Page 243 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11
“Of course he likes you, Scar.”
I forced myself not to choke on my ice cream. “What?”
“Just not in that way. You guys are best friends. He just thinks of you as like...a little sister, you know?”
No, I hadn’t known that. What the actual F? “Right.” I laughed awkwardly, hoping Jacob couldn’t tell how hurt I was by that. Axel thought of me like a little sister? It would certainly explain why it seemed like he’d literally date anyone but me.
“He’s very protective over you. Whenever someone so much as mentions your name in the locker room he threatens them to stay away from you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, he’s been scaring off potential dates for years. Total big brother vibes.”
I hated this for me.
“But I figured he wouldn’t care if I asked you on a date. Because he knows I’d treat you right. I have no idea what his problem is. He’s being a total dick though. You know he hasn’t handed me the ball in practice all week?”
“Liam mentioned that. I actually told Axel off this morning. And told him to start handing it off to you again.
“You did?” Jacob laughed. “I wish I’d seen that.”
“I don’t know how he expects to win the game without his star running back.”
Jacob smiled. “He’ll come around. As soon as he realizes I’m not just trying to hook up with you, you know?”
No, I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything about Axel apparently. I took another bite of ice cream as my mind spun with everything Jacob had just said. But it totally made sense. When Sophie had asked them if anyone had asked about me in the locker room, Jacob and Axel had just looked at each other and ignored the question. But it was because they both knew someone had asked about me. Or a few someones apparently. How long had Axel Stevens been trying to ruin my freaking life?!
“You really are serious about your love for ice cream,” Jacob said.
“What?”
He nodded down.
I’d almost finished my whole sundae and Jacob had barely touched his. I was stress eating.God.Axel was ruining my date and he wasn’t even freaking here. I took a deep breath to try to get Axel out of my head.
Wait.I’d almost forgotten something important. I looked up at Jacob. I was becoming surer by the second that he was my kiss thief. He’d talked about red pandas. He was plenty tall enough. His abs were amazing. He knew I hadn’t had a first kiss. And he just confessed that he’d had a crush on me forever. Practically a stalker, really. I smiled.
I just needed proof. I needed to kiss him.
And Sophie had given me the whole plan.
I cleared my throat. “You have something right here.” I tapped the corner of my lip.
He wiped the side of his mouth.
“Other side.”
He grabbed a napkin and wiped off his whole mouth.
How was I supposed to pretend there was something there now that he’d wiped every inch of his lips?
He turned back toward his banana split.
I just needed to go for it. I could maybe pretend it was a little higher. Like on his cheek. That could have easily been missed bythe napkin. “Actually,” I said. “It’s right there.” I reached out to touch his cheek.
But he turned to look at me at the exact same time.
And I somehow poked him right in the eye.
