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I blinked my eyes slowly and steadied my voice. “No. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” He lightly cupped my head, running his hand down the back of my neck and over my arms, gently feeling for injuries.
How could this have happened again? Why was he being so kind and always making sure I was okay? Was he not angry? Taking a deep breath, I nodded.
“Good.” When I saw the expression on his face, it was one of pure relief.
Reality set in, and I fought back tears of frustration. “I’m—I’m so sorry. I’ll give you my insurance information.” Steadying my nerves, I turned to reach into the car and grab my backpack, but he stopped me.
“No.”
“No?” I peered over my shoulder at him in confusion.
“We can settle this without getting the insurance companies involved.” He tapped his temple. “Without your mother finding out.”
My throat tightened, but I fought to keep my composure. I exhaled, unsteadily shaking my head. “I don’t… I don’t want to disappoint my mom after all she has been through.”
“I don’t want that either. That’s why I want to offer you a solution,” he said.
“What kind of solution?” I asked but already knew the answer.
“I’ll take care of the damages. I’ll cover it.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he interjected calmly. “You can’t afford another wreck on your insurance record because the premiums would skyrocket. Am I right?”
Staring at my feet, I had to blink several times to keep myself from crying. I thought back to how my father was always concerned about my driving. At the time, it’d pissed me off. But I knew he’d only been worried and wanted me to be responsible. At the end of the day, I knew Dad would never drop me from his auto insurance. How I wished he were alive now. How I’d gladly take the stern talk he would give me if he were still alive. How I missed my dad. So much. So much it hurt.
“Hey,” Axel said gently. His hand crept over my shoulder. “Don’t cry. I want to help you, okay?”
I wasn’t crying, dammit. “It isn’t necessary.” I glanced off to the side, trying to hide the rogue tears beginning to slide down my cheek.
“What do you mean?” he asked incredulously, almost in frustration.
I studied him in question, and he added, “It is necessary. You’re standing here, trying to keep it together.” He reached out and cupped my chin, turning me to face him. “I can fix this.”
“You can?” I felt like I was melting under his gaze and needed his reassurance as a lifeline. I knew he could fix this. I knew Axel Thomas had the power to right the earth if it ever fell off its axis. He had the charisma and power in the palm of his hand whenever he so chose to use it. It was both a harrowing and an exhilarating thing to experience.
Of course, he could fix it.
He’d done it before.
“Of course, I can. You know I can,” he whispered lowly, confirming my thoughts. “You know I can make this all go away.” He swiped his thumb across my cheek, catching the stray tear that had fallen. “Do you want me to make it go away?”
I did. I wanted this to go away. I didn’t want to add any more stress to my mother or cause her to worry. I didn’t want to disappoint her. “Yeah,” I said softly, borderline shameful to rely on him again. “Make it go away.”
He peered down at me almost in surprise, but only swallowed calmly. “Okay. I will. But you have to do something for me.”
I tensed slightly as he slid his hand from my face and brought his thumb to hover over his bottom lip.
“What do you want?” I watched him as he slowly dragged his thumb over his tongue as if… he were savoring the taste of my tear. In fact, he took his time, and his eyes closed briefly for several seconds. Then he leisurely dropped his hand.
And I shook myself out of my daze, realizing there was a catch to this.
Just like before.
I pursed my lips. “What do you want?” I repeated firmly.
