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With that, Maddie shatters beneath me, pulling me apart in the process.
Chapter52
Maddie
“What’s this?”
I glance up from plating our dinner to see that Axel’s scrolling through my list of favorited shows.
“Second Bite? Really?” I ask. “You’ve never heard of it?”
I sprinkle a pile of parmesan cheese on top of our bowls of spaghetti and carry them to the couch.
It’s a little early for dinner, but we spent most of the day in bed – sleeping off our hangovers, cuddling, napping. It’s been one of the best days ever. And now we’re going to eat our weight in pasta before Axel leaves to go home.
“Never heard of it,” he confirms, clicking on the highlighted title.
“It’s so good! Elouise introduced me to it, her mom is obsessed, and now I am too. I seriously can’t believe you haven’t seen it.” Then I take the time to really think about, “Okay, never mind, I believe you.”
I hand Axel his serving – twice the size of my own – and settle in next to him.
“It’s a baking show. Or well, a baking competition show.” I smile as the intro starts. “Just give it an episode. If you don’t like it, we can watch something else. But you might surprise yourself.”
He shrugs and we dig in while we watch the challenges unfold.
Ten minutes later, Axel’s asking me questions.
Doesn’t this make you hungry? Do you know how to bake that? Are you sure you’re not just watching it for the judge?Who admittedly rivals Axel with his bad boy silver fox vibes.
I answer all his questions, some just more truthfully than others, and four hours later, I have a convert on my hands.
Parting ways seems to get harder every time we do it, but when he promises he’ll see me for lunch tomorrow, the slight twisting in my gut loosens.
I’m falling way too hard for this man and I have no intention of pulling back.
Chapter53
Axel
Two days.It’s been two fucking days since I’ve seen Maddie and everyone around me is paying the price. One of the guys on the floor even texted me a question earlier today, rather than find me and ask me in person. Not that I blame him, I’ve been acting like a complete dick.
It shouldn’t be a big deal to go a whole 48 hours without laying eyes on my girl, but we’ve shared lunch every day for the past two weeks, and every weekend has been spent holed up at her house. It’s been perfect. But yesterday I had to stay here for my employee’s retirement party, and today she had stuff to do. When she told me last night that I wouldn’t get to see her today, I almost offered to join her on her errands. But that seemed a little too desperate. So here I am. Hiding away in my office, pouting.
My phone vibrates on the desktop next to me, snapping me out of my blank stare.
Seeing Maddie’s name, I answer immediately. “Hey, Doll.”
“Hey, Darling.”
A small smile breaks through my bad mood. I love when she calls me that.
“You on your way back from your appointments?” I ask, since it sounds like she’s driving.
“Um, yeah.”
There’s a hesitation in her voice that has me sitting up straighter. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, nothing.” I can picture her waving a hand in dismissal. “Just after my hair appointment I decided to go to Costco for some things and, well, someone sort of hit my car in the parking lot.”
