“I have been looking forward to this,” I say primly.
“Let’s get to it,” Axel says with flair, “our chariot awaits.”
“Chariot, huh?” Axel’s Corvette is in Nashville. He’s probably in a rental. It’s probably a sports car, knowing him. I hope it’snot a convertible. I spent too long on my hair to get it blown to pieces.
We go outside. I halt in my tracks. A man in a chauffeur uniform—complete with a cap—is waiting for us. “You got a limo?”
“I did,” he says with a note of pride.
“What’s the occasion?”
“We’re celebrating … us.”
“Okay,” I laugh. There’s never a dull moment with Axel.
The driver opens the door as we climb inside. When the driver gets in the front, he raises the tinted window between him and us. We take advantage of the privacy and share a few pulse-pounding kisses along the way.
I nestle into the curve of Axel’s shoulder. “I missed you so much,” I sigh.
“I missed you too.” He grazes light circles over my bare skin with his fingertips.
“Which restaurant are we going to?”
“You’ll see,” he says.
My stomach grows as I clutch it.
He chuckles. “Hungry as usual, I see.”
“You know me.”
“I do,” he murmurs into my hair.
After thirty minutes or so, the limo finally comes to a stop. The driver opens our door and helps me out, leaving Axel to fend for himself. When I realize where we are, confusion washes over me. I turn to Axel with a frown. “You’re taking me to the high school?” The high school is only five minutes away from my parents’ house. Was the limo driver going in circles?
“I am.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.”
Disappointment rolls over me. Maybe I should’ve eaten before we left.
He laughs. “Don’t look so glum. There’ll be food.”
I smile. “You know me too well.”
We go in through the front entrance, which is unlocked. Surprising since all the lights are off. It’s eerie walking down the long hall in the dark. Instinctively, I scoot closer to Axel.
“Afraid the boogie man’ll get you?” he teases.
“It’s dark, and we’re alone,” I say in my defense. “And I don’t even know where we’re going.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He navigates me to the gym and turns to me. “You ready for this?” he says loudly.
“Ready for what? And why’re you yelling?” Axel’s acting strange tonight. There’s a peculiar undercurrent of excitement running through him.
He only laughs. A second later, music starts playing. He pushes open the door and leads me inside.
