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I pulled back. “Are you crying?”

She laughed and wiped beneath her eyes. “I was just thinking about bringing you home from the hospital.”

I stared at her.

“I wanted the whole world for you. And I know Axel will give that to you. Despite what your father thinks, Stevenses are really great guys. And Axel is more like your father than he realizes. Stubborn and driven and confident and a little manipulative.” She smiled. “Which is probably why he’s been so hard on him. But I’m so glad you chose a guy like your father.”

“Ew.” I wanted to protest, but I had just thought earlier tonight that they were similarly manipulative.

She laughed. “I’m going to head to bed. Now that I don’t have to worry about you and Axel finding your way back to each other, I really need to figure out what’s going on with your brother.”

“Did Liam do something?”

“He keeps dating these much older women. What the heck is that about?”

I laughed. So my parents did notice? I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“I’d be concerned that he has mommy issues, but I’ve been very present in his life.” She sighed. “And hopefully he’ll wake up one day and realize what he wants is right in front of him too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look around the room at the Giants game tomorrow. Someone looks at him the way you look at Axel. But if Liam only likes older women, that’s going to end badly.”

I had no idea who she was talking about. I’d been so in my head about my own love problems, I’d never even noticed. Was it Uncle Mason’s daughter Nova? Or maybe Jacob’s sister Chloe? Or even little Alora? No. Parker was the only one that bold. I’d definitely look around the room next time.

“Goodnight, sweetie.” My mom abandoned her cold tea and walked up the stairs.

I waited until she disappeared completely before grabbing the water bottles and heading to my room. I expected Axel to be sitting there waiting for me. But the shower was running. He must have realized I’d gotten held up.

His crown was sitting on my desk where it had been earlier. And his varsity jacket was sitting on the back of my chair like always.

I didn’t know if Axel would want to go all the way tonight. But in case he did, I wanted to wear something sexy.

The shower turned off and I realized I only had a few seconds to change into something.

I pulled off his leather jacket and my dress. I was wearing a simple black thong and pushup bra. It wasn’t exactly first time pajamas. But Axel had already seen those. Besides, I had a feeling he’d been fantasizing about something else a lot more. He’d certainly left enough hints.

I pulled his varsity jacket on and sat down in the middle of my bed cross-legged. I let one of the shoulders fall so he could see the top of my breasts better. And I waited.

The bathroom door opened with a puff of steam. And then Axel was standing there with a towel wrapped around his waist. The ends of his hair were dripping.

I stared at the way his abs tapered off at the bottom in what Sophie called an Adonis belt. The name was fitting. The way Axel was sculpted was perfection. He looked like a god standing there in the steam.

I saw his gaze travel down to my chest. He didn’t try to hide it. He stared at me the same way I stared at him.

“When I die, I hope I have this image in my head,” he said.

I laughed. “You like it?”

“I pictured you wearing my varsity jacket to school. But this is a hell of a lot better, baby.”

“I like when you call me that.”

He walked around the bed. He put his hands on the mattress and leaned forward. “Baby.” He kissed the side of my neck. “Baby.” His tongue lightly traced a path down to my clavicle bone. “Baby.” He left a trail of kisses down the center of my chest. “Baby.” His breath was hot on my skin as he placed a soft kiss between my breasts.

I lifted my hands and did what I’d been dreaming of my whole life. I sunk my fingers into his hair the way I’d always wanted. It was still wet and softer than I expected. I could definitely get used to this.

He lifted his gaze to me. “It’s late. Are you tired?”