Page 20 of Something to Believe In
She pulled her head away from his chest and stared up at him. "You have?"
His voice was deep when he responded. "Yeah, Mads. I have. A lot. We've been together nearly every day for years now. But either you were dating someone, or I was, or we both were. We each had been married in the beginning, too. And the band's rules were between us. But last year, when Tony and Livia got together, my mind began to think we might be possible."
She stared into his eyes for a long time. He didn't look away from her. He was steadfast. How did she not see it? She'd thought of him too, but she always pushed it aside, thinking her active imagination was taking over. It wasn't something she could ever do. He wasn't someone she could ever be with, so she'd make a big meal, or read a book about someone else finding love, or she'd call a girlfriend and go out for a drink and talk about anything and everything, except her fantasy.
She swallowed the knot in her throat. The pot on the stove began to boil over, and she rushed to move it off the burner.
She busied herself making their salad, and Axel sat at the breakfast bar and watched her. She didn't say anything, and neither did he. Both of them, lost in their own thoughts.
She finished prepping the pasta salad and set it on the table. "Dinner's ready."
She smiled, then remembered she hadn't asked him if he wanted something to drink. Her face heated, and she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Axel. What can I get you to drink?"
He chuckled. "I'll have whatever you're having."
She grinned. "I was going to have a hard seltzer."
His face bunched up, and his lips turned into a frown. Even then, he was handsome. "I'll have a beer."
Pulling their drinks from the fridge, she carried them to the table, and they sat to eat.
"Aren't you wondering what's in the box Doug brought?"
Her brows shot up. "Actually, I hadn't even given it another thought. I'm sure it's some of my stuff."
"Like what?"
"I left a sweatshirt at his place. I think a toothbrush, too. And I kept a change of clothing there."
Axel nodded and slid a forkful of pasta salad into his mouth. He chewed, she did too, then she took a deep breath. "Did he see us?"
"Kiss?"
"Yeah."
Axel shrugged. "I'm not sure. My guess would be yes."
She swallowed. "Does that worry you?"
"No."
She set her fork on her plate and took a drink of her seltzer. "He knows the rule."
"So."
"He could go to Jami."
Axel set his fork on his plate and reached over to lay his hand over hers. "Jami can't stand Doug. None of us could. He's an arrogant, spineless prick. He was cocky and unlikeable from the get-go. None of us could figure out what you saw in him. Jami wouldn't believe him. He'd think Doug was causing trouble."
She stared into his eyes for a few moments, then nodded. "He's all of that."
Axel laughed, then picked up his fork and began eating once more. Her stomach was tight, but she forced her food down. And to be honest, she had mixed emotions about the band finding out about them. On the one hand, it would relieve this stress. On the other hand, they should hear it from her and Axel, not an asshole like Doug.
"This is a great salad, Mads."
"Thanks." She took another bite. "Any more interesting packages show up on your doorstep?"
"Nope."
