short spiky blonde hair spots Axel and beams. “You made it.”
“Happy to help.” Axel turns to me. “Lizzy, this is London.”
“Nice to meet you,” she says warmly.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Lizzy is attractive in a bold, fashionable way with dangly Christmas earrings and flawless makeup.
