‘Are you scared of him? Or… is it me?’
‘God, no. It’s not you.’
My shoulders relax, and immediately hitch again when she adds, ‘It’s him.’
‘Hehurtsyou?’
I’m ready to charge her door, fists forming at my sides.
‘No. He doesn’t hurt me, not physically anyway. He barely knows I exist.’
Shit. I know that feeling.
I drag in a breath, scuffing my toe against the path. Still not ready to go.
‘It’s just easier if I get inside without him noticing.’
She needs you gone, idiot.
‘I gotcha.’ I jam my hands into my pockets and start walking backwards. ‘It was good to meet you, Taylor. You and Theo.’
She nods. ‘And you. You take care, yeah.’
I nod. ‘Always. Night, Taylor.’
‘Night, Axel.’
I force myself to turn before I do myself an injury?—
‘Axel?’
I look back. ‘Yeah?’
‘Thanks for saving us.’
I feel my mouth curve up, heat creeping all the way to my cheeks. ‘No worries.’
‘Can I— can we see you again?’
The ground shifts, my heart slamming so hard, I swear she can hear it.
‘Do you want to?’
She gives me that easy smile, the one that lights me up inside, and flips my gut. ‘Yes.’
‘Okay then…’
I almost dance into the night, lighter on my feet than I’vefelt in years. And that’s saying something for a fighter known to dodge every hit and come back swinging.
Thanks for saving us.
Her words linger, and I have the strangest feeling that it’s the other way around…
Those two kids might’ve just saved me.
7
TAYLOR
