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After Benz went after Axel, I called my Aunt Willow to tell her neither Axel nor I would be at the fundraiser or the dance on Saturday.
“Do you need food sent over?” she asked, all business when I’d explained what had happened to Molly.
“No—”
But she was already yelling. “Barke. Your cousin and the Pendletons need a meal sent to the hospital. Make it happen. Sadie, help him.”
More conversation followed, but it was muffled since she’d covered the phone speaker. If I knew her, she was probably telling them to not fight with each other and not to complain to her about working together.
“Bristol, they’ll be there shortly. You call me immediately if you need anything. We’ll get a temporary ramp put in for the house. I’ll call Trevor. Trevor will take care of it.”
“Aunt Willow,” I interrupted. “Don’t call Trevor. I don’t know what they’ll need yet.”
“You said Molly broke her leg. She’ll need a ramp. Your uncle is already calling. It’ll be done before she gets home. And we’ll send more meals. You get in touch with us for anything else you need, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I knew any other answer wouldn’t be acceptable. I’d been steamrolled by Willow Woods plenty of times in my life. I loved my aunt, but man, was I glad she was my mom’s sister and not my mom.
“Call me tomorrow,” she ordered.
“I will.”
Her voice softened. “I love you. I’m glad that boy came to his senses. You two were always meant to be.”
There were those tears pricking my eyes again. “Thank you. I love you, too, Aunt Willow.”
Hanging up, I wilted as if I’d run an ultra-marathon. My aunt could be exhausting, but she was one of the most loving,demanding, giving people I knew. With that call down, I needed to see how else I could help.
I turned to Axel’s brothers and Carrington. “My aunt is sending over food. I gonna go find Ax and your dad. Will you guys be okay?”
They nodded.
“If anyone comes out with news and your dad doesn’t answer his cell, call me, okay? You have my number?”
“We have it,” Carrington answered when the other two nodded dully, too overwhelmed by everything. Before leaving our family dinner the other day, I’d made sure all the Pendletons had a way to contact me—part of my resolution not to fade away again.
The hospital corridor seemed eerily quiet as I searched out the other two men. I saw them as soon as I reentered the main lobby. They stood outside. Axel had his head dropped forward, shaking it, while Benz had his hands on his son’s shoulders, clearly trying to tell him none of this was his fault.
It wasn’t. But I knew Ax wouldn’t see it that way.
I slowed my steps, not wanting to interrupt, but I knew Axel would need me. I’d promised to stay with him.
“I’m quitting,” I heard Axel say when I stepped outside. “He’s done nothing but lie to me. He’s kicked me around and manipulated me for the past six years. He put you in financial straits, and he made me give up Bristol—I can’t give her up! I’m fucking married to her, and that’s not changing!”
“You’rewhat?” I gasped at the same time as Benz. Shocked, I stared at Axel, waiting for him to say he hadn’t meant it the way it had sounded, because there was no way we were married. How would that even be possible?
Axel scrubbed his hand over his forehead.
“Fuck,” he muttered. Slowly, he turned to look at me. Even before he spoke, the regret in his eyes revealed he wouldn’t say what I’d imagined he would. It hadn’t been some weird figure of speech.
“Impossible,” I breathed.
“It’s not. We… Well. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
My chin lowered as I leveled my stare at him. I crossed my arms, and my fingers tapped on my biceps. “I’d say so. There’s no way we’re married and I don’t know it.”
“There is.”
That was it?There is? That was all his explanation?
