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“With the lemon zest dressing?” I unsnap my seatbelt and push out of my door.
My phone vibrates with a text as my feet touch the ground outside, and though my first instinct is to ignore it, when I find my mom’s name flashing on the screen, I swipe it open so fast, Axel has to come around to my side of the truck to get me off the road.
“What’s up?” He throws his arm over my shoulders and steers me onto the sidewalk.
Our life, pre-seven-months-ago, was all about hiding. No touching in public. Exhibiting nothing except for a platonic and polite friendship. But now he’s all over me. Wrapped around me. His broad body caressing mine in all the best ways.
But I can hardly enjoy the moment as I quickly scan the message from my mother.
Daddy and I are sorry for not being good parents to you, Han. We didn’t mean to make you feel unloved. We’re traveling tonight, but I’ll call you in the next few days and we can catch up.
Then a second text pops up.
We love you very much. Don’t doubt that for a single second.
“Sully?”
My heart skips in my chest, and tears burn the backs of my eyes. But as I look up and meet Axel’s gaze, my lips lift into a shy smile. “My mom. She replied.”
“Good.”
He leads me along the sidewalk and into the half-packed diner. A booth in the back corner overflows with teens I know fight for trophies and money, while another booth is home to a gentleman who eats alone.
Old. A little sad in his eyes. But he works through his meal and watches a second mug of coffee sitting opposite his.
Untouched, but present.
“What’d she say?” While the server busily takes someone else’s order, Axel turns to me and cups my face. “Was it good?”
“She said she loves me.” My voice tremors with emotion. “That she’s sorry. And she’ll call me in a few days to talk.”
Skeptical for a moment, then relieved, his eyes light up with a smile. “I find it hard to believe that anyone who knows you doesn’t love you. I guess they got caught up in theout of sight, out of mindthing while they were traveling. But you’re impossiblenotto love, Sully. It’s practically the law. And anyone who fights against it usually ends up with a broken leg.”
I blow out a tearful scoff and bury my face against his chest, if only to take a second to collect myself without an audience to my puffy eyes.
“It feels nice that she’s made contact.” Stepping back, I sniffle and look up into his adoring gaze. “It sucks feeling unwanted.”
“Never again.” He swipes his thumbs beneath my eyes and presses a kiss to the center of my brow. “Never,ever, again. I promise.”
“Aw, hey, lovers.” Katrina, the server, cocks her hip and looks us up and down with a knowing smile. “Cap told me the Checkmate office was abuzz with Preston’s bestie’s love life.”
“I’m definitely not Preston’s bestie,” Axel grumbles. Turning and tugging me to his side, he steps closer to the counter as those who were ahead of us leave. “He’s not even my friend. He’s my sister’s… associate.”
“Mmhmm.” Kat snickers and takes out her pen and paper. “I heard shelovesassociating with him. What can I get you two?”
While Axel orders for us, and Katrina’s lips flatten into an odd scowl at my burger choice, my phone vibrates again, but with Viv’s name flashing on the screen.
Her text reads:mayday! MAYDAY!
So I extricate myself from Axel’s hold and cross the diner to get a little space.
Hitting dial, I bring the phone to my ear and wait for her to answer.
“You have another visitor!” she whisper-hisses the second the line connects. “Hannah! Did you organize a date for tonight? What the hell?”
The panic in her tone makes my stomach flip with nerves. “No! What are you talking about?”
I think of all my dates over the last few months, and which of them could possibly be knocking on my door tonight. I run through each option in my mind, especially those that ended on a sour note: Jase, whose sister’s kitchenandhis truck were burned. Thomas, who was soaked to the bone at Pinocchio’s. Derrek, whose car tire was flat before our night even began. And Jackson, whose ex—a baby momma he’d yet to disclose—ended up blowing up his phone and screeching at him for… well, I don’t know what for, exactly.
