“You expect me to believe that after all this time, you’re not going to try any funny business?”
Axel nodded.“I know that is really hard to believe, and I get it, believe me, I do.I don’t have the best reputation, but the thing is, I don’t know what this is with Joey.I know when I’m away from her, I want to know what she’s doing.I want to know that she is safe, and I want to take care of her.Adeline is a smart girl.She has a lot of questions, and I get it.I don’t know if this is forever, but I have no intention of hurting your girl.”
He was still here.He wanted to make this work with Joey.
This was all new territory for him.
Marshall nodded.“I think it is time you and I grab that scotch.”
Axel stayed seated as Marshall opened the bottle of scotch Uncle Rick had given him, to give as a gift.He was only going to take flowers, but Uncle Rick advised to get a gift for both the mother and father.He would have to send a text to thank his Uncle Rick.
“To new beginnings,” Marshall said.
“To new beginnings.”
The rest of the dinner went by without any trouble.He was sitting between Adeline and Joey, and it was up to him to help the little girl, and he found he liked it.When she needed the potatoes, he held the bowl for her.It was a good conversation, and it was a family.It had been so long since he’d felt this.
After his father had passed, he didn’t take the time on Sunday to be with family.Sometimes, he would visit his father’s graveside.Other times, he would just wander around.
He missed this.
Even Ashley was fine to be around.
By the end of the day, he made his way into the yard, as he’d been asked to get Princess, who wanted to go and sniff around everywhere.The door opened into the backyard, and he turned to see Ashley.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hi.Is this the part where you threaten me as well?”
Ashley shrugged.“I think you get the drill.We’re all going to hunt you down, cut your dick off, and feed it to you if you hurt Joey.”
He nodded.“I think I would like to do that myself, if I hurt her.”
“Look, you clearly know that some bad shit went down with George, and trust me, we all feel bad.”
He frowned and turned to look at Ashley.
“We saw the bruises, and Joey made every excuse there was.Don’t get me wrong, in the beginning, George was a sweet talker.Even I believed my sister had suddenly become accident prone, because I didn’t think he was capable of hitting her.”Ashley stopped and Axel saw the guilt in her eyes.“When she ended up in the hospital, it was like a reality check.A slap in the face for us all to wake up.She was pregnant, and I don’t know, it was like the mask had slipped.I saw how miserable she was, how scared, and yet she didn’t want our help.She wanted to fix it on her own.She did fix it, but there has been no one.No matter how many times I had told her to get out there.There has been no one.I’m sorry if we’re harder on you than we ever were with George.”
“There’s history.”
“A shit ton of it, and you seem like a nice guy.You’re not who I would have imagined Joey falling for.”
Axel looked at her.“Falling for?”
Ashley grimaced.“My sister doesn’t go around sleeping with random men.When she falls, it means something to her.Don’t ...if you don’t want to keep going, then don’t pretend.”
Axel got it, but this was not going to end.He liked Joey a hell of a lot.
The back door opened, and Joey was there, with a smile.“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, Princess doesn’t want to come.”
Of course, the little Jack Russell decided to trot all the way over, as if he was the one causing trouble.Joey laughed.
“I better let you two go,” Ashley said.
With that, the oldest sister made her way back into the house, and he was alone with Joey.
