Axel: Thank you for saying that, but I know what we’re doing is for the best.
Axel: At least until you work through your family issues.
The wave of anger hit her with full force, and she’d never hated her parents more than she did right at this minute.
She stared at her phone, wishing she didn’t have to talk to Axel via text. Wanting him there with her more than she should. And before she knew it, she was calling him because she needed to hear his voice.
“Hello?” His voice was deep and gruff, just like it always was when he was half asleep. In her mind, he was right there in the bed beside her, nuzzling her neck.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know it’s late and you’re obviously tired…”
“It’s all good, beautiful,” he assured her.
“Are we crazy?” she asked, her own voice a little soft and sleepy.
“Depends on what you’re talking about.”
“It was one week. Not even. I know I’m not alone in how I’m feeling, but…” She paused because she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to what she was about to ask.
“But…?”
“But…is this…” The huff of frustration was out before she could stop it. “Is this just physical? I mean…is it possible we’re just so physically attracted to each other and that’s why we can’t stay away, or is it more?”
“I’m not gonna lie, I was attracted to you from the moment I opened my eyes and you were on top of me.”
“You tackled me because you thought I was breaking in.”
“You were breaking in,” he countered. “But that doesn’t change the fact that when everything went still and I opened my eyes and I saw your face? I was instantly attracted to you. You’re beautiful.”
Her cheeks heated at his words.
“I’m not. And especially not that day. I looked like a drowned rat.”
“That’s not the way I remember it. And once we were up and moving around, I was attracted to you in every other way. Your determination, your personality, your sense of humor, the way you handled that entire crazy situation, and your honesty.”
Honesty?
Ugh. Just hearing him say that shamed her.
While she had been honest with him, she still held a lot back.
“Just don’t mess with him, okay? Axel’s had a hard life. Like…a really hard life. I get that the two of you hooked up and maybe it didn’t mean anything beyond the moment, but…if he knows about your real life, it’s going to seriously screw with his head. He’s going to take it personally.”
“We’re not crazy,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “There was something there, and there still is. And when you’re ready, we’ll come back to it.”
He was killing her.
“What if…what if it takes a long time? What if I’m not the person you thought I was?”
“There isn’t anything that would change how I feel,” he said quietly. “I don’t usually do this sort of thing; I don’t get too attached or too involved. But with you, I want that. I feel that even though you didn’t share a whole lot about your personal life, you must have had your reasons. And I respect them. But I saw the real you during our time together. I know that. Like deep down in my soul, I know it.”
Tears were streaming down her face because she knew when he found out about who she really was and where she came from, he’d feel completely different.
There were so many things she wanted to say, but the words got stuck in her throat until finally Axel was the one to speak.
“Get some sleep, beautiful girl. It’s late, and tomorrow’s going to be just as busy again.”
“Okay,” she finally forced herself to say.
