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Allowing myself to hang out with Axel as his exclusive girlfriend could be too much for me. I mean, I was already more attracted to him than I should be. He was charming, intelligent, hot—obviously—and entertaining to talk to when he wasn’t being an arrogant smart-ass. “Yeah, I guess it would.”
“So, what do you say? Are you gonna agree to this?”
“What exactly does being your girlfriend entail?” I asked again because he never clarified. My thoughts drifted back to what we did in the library earlier.
The noise of the restaurant buzzed around us, but Axel placed his elbows on the table leaning in. “Whatever you want it to be.”
“I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Why?” His eyes seemed somewhat serious. “I’m a good guy. I know this is all new to both of us, but I will treat you right. I can promise you that.”
A short-term promise. I nodded and thought about how he’d never had a girlfriend. I picked up another fry. “Why haven’t you ever had a girlfriend?”
He watched me, but I could see the wheels spinning in his brain, his expression never changing. The more I was around him, the more I realized Axel Thomas only showed you what he wanted you to see. He could be charming, playful, focused, and angry when you got on his bad side. He was a dichotomy of personalities, but everything was hidden under a smirk or a back-handed smile. For most of our encounters, I felt like I was a novice playing in the big leagues with him.
I didn’t want to get on his bad side, I realized. However, I didn’t want to get sucked under either. So, I was determined to stay in the neutral zone with him. No matter how easy it was to fall for his charm. Or how fulfilling it was to climax when he hadn’t even removed my clothes. So, yeah, I needed to tread carefully and keep my head above water.
But I also needed to know more about him. “Why?” I pressed.
He shrugged noncommittally. “The right opportunity never presented itself.” He reached for another fry and held it out to me. “Here, take it, beautiful.”
I scoffed. “I’m not stupid. I know what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing?”
“Avoiding the question.” I took the fry from him and snapped it in half between my teeth. “Now, answer it.”
He chuckled under his breath. “Hardcore, hard ass,” he mumbled and focused his attention on the half-eaten basket of fries as if it were the most fascinating thing he’d seen lately.
“I’m waiting,” I responded, undeterred.
He casually lifted his eyes to me and folded his hands on the table. “You’re trying to make something out of nothing.”
I mentally took note of his casual way of avoidance. “Stop stalling,” I said quietly.
“It’s not a complicated answer.”
“Then tell me. Humor me.”
Keeping his eyes on me for several seconds, he finally relented. “Okay. Honestly? I just never saw an opportunity where it was worth it. At least, not in the long run.” He grabbed another fry and chewed, never breaking our stare. “What else do you want to know? My blood type? My social security number?”
“Nope. I’m good.” I paused. “But on second thought, maybe I should know your blood type in the event you need a blood transfusion.”
“It’s A positive. Anything else?”
I shook my head.
“All right, then.” He reclined casually in the booth across from me. “Why haven’t you ever dated?”
“The opportunity never presented itself.” I wrapped my lips around the straw of my water and sipped.
“Seriously? Who the hell wouldn’t want to date you?” I wanted to roll my eyes at the incredulity in his tone. Was he trying to boost my ego?
“I didn’t exactly say no one had ever asked me out.” I thought about how there were a few guys in high school who had asked me out on dates; however, my parents were not having any of that, and I was too much of a good girl to go against them. Maybe I never thought they were worth the effort, either. Maybe I could sympathize with what Axel said. Instead, I took the easy way out. “My parents wouldn’t let me date or have boyfriends in high school.”
“For real?” Axel eyed me skeptically before grabbing another fry.
“They were strict.”
