Page 55 of Sweet Hate
Mmm, his cock was far from tiny, but it’s probably not the time to throw that out there.
“We all tried to rally around him, knowing he wasnaturally hit hardest, but Jesus, he was a total dick back then. After a while, we just gave him a wide berth because that’s what he wanted. It didn’t seem like we were going to get normal happy-go-lucky Axel back anytime soon, especially with everything else that happened.”
What else happened?
Before I can ask Kim, Mia slaps the table with a laugh making us both jump.
“What do you meanback then? When Haven and I ran into him at Jett’s the other night, if looks could kill, our boy Lucas would be dead and buried right now for breathing the same air as Haven. Hell knows how Lucas will put up with working with him.”
Kim throws her head back, laughing. “Lucas can handle himself against Axel. It’s fine.”
I wish she’d not reminded me of the other night. The image of that blonde wrapping her hand around his bicep and him grinning up at her like she’d hung the moon pops back into my mind. Shaking my head, I refocus on the girls.
It’s now or never.
“So that’s not all.”
Both heads snap up to look at me, waiting for the next installment in this ridiculous situation. I proceed to fill them in on everything, from the fire to the Alfredo sauce—Kim laughed so hard she almost peed herself—to the multiple weird hot and cold interactions since.
Watching their faces, I can barely contain a giggle at the expressions they are pulling as they read the messages from Axel.
Mia looks up at me first, disbelief written all over her face.
“So let me get this straight—hetextsyouand then ghosts you again?”
“Well, only temporarily this time, I guess. He apologized yesterday.”
“Not the point. And nothing since?”
“You’re holding the phone, girl. Nope, nothing.”
Kim grabs her own phone and furiously scrolls.
“HA! But we know he’s creeped on the group chat. I can tell he read my last message, which means he’s also read all of yours and seen your hot as fuck photos.”
Why does that send a spark through me? I should not be sparking. When will I learn?
That’s it—tonight I’m making time for a little vibe party. Maybe if I take the edge off, I’ll stop sparking like a live wire around him.
“We can work with that.” Mia looks between us with a mischievous look on her face. “If he’s checking the group chat, he’s doing it for a reason. We all know he barely bothers with it. Plus, look at our girl today—she’s hot with a capital H. It would be a shame for him not to see it. Let’s get some bubbly to celebrate and take some selfies to send to the chat.”
“Oh my God, Mia, don’t be ridiculous!! And it’s ten thirty in the morning. No one wants bubbles this early.”
“Champagne breakfast, darling. You should know better. Besides, that fucker needs to see what he’s missing by not pulling his head out of his ass.”
“Want to bet on who replies first?” Kim makes a show of pulling out her purse.
“Well, we all know Axel won’t be replying.”
“But he will see them, and that’s all that matters, Havey.” Mia winks at me before sliding a dollar across the table. “My money’s on Lucas.”
19
AXEL
Finishing up for the day at the bakery, I survey the room. There are gaping holes in the walls with wires exposed where Lucas and I worked together to prepare for the rewiring. It looks worse than when the fire ripped through it, so part of me is relieved Haven wasn’t here today to see it. No matter how desperate I am to see her. I don’t want her stressing if I can help it.
Lucas looks down at his phone and laughs.
