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“I will not admit to something I didn’t do,” he bites out. “If those alarms went off, I neither heard them, nor did I have anything to do with them.”
“It was like twenty seconds after you left!” I push my plate away and stand so his neck folds back to keep me in his sights.
“I don’t want to be that girl again.” I’m aiming for firm, but my voice breaks. “The crying idiot, naively trusting a man with her heart, only to wonder why it hurts so much when he sets it on fire.” I fist my phone in my hand and turn away from the booth. “I’m done.”
Moving through the diner doors and onto the sidewalk outside, I stop in front of his truck and growl when I remember he drove me here.
Which means I have to walk home.
“Hannah!” When I start right, Axel charges through the diner door and into the nighttime behind me. “Hey!”
He’s fast. Too fast. Grabbing my wrist and spinning me back around, he tugs me in and stops only when we crash and my lungs empty. “Don’t walk away from me, Sully. Don’t storm out of here, mad at me, after having a conversation with him.”
“You lied to me.” I stare up into his eyes and try to harden myself. To erect a wall around my heart and stopfeelingthis so much. “You shattered me on the day of Cootes’ funeral. Without a single care for the mess you left behind, you broke my heart and left town like I didn’t matter.”
His shoulders droop with exhaustion. “Han—”
“You didn’t look back! And do you know who picked me up once you were gone? Who gave me friendship? Unconditional, selfless, no-strings-attached companionship this whole time? Raul.”
“He’s twisting you up, Sully.” Axel’s muscular hand squeezes my arm. “He’s making you doubt us.”
“He’s making sure I ask the hard questions!” I shake him off and stand on my own. “He’s put his own relationship and life on hold to be here for me, Axel. The whole time you were gone,hewas the one who saved me. Then, like nothing happened, you waltz back into town, take me to bed, and think,well, shit, she’s still my pretty little doll to use up however I want.”
“No. That’s not—”
“It’s my fault, really.” I take a step back when he pushes forward. “I make it too easy for you.” Tears spring from my eyes and dribble along my cheeks. “I love you, Axel. I’vealwaysloved you.”
“I love you t—”
“But that love has meant letting you get away with things you shouldn’t. I’ve let you treat me in ways no one else would dare.”
But then I think of my parents. How they discarded me without a backward glance. And when I finally accept that desertion and let them go, all it takes is a single text, a dangling promise, and I find myself wrapped up inmy Mommmy loves mebullshit all over again.
One thing at a time, Han.
“People who love each other don’t say the things you said to me,” I tell him. “They don’t make them question their worth.”
Axel takes another step forward. “Hannah—”
“People who love one another don’t take off for seven freakin’ months without a single phone call. No text. Not even a fucking letter to let them know he’s okay.”
“Hannah!” He grabs my hand when I try to turn away. “You need to stop.”
“People who love one another don’t lie about a prank gone wrong.” I yank my arm from his grasp and hit dial on my phone. “Own up to the fire alarms, or don’t.” I bring the phone to my ear and wait. “Do whatever you’re gonna do. But I think I’m gonna take a few minutes more to guard my heart.”
“Hello?”
“Come and pick me up?” I turn away from Axel. From the crowd inside the diner who got a show with their meal tonight, and start along Main Street. “Please? I’ll wait for you at Dixie’s.”
“Sure.” It takes only a second before I hear Viv’s bare feet touch the floor. Then the jingle of car keys. “Two minutes. Wait for me.”
Axel
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED YOU’RE JUST… JEALOUS?
“She’s fine.”
Preston’s words soothe the anxiety swirling in my gut while I circle the truck at the firehouse and hold my phone to my ear.
