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“That’s not nothing,” Axel said. “You know something.”
Corey shook his head, pressing his lips together until it was almost painful.
“Don’t give me that face,” Axel said. “Is it about Kayli?”
Corey almost shook his head, but it would have been a lie, and he wasn’t sure if he should. Maybe it was better to get it out of the way. “She asked me out.”
Axel squinted. “What?”
“I don’t know if she was joking, but she’s been holding my hand and snuggling up to me and…”
“I thought,” Axel said, “you were interested in on someone else.”
Axel was the only one who knew this. Corey confessed it, had to when one day Axel had caught him staring. Axel hadn’t told the others that Corey was interested in both guys and girls, and never judged. Axel had been encouraging him to tell the others. Corey knew they’d never make fun of him, but his biggest issue was making anyone feel so uncomfortable they’d leave the team. If you tell a guy you’re attracted to him, they act weird if they don’t reciprocate. That had happened to him and eventually the friendship ended. Corey never forgave himself for letting the secret out.
It’s why Corey never said anything to him.
Corey shook his head. “He’s never shown interest. And I never wanted to make things weird.”
“It’s not weird if you’re honest. I don’t really think he’d turn you away. He just doesn’t know you’re interested.”
Corey’s eyes flicked toward the door, and his mind was instantly on the member of his team who was sleeping not too far away. He shook off the thoughts quickly. He pressed a palm against the back of his neck, rubbing. He sighed, focusing on the bookshelves but not really looking at them. “I really like her, too.”
“You’ve got competition,” Axel said.
Corey jerked his head back until he was focusing on Axel.
Axel was unreadable.
“Who?” Corey asked.
Axel shook his head quietly.
It was unfair to ask, since Corey expected Axel to keep quiet about his private feelings.
“You’ve got options,” Axel said. “I don’t know which one might…satisfy you.”
“It’s not a… I mean it doesn’t matter.”
“Look at me, Corey.”
Corey lifted his eyes, focusing on Axel’s dark gaze.
Axel tilted his head forward slightly. “We’re in a really delicate situation right now. She’s the only girl in a group with six guys, five of which are single. Kayli’s a hot girl and she not only can keep up with us, she’s worked with us and understands, or is starting to figure out about the Academy. The longer we mix her in with us, the more difficult it will be for her and for us.”
“Are you kicking her out? We can’t do that.”
Axel’s head shook slightly. “That’s exactly what I was worried about.”
“What?”
“We’re already too deeply involved for her to leave.”
“But you just said…”
“Because I don’t want to let her go, either,” Axel said. “And if we keep fucking up on assignments like this, the Academy will step in and yank her out of it for her own protection. And because the relationship will be too complex.”
Corey made a face. “What relationship? She asked me out.”
“Seriously?” Axel asked. “You said she may have been joking.”
“I thought she was at the time, but she slept next to me that night. She snuggles into me in front of the others.”
Axel was quiet for a long moment. “You should ask her directly. You should find out.”
That was the problem. Corey wasn’t sure how to ask her if she was serious. “She’s in my room right now.”
“She may feel safe with you. You’re the type of guy who keeps his hands to himself until she says she’s ready.”
“Doesn’t that say something?”
“It isn’t enough,” Axel said. “And you’re still asking for trouble if you don’t find out the truth and quickly. She needs to tell you who she’s interested in. And you need to be honest with her. Does she know you’re interested in someone else? Is she going to be okay with knowing you’re working alongside someone you could develop feelings over? Is she going to be comfortable knowing you’re interested in guys, too?”
“Why are you doing this?” Corey asked. “You’ve never cared this much about who I go out with or what I do.”
“I care when I can see disaster coming,” Axel said. “I still think you should tell him.”
Corey narrowed his eyes. “You’re pushing me off of her, pushing me toward him? You don’t think it’ll work between me and her?”
Axel shrugged, looking at the wall.
Corey never saw Axel avert his gaze like that before, not when something serious was going on. Axel was a rock, steady. He had to be hiding something now if he was nervous.
Suddenly, Corey knew. “You,” Corey said. “You’re into her.”
Axel frowned, but didn’t reply.
Corey didn’t believe it. Axel was jealous? “You never said anything. You didn’t…”
“She’s one hell of a girl,” Axel said quietly.
Corey sighed and moved to the bed. Axel was the one with the crush and Corey was the one telling him about his feelings for her. It felt horrible, like he was hurting Axel. “It’s all messed up. I’m sorry.”
“We’re making it worse throwing her into Academy situations. They’re going to want to know where she stands, and we can’t lie.”
“I’m more worried about Kayli.” Corey’s heart was racing. Hoping. He felt strongly about Kayli. He’d be in bed with her right now, except he was having a hard time sleeping next to her without being so wound up and turned on. He hadn’t felt this way about a girl in a while
.
When she wasn’t there, he doubted himself. Was he picking up on signals that weren’t there? When he got a chance, he needed to be around her to see if she continued to flirt and smile at him.
“What do we do?” Corey asked.
“Do you love her?”
“It’s too soon for that,” Corey said. “You’re not saying that you…”
Axel raised his head, held his gaze.
Corey winced. “You can’t.”
Axel frowned. He breathed in deeply, pressing a palm against his face and rubbing. “I can’t tell you. But I need to know very soon. You should know, too. You’ll have to ask her if she was serious.” He looked up. “I should never have let her on the team. I just had that feeling, though.”
“One of those again? Like with Marc?”
“Marc was a good kid when we grabbed him.”
“Yeah, but look how long it took to recruit him.”
“Kayli’s been easier.”
“Not that easy,” Corey said. “There’s Blake.”
“There is Blake,” Axel said. “No matter which one of us she may like, if we push her too hard, she may turn to him.”
Corey had to agree. Blake was dangerous. He knew too much, and he’d confessed he really liked Kayli. Corey forced his palms against his thighs at the thought of him.
“You’re going to have to make a choice,” Axel said. “You’ve already got one crush. If you introduce Kayli into this, it may draw hurt feelings. If he’s interested in you, he may not like sharing you with a girl. And she may not like sharing you with him.”
Corey wasn’t so sure. Maybe he entertained the thought a bit too much, but at times he wondered how it could work out. “You’re saying this because you want me to go after him, and leave Kayli to you.”
“I want everyone to be happy,” Axel said. He stood up. “And I don’t want to lose you.”
There was a tug at Corey’s heart hearing that. Axel was an extraordinary guy. It was difficult keeping his feelings in check. He’d always believed in Corey. If it wasn’t for Axel, Corey wasn’t sure if he’d be where he was today.
