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“But—“
“It was tough to even look at you for a year or two,” Axel admitted with a grin. “You blossomed early. And you really had me smitten.”
“I… um…” My stomach erupted with butterflies. “Holy shit.”
Had he turned a shade redder? It sure seemed that way, but I knew such a thing was impossible. Axel had so much confidence it rubbed off on everyone around him. I’d never once seen him embarrassed about anything.
“Eventually my brain convinced my heart to rule you out as a love interest,” he went on, “and I saw you more like a sister again. And right after that I started getting attention from other girls, so…” He smirked sheepishly.
“So that was that,” I smirked back.
“Yeah,” he admitted. “I guess so.”
My mind was still spinning as I tried collecting my thoughts. I could’ve told Axel I had a crush him too. A very big crush! Back then, I’d kept quiet like he did. I’d shoved those feelings aside for all the same reasons.
“Hey, you wanna get out of here?”
My shoulders relaxed, grateful for the change of subject. “I thought you’d never ask. Where to?”
“We could go back to my place,” he suggested. “Watch Netflix, no chill?”
“Now you’re talking,” I declared happily.
~ 11 ~
ARIANA
Stepping into the loft was like slipping back into reality. Everything changed back to the way it was. The carriage transformed back into a pumpkin, and I was plain old Ariana again, instead of the girl lucky enough to be out on a date with Axel. Even worse, I still had both my slippers.
“Home sweet home.”
I was actually sad our ‘date’ was over. Mostly because after the cafe, all the way home, we’d had a little fun role-playing it up. We’d gone from walking side by side to cuddling close; from hand-holding to Axel slipping his arm around me and pulling me tightly and protectively against him. There was an intimacy that wasn’t there before. A feeling of closeness embracing our friendship, at least for a little while.
And now here we were, back in the loft. Back in the familiarity of a place that had always been synonymous with fun and laughter and really great times, but nothing romantic.
“Wow, nice digs,” I smiled. “Where’s the bathroom?”
I was still playing the game. Down to the last roll of the dice.
“Funny,” Axel laughed, taking my coat. When I still hadn’t moved, he raised an arm and pointed. “Down there, on the left. The same place it’s been since the last five-hundred times you’ve used it.”
“Hey, you’re the one who told me to immerse myself. I just need to freshen up.”
I sauntered rather than walked, taking my sweet time. I wondered if he were still smiling or watching me.
“You’re not gonna come out in lingerie and seduce me or anything, are you?” I heard him ask.
I halted to glance back over my shoulder. “What kind of dates do you think I’ve been on?”
My friend only chuckled.
“Why? Is this something that happens often on your dates?”
Axel didn’t really have an answer. As the silence played out, his smirk said everything.
“It does?” I asked incredulously.
He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
