Page 128 of That Moment
Chapter 25
Adrienne
Axel’s leaning against the hood of his truck when I find him behind the brewery, phone to his ear, laughing like he hasn’t set my entire life on fire.
I cross the gravel lot so fast my heels grind sharp against the stones. “You done?”
He glances over, still talking. “Yeah, man, I’ll call you later?—”
“Now, Axel.”
He ends the call, sighs, and shoves his phone in his pocket. “What the hell is your deal? That was rude.”
“Don’t.” I jab a finger at his chest before he can even smirk. “Do not stand there and act clueless when you know damn well what you did.”
He blinks, playing innocent. “You’re gonna have to narrow it down, sis. I do a lot of things worth yelling about.”
My jaw tightens. “You told Scotty.” His smirk falters. “Don’t even try to deny it,” I snap. “You ran your mouth about L.A., about me turning down the job, before I even had the chance to talk to him. Hell, before I even told Celeste.”
“You weren’t gonna tell him at all, were you?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Sure sounds like it is. If you’re serious about him, he deserves to know.”
I laugh, but it comes out sharp. “Oh, so now you’re the relationship expert? Of course, I was going to tell him. Do you think I’m a heartless asshole? But you went and got involved, making shit way more complicated than it needs to be!”
“Honestly Adrienne, I thought you were taking the job. It’s all you talked about growing up, moving to L.A. like Aunt Celeste did.” He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And now all of a sudden you’re in dicksand and throwing away this opportunity.”
“Don’t you dare,” I bite out, chest heaving. “Don’t belittle what I have with him.”
His eyes narrow. “You really that gone for him?”
“Gone? Axel, I was trying to process everything. I was still figuring out whatIwanted. And you—” I jab his chest again, harder this time. “—decided to play big brother and blow up my business before I could even think.”
He exhales, frustrated. “You’ve been moping for weeks, Adrienne. It’s not hard to see what’s going on. The guy’s under your skin. But the rest of us aren’t blind to what happens when you get caught up in a feeling. You lose yourself.”
“Lose myself?” I choke out a bitter laugh. “God, you really think so little of me.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s exactly what you said. You think I can’t make a decision without a man’s name attached to it. Well, here’s the truth, Axel, I turned down L.A. because it wasn’t what I wanted. Not because of Scotty. Not because of anyone but me.”
He opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “You think I don’t know what that job means? The hours, the pressure, the miles between me and this town? I know. I’ve lived it before. I chose differently this time, and nobody can seem to accept it becauseit’s not what I’d normally do. Well, what I’d normally do has left me unhappy, unfulfilled, and heartbroken time and time again.”
“Adrienne—”
“No.” My voice cracks. “You had no right. You made me look reckless to him, like I was making decisions for us instead of for me. Do you know how humiliating that is?” Guilt flickers across his face, but it’s too late. “Your little plan to push him away didn’t work,” I say quietly. “Because he’s still here. And so am I. So stop meddling.”
Axel steps closer, lowering his voice. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I just?—”
“Wanted to protect me,” I finish for him. “Yeah. I’ve heard that one before.” I can see the words he wants to say forming on his tongue, but I’m done. “You don’t need to protect me from Scotty,” I whisper. “You need to trust me to know my own damn heart.”
He reaches for my arm, but I step back. “Adrienne?—”
“Don’t.” My throat tightens as I spin on my heel. “Just… stay out of it.”
The scent of roast beef and garlic hits me the second I step into my parents’ house. Normally, it’s comforting, but tonight, after the way things ended between Axel and me earlier, it tightens my chest with anxiety.
