“Movie night?” he asks, his shoulders lifting in question.
“Yeah. Sounds good.” I offer a weak smile.
“Any requests?” Axel picks the remote off the coffee table and turns on the TV, scrolling through the guide.
“Something mindless.”
The corner of his lip ticks up as he finds an action movie. “Can’t get any more mindless than over-the-top action I suppose.”
He sets the remote back on the table and reclines into the far corner of the couch. Slinging his arm over the back, he looks at me and lifts his eyebrows. I fill my lungs and hold onto the breath as I wage an internal debate over how vulnerable I want to be. Then set my glass down andlean into his side.I’ll indulge just because I’m sad.It’s the last thought I have before closing my heavy eyelids.
***
The first rays of the morning sun peek through my blinds, warming my face. I know instantly I’m in my own bed, but something about it seems strange. That’s when I register the heavy arm wrapped around my middle, and the naked chest pressed against my back.
As discreetly as possible, I try to slide out from beneath this hold, but the movement only causes it to grip me tighter.
“Go back to sleep,” a deep voice grumbles.
“I have to get to work.”
“Leni, your friend just died. Give yourself a break.” I go stiff as memories from last night come rushing back. “Shit, you blocked it out, didn’t you? I’m so sorry.” Axel gives me a gentle squeeze, which makes me realize my last memory was sitting on the couch, not coming to bed.
“How did I get in here?”
“You fell asleep during the movie. I figured you’d be more comfortable in here.” Axel rolls onto his back, freeing me from his embrace. I feel suddenly cold on top of confused, because if I understand correctly, hecarriedme to bed, and since we’re close to the same size, I’m not sure how he pulled that off.
“Thank you,” I say robotically.
“No problem. Seriously though, you were in rough shape last night. Why don’t you relax today?”
My chest constricts as his words cling to my aching heart. I don’t remember the last time someone was worried about me. Not since mymom passed several years ago, I imagine, and while it’s fair to say people in this town take care of each other, I’ve never really had an occasion where I needed someone to take care of me. Having Axel do that now… It's strange.Foreign. But… nice.
Shit!I can’t go there, not with someone who’s only temporary. And even if he wasn’t, history suggests letting myself get attached would only lead to disappointment. I’ve been on my own a long time for a reason, and I’ll get through this on my own too, by staying busy.
“Everyone was in rough shape, and they’ll be looking for a place to go through that together. That’s what Murphy’s is for—solace.”
“Won’t they go to the family’s house?”
“Yeah, but they won’t want to overstay their welcome and they’ll need somewhere else to go. I expect everyone in town will shuffle through at one point or another, before or after they hit the bar so they can soak up some of the alcohol.”
Axel stretches his arms above his head, pushing the sleep from his body. The body I already miss for my future self. “Sounds like a long day,” he sighs.
“It will be, but the town needs it.”
“And you?” He rolls to face me, his amber eyes tinged with concern. “What do you need?”
I blink back another round of tears, telling myself they’re for Chase and not what Axel just said. “I need it too. The restaurant is where I’m closest to everyone, and I want to be with them today.”
Every word of that is true, so why am I also feeling sad that I can’t stay here with him?
A compassionate smile drifts across Axel’s face as he nods. “I get it. You shower, and I’ll make you some coffee.” Then he climbs out of bed and pulls on a pair of pants before heading to the kitchen.
I mentally kick myself for noticing how hot he is as he walks away, especially now, when I should be thinking about Chase and his family. Then I slip out of bed and get cleaned up.
Freshly showered and feeling somewhat human, I enter the kitchen to find him pouring me a cup of coffee. “You don’t have shit to eat here, or I would’ve made you something.”
“I own a restaurant. All my food is there.”
