Page 129 of Unspoken Hearts
My stomach swirls again as I sit on the edge of my bed. I remind him of the night they left, and how I took him next door where we ate pasta and watched kid movies with Mrs Tenney.
“I remember the movie. The first time I watchedShrek.”
“Yeah, and you were scared.”
“He was scary,” he claps back defensively.
My eyes roll loosely. “Besides the point. Do you remember our parents right before they left? The shouting?”
Axel is silent for a long beat before saying, “No, I don’t really. All I remember was that Dad was carrying a big box that looked heavy.”
“Yeah, their alcohol for the evening,” I mutter, rubbing my forehead again. “You don’t remember them telling me that I was in the way and annoying?”
“No.” I hear the raspiness in his voice. “I don’t, but it wasn’t true, and you can’t think that.” He sighs. “Have you thought this for thirteen years, Macie?”
I nod against my phone. “Yeah, I have.”
“This explains a lot.”
My eyebrows pinch together. “How?”
“You.” My frown tightens. “Always making sure I had everything. Always being there for me, but pretending like you weren’t at the same time. This is why, because you didn’t want me to think the same thing?”
My silence is enough to answer him.
“Macie, come on. I would never think that. You’re all I have left. Why would I think that you’re a pain?”
“Because that’s the last thing Mum told me,” I answer softly.
Axel exhales, and I can imagine him shaking his head in disbelief. “Mum and Dad were horrible. It’s not worth you thinking about.”
“Right.” I swallow and tell him about Grayson also leaving because he found out about Reid and me.
“Woah! When? How am I only hearing about this now?”
I shrug. “I didn’t think telling my brother about my lifelong crush was cool.”
“You and Reid?”
“Yes,” I grit out quietly. “Well, I don’t know.”
“What?” he pushes back.
I’m standing again.
I tell him about Grayson possibly never agreeing to us, and Axel hums in agreement, telling me that it’ll be fine. That Grayson will come around when he sees how much we love each other. I almost choke on that, because I still haven’t told Reid that I love him to his face.
“Thanks, Axel. I’m sorry for springing this on you so early, I just needed to know.”
“Macie, stop thinking that you did something wrong. You haven’t, all right, and Grayson will realise that because he’s your friend, okay?”
I nod again.
“Call me if anything else happens, okay? I’m here. It’s my time to be there for you, Macie Moo.”
“Everyone needs to let go of that nickname,” I grumble. Axel just chuckles.
“Not a chance.”
