Page 17 of Wicked Lord

“No way,” he balked. “It’s totally casual. Cordi’s hooking up with like five other guys.”

“Oh…” I folded my hands in my lap as a look of pure torture darkened Axel’s handsome face. “What about you, are you seeing anyone else?”

He clucked his tongue and dragged a hand through the tumbles of dirty blond hair. “Nah, I don’t have time for that with football and classes and all that.”

Hmm… interesting.

“So it’s not because you’rein lovewith Cordi?” I threw a little singsong in because focusing on someone else’s depressing love life instead of my own sounded much more entertaining.

“No way.” He shot up to his feet and paced the length of my room. “I’m not stupid. Cordi made it perfectly clear that she’s not into commitment.”

A shuffle of footsteps drew my attention down the hallway before I could get another word out.

“Axel! Hey Ax, where are you?”

Speak of the devil.

Cordelia’s voice rang out once more before I made a move for the door.

“We’re over here,” I called out. “Room five.”

She rushed up the steps, strands of purple hair lashing across her face as she turned the corner. I felt Axel move behind me, his big form towering over mine.

“There you are.” She eyed Axel then me, and the line between her dark brows puckered. “What took you so long?”

“We were just catching up,” he answered before turning back to me. “Do you have more boxes in your car?”

“Yeah, just a few. I’m parked right out front. Do you mind?”

“No, not at all. I’ve got to work for that dinner to make it worth your while. I’m starved.” He brushed past Cordelia as he headed for the steps. “Be right back.”

As soon as his heavy footfalls fell away, she swiveled her attention to me. “Dinner?”

“Yeah, I owe him for helping me out.”

“Oh…” Her bright pink lips screwed into a pout.

“It’s not like a date or anything,” I added.

“No, it’s fine, whatever.” She waved a nonchalant hand. “Axel is free to do whatever he wants.”

But the jealous look in her eye called her a big fat liar.

We remained locked in a heavy silence for an awkward few minutes until Axel returned. As I stood there watching her fuss over him as he reorganized the tower of boxes, a fantastic idea began to form, and the hint of a smile curled my lips.

Maybe there was a way to get out of this engagementandfor Axel to get Cordi to commit to a real relationship…

CHAPTER 8

LOVE ISN’T REAL

Axel

“How about it, Ax?” Cordelia opened her palm to reveal two pink pills that would turn an ordinary night into a wild and unforgettable one. “Want to get into some trouble with me?”

Mischief sparkled in her emerald eyes as she swayed her hips to the music pumping through the speakers in one of the party rooms at the Sigma Delta house. That look alone was enough to make me cave. She had me completely wrapped around her little finger.

Unfortunately, I had to be the responsible one tonight. “No can do, Cordi. I have an early morning team meeting and then practice.”