Page 9 of Unspoken Hearts
My eyes roll as I shove my hands into my shorts pockets to keep them from shaking. “I will always worry about you. Someone has to.”
Mouth rolling inward, Axel flicks the keys around his finger, like he’s tossing up what to say next. “But with me gone, you can now just think about yourself. Maybe it’ll be a relief for once?”
“We’ll see,” I murmur, although I’m hardly convinced this will be relieving.
Axel gives me one last quick hug before opening the driver’s side door. I swallow down the dryness coating my throat and try my best to push away the tears, not wanting him to see me crack, despite the waves of emotions rolling through me like stormy water.
“I’ll text you when I’m there,” he promises, holding onto the rusted door.
I nod, because that’s all I can do. Axel gives my shoulder a quick squeeze before getting in and slamming the door shut. The ute splutters to life, and I hope he isn’t embarrassed for having a crappy car, but I can’t change it now.
Waving, he sets off, and I watch our car disappear down the street. The chill on the wind brushes against my arms, despite the sun beating down on me. The air is quiet, apart from the birds in the trees and the distant cars humming, and I’m the weight of loneliness settles in my bones.
“So, he’s gone?”
I peer up at Laynie, who is staring down at me as I sit at the small metal table in Golden Hour.
Leaning back on the wooden seat, I nod glumly. “Yeah, he left this morning. He wants to get settled before classes start tomorrow.”
Laynie gives me a twisted smile, gently rubbing circles on my back in a way I wish my mum would have done. “It’s a good thing, though. He’s going to university. You should be proud of him, M.” She turns and walks off with a tray of dirty dishes.
I get up and follow her behind the timber bench covered in fake ivy stems and the illuminated store name. “Of course I’m proud of him. If one of us can leave this place, I’m glad it’s Axel.”
She puts the dishes in the sink before looking my way. One hand is propped on her waist, and her brow is arched as she levels me with a look. “You don’t sound very convincing.”
I shake my head, knowing she’s right. I’ve wanted Axel to get a better education than me for years, and when he got his acceptance letter, I screamed with happiness. He can have a good life, and I helped make it happen.
“How should I be more convincing?” I ask sassily. “Do you want me to shout it for everyone to hear?”
My friend just smiles. “It’s a small town. I’m fairly certain everyone already knows.”
I lean back against the bench, one foot in front of the other and arms crossed. “It’ll just be different without him.”
“But you’ll get used to it. And now you won’t have to worry about waking him up for school on time, or having to make him dinner,” she offers with a hint of a smirk.
I laugh at that. “You’re right. That was a battle of its own.”
“Of course I’m right,” Laynie drawls.
The bell above the front door to the cafe chimes, followed by heavy footsteps.
I peer up to see Grayson and Cole walking in, dusty boots clapping against the polished timber floor. Grayson glances at Laynie as he approaches the bench. Cole wanders in behind him, hands in his pockets, brown brimmed hat sitting slightly askew on his inky hair.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Laynie utters, giving Grayson an overly sweet smile.
Leaning his elbows on the bench, Grayson's face lights up. “We needed coffee, and I hate to say it, but yours are the best.”
“You may hate that, but I sure don’t,” Laynie says with a giggle. “You can tell me that every day, and I will never get tired of hearing it.”
“Have I ever told you how humble you are?” Grayson quips.
Laynie just rolls her eyes, a smirk planted on her kind face.
I walk around the bench, and Grayson pushes off to give me his attention as Cole removes his hat. “How was the send off?”
I shrug. “Fine, I suppose.”
The splutter of the coffee machine cuts off our conversation.
