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“Damnnnn, please tell me that’s not Griff. I don’t know if I could handle that.” Benny stares out the front door.
My lips are already pulling into a smile because there’s only one man I know that causes that reaction in everyone. Gender and sexual preferences aside.
The door opens, and Axel fills the frame.
And he looks fine as hell.
The way we’re staring at each other must give away the fact we’re together, because Benny sighs. “Honestly, how is it that literally every woman I know is hooked up with a total beefcake?”
I snicker. Axel is certainly a beefcake.
Chapter67
Maddie
“Eat your cake, Baby.”Axel’s hand slides up my spine to the back of my neck. It’s become his signature move and it brings me an inordinate amount of comfort.
“Hmm?” I glance down at my half-eaten slice and pick up my fork. I’ve been distracted listening to Cat as she told Brian about her new podcast.
When Axel had told me that Brian was going to meet us at the wedding, my nerves went through the roof. But he’s been nothing but kind, and having him and Cat here has been a freaking godsend. Giving me someone to talk to whenever Axel gets pulled away.
I peek up at The Big Man as I put a bite of the strawberry cake between my lips.
He’s relaxed in his chair, thumb absently stroking the side of my neck, as he watches the crowd of bodies on the dance floor.
Axel catches me looking at him, “You okay?”
I nod.
I’m more than okay.
I’m happy.
Happier than I’ve been since… a pressure builds on my chest… since before my parents died.
A thick weight settles on my heart. A rough, scratchy rope knotting it in place.
The heaviness feels familiar. But different.
And it takes me a moment to realize that the burden feels a lot like guilt.
Guilt for finding happiness again.
Guilt for feeling safe.
Guilt for wanting to let go of my loneliness. For wanting to let someone else be in charge for a while.
Maybe forever.
I let the feeling of Axel next to me fill my mind.
I think of all he means to me. All he’s done for me. All I want to do for him.
On a shaky inhale, I feel the weight shift.. Change into something else. Something new.
It changes into love.
Love.
