Page 121 of Ravaged For You

Simply to seem cool.

Yeah. I should’ve known the deal when I started to lose my feelings to a rockstar. Totally my fault. I played with fire and got burned.

I lean against the wall of my condo building. I spot some motorbike parked across the street. It must’ve been there when the taxi pulled up.

Oh.

That motorbike. And the rider…

It can’t be…

Axel Stoll takes off his helmet, revealing that impossible face of his.

“Stay away,” I tell him. I don’t want him seeing me like this. In tears and breaking down.

He shouldn’t be here. How is he even here?

“I’m happy to wait,” he says.

“Wait for what?”

“For you.”

“Just go away, Axel.”

He stands next to his motorbike across the street from me. The distance between us is far.

“I’ve got a million places to be tonight with this whole album release. Parties. Interviews. But trust me when I say, Maddie, there is nowhere else I’d rather be than with you. Here.”

“Bullshit,” I retort sharply. “You literally just told me the relationship is over. Don’t give me this crap.”

He sighs. “That was wrong of me to say.”

“Yeah, so wrong. Now it’s time for you to go, as you promised.”

“It’s hard to process what’s going through my head and my heart right now.”

I cross my arms and stare him down. I’ve already put up with his bullshit for far too long to trust his words easily again. “Really?”

“I know you can’t trust me, but just give me a chance.”

“I’ve given you a chance, but a chance for what, exactly?”

“A chance for us,” he says. “For us to be together.”

My breathing stops. He wants to continue the relationship? He’s not discarding me?

Is that really what he’s saying here?

I still don’t know. I still can’t trust him.

As if sensing my hesitancy, Axel makes a move towards me. He crosses the street and strolls straight up to me. I don’t move and I don’t say a thing as the rockstar walks confidently towards me until he leans over and whispers his smooth voice into my ear.

“I love you, Maddie Leaver.”

My mouth opens and closes. I feel the ground shift below my feet. I no longer know what is up or what is down.

He loves me?