Page 19 of Yule Know It When You See It
He’s right. Thanks to pollution, vehicles, and below-freezing temperatures. I can’t remember the last time I built one myself. And it’s not as if I have a front or backyard living in a downtown apartment building. What would Axel look like building a snowman? A guy his size seems somewhat humorous—a dopey smile plastered on his face, snow building up in his beard and eyelashes. The train lurches to a stop, yanking me from my daydream.
“We’re here.” Axel’s rumbly voice announces.
We’re off the train and into the arena, waiting in line at the ticket booth. Axel removes his press pass from a jacket pocket, pressing it to the glass partition for the attendant to review.
“Did you need access to the locker room?” The attendant asks, typing away on his keyboard.
Red garland borders each attendant window, and Axel is tall enough it bats him in the eye every time he bends to talk through the speaker. “No. Just seats for the game, please. Put us wherever you want.”
And here he goes, retaking the reins. A Viking Chieftain is attending to his peasants—me.
The attendant slides two tickets through the window, and I reach in front of Axel, scooping them into my palm for some minor semblance of control.
Axel’s gaze goes distant and his hand rubs the back of his neck before thanking the attendant. We make our way to our seats, and the players are on the ice warming up. Some skate past the net, practicing shots, while the goalies do leg stretches.
“Which one is the home team?” I ask.
It feels odd not to take my jacket off indoors, but the coolness from the ice mixed with the frigid temperatures outside forces me to keep my coat on, scarf, hat, and gloves too.
“The white, gold, and maroon jerseys.” Axel points, and I faintly make out a growling wolf on the front of one player’s jersey.
“Got it.” I settle into my seat, ready to give my undivided attention.
Until my stomach growls like a trapped gremlin, reminding me I forgot to eat.
Axel laughs. “You hungry?”
“Nope. No, I amfine.”
Axel turns to face me, wincing as his leg gets smooshed under one of the armrests. It honestly surprises me he’s able to fit in these elf-sized chairs. “They have food. It’s not a big deal. I even have the corporate credit card.”
Acompanycard? What in the flying heck? Why did Simone never feel inclined to givemea card? Did she not trust me enough?
“Simone gave you a card? For this assignment?”
Axel’s eyebrows squish together and his gaze does that cloudy distant thing again. “Yeah. Doesn’t everyone have one?”
My stomach growls again, only this time it has me grimacing from the nausea and hunger pangs eating at my insides.
“Theo, I’m getting you some food.” Axel goes to stand.
I yank him back down, or I try. The man is as heavy as three boulders. “Seriously. I’m fine. I want to concentrate on the game.”
Slowly, he sits on the seat’s edge and dips his face into mine. “Why do you feel basic human functions are a sign of weakness around me?”
A tightness forms in my chest. Ihavebeen extra quirky around him. But this isn’t to say he hasn’t lent to the erratic behavior.
“First, it’s refusing to admit you’re cold. Next, you don’t want me sitting next to you on the train. And now, you’rehungry.”
My knee begins to bounce. “It’s not about weakness. It’s—” I pause and when I meet his gaze, I inwardly crumble just a tiny teensy bit. “—I don’t need someone to take care of me.”
Because that trust has only ever come back to bite me straight on the butt.
Axel scoffs but still smiles, blonde hair falling over his eyes. “You do know that good guys tend to have it written in their genetic make-up to take care of people, right?”
“Okay, but that doesn’t mean you have to feed me.”
Amusement sparkles in his gaze. “I wasn’t planning on being your cabana boy and feeding you a grape at a time, Theo.”
