Page 47 of Ravaged For You

AXEL

My mother’s voice rings out loud and clear through my headphones as I ride my motorbike through LA’s streets.

“Who was that, Axel? A girl?”

“Yes.”

“Why is a girl answering your phone?”

I shake my head. It was not good that Maddie had picked up my phone. Rude of her.

Already our fake relationship is off on the wrong foot.

And now she’s spoken to my fucking mom.

“It’s nothing.”

“I’m your mom, Axel,” she says in a caring tone. That infuriated me. I’m not a child anymore. “Mothers can sense these kinds of things. Tell me, do you have a secret relationship you’re not telling me about?”

For fuck’s sake, Maddie. What did you say to her?

“No.”

“Well, she did tell me she’s your girlfriend.”

“Did she now?”

I must’ve still been asleep when Maddie revealed that piece of juicy gossip. I’ll need to have a word with the girl and make her understand not to talk to anyone without consulting me first, especially my family.

I should’ve put that in the damn contract.

“She said she’s your girlfriend. Why would she say that if you weren’t a couple? Why haven’t you introduced us yet, Axel? Why haven’t you told me about her? Oh, I would certainly very much like to meet the girl that’s nailed down your heart.”

And here they come. What I was dreading all along. The questions…

This has come much sooner than expected. I’m cringing at this conversation so hard that I desperately try to change the subject.

“Have you read the tabloids or watched the news lately, Mom? There have been some… rumors flying around about me.”

Not a particularly excellent subject to change to, but at least it isn’t about Maddie.

“I have heard about the… tape,” Mom replies.

My heart beats fast. “You didn’t watch it, did you?” I can’t hide the panic in my voice.

“Of course not.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”

“These things happen, Axel,” Mom says slowly. She’s making me squirm, and she knows it. “Especially when you’re you and you’re so much in the public eye. I’ve been preparing myself for something awful like this to come out at some point from the first moment I saw your name in the newspaper. It’s what happens, and don’t say you didn’t encourage it. I know your reputation, Axel.”

“Okay, I get it, Mom.”

“But now you might have a new girlfriend? If you do, you better tell me.”

“I would, if I did.”

“So who’s this girl I talked to, then? She seemed sensible and mature. One of you is lying, and she didn’t seem the lying type.”