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I took a second to stare at him as I unpacked everything he’d just said. I was pretty sure he was saying he didn’t want my dad to think he liked me. Since he didn’t. Right? And I certainly knew what being on my dad’s bad side was like. Mr. Halifax’s face was proof of that.

But still. I could have told my dad we were just friends. Axel’s words about not liking me would have stung more if my heart wasn’t already shattered. It was hard to break a heart that was already broken. “Well, thanks for risking it tonight. I appreciated it.”

“Like I said, I didn’t know it was important to you. Now I do.” He dropped his gaze from the invisible stars. “So expect all the soup.”

“I have enough soup for a year.”

He laughed. “Then expect other stuff I guess. I’ll get creative.”

I knocked my shoulder into his. “Thanks for this, Axel. You were right. I needed to get out. But I’m sorry you had to miss the party tonight for this.”

“Trick or treating beats the Caldwell Halloween party any year.”

I smiled.

“And I’d do anything for you, Scarlett. You know that.”

Normally when he said stuff like that, I’d hold my breath, hoping he’d lean down to kiss me. I’d get in my head. I’d get sad when he didn’t and spiral. But there was no reason to mess up the night with make believe. Besides, my heart and head were focused on someone that wasn’t even here. “Axel?”

“Yeah?”

“Did Jacob say anything to you on Friday when he took you home? Or did you say anything else to him about...you know.”

Axel shrugged. “I don’t know. I was pretty high. I’m really sorry, by the way. For saying what I did. I didn’t mean to...”

“It’s fine. Jacob had a lot of reasons to break up with me.” Maybe what Axel said was the tipping point. But I wasn’t really sure. I didn’t even think Jacob was attracted to me. I sniffled and reached into my bag for another piece of candy.

“Did you really love him?” Axel asked.

With everything I am. I ate a Reese’s instead of saying that out loud and just nodded my head. Sometimes saying something out loud made it hurt more. And I was already holding back tears.

“I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“Really, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine. Just my general existence or something.” I forced a smile to my face.

“There is nothing wrong with you, Scarlett.”

I nodded, even though I knew that wasn’t true. And I didn’t want to talk about this anymore. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Is your favorite soup minestrone?”

He laughed. “No. Chicken noodle, hands down.”

“Then why the heck did you say it was minestrone?”

“I was trying not to upset Gigi. I dumped that soup straight in the trash where it belonged.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Is she mad at you tonight? For hanging out with me instead of her?”

“No idea.”

“You didn’t tell her?” I asked.

“Why would I? She’s not my girlfriend anymore.”

“What? When did you break up?”