Page 14 of Anyone And You

“Don’t,” I forced myself to say. “Don’t get my hopes up for something that means nothing to you.”

He paused, and I watched him falter as he realized the words I’d just said.

I expected something…anything… to come from his lips—even a mocking retort. I would have welcomed the chance to fight or tease.

But I got nothing.

His silence made me scoff and hate myself for ever thinking that what I felt with him was different. I grabbed my purse from the table and hauled it over my shoulder as I stood.

“Des—”

“It’s fine,” I said quickly. “I should be…” I could barely get words out. I could barely catch my own feet. “I should be going anyway,” I finally managed, locking eyes with him again. There was confusion written across his face, pain in his gaze.

“I’ll see you around,” I said. “Thanks for the drinks. This was… this was fun.”

Axel stood, looking like he might reach for me, but I shook my head and continued backward.

“Goodnight, Axel.”

CHAPTER NINE - AXEL

IDIOT.

Stupid, fucking idiot.

I left the carnival in a rage, replaying her running across that fucking field over and over in my mind. I let her get away.

Why didn’t you say anything?

I knew exactly why I hadn’t said anything, and I drove around the city for an hour, trying to determine what to say to her when I did see her again. I couldn’t let her go to bed thinking she meant so little. I had to tell her why. I had to let her know how she made me feel.

It was after midnight before I mustered up the courage to knock on her door. I’d come back and showered, paced the apartment repeatedly while my dog, Koko, stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

Which I felt like I had.

I was restless with what she might say, how she might react. She could have thrown a drink in my face or punched me, and I would have welcomed it.

The worst thing that could have happened was her not answering that door.

I knew she was home because her lights were on, and I could hear her water running from the sink and the sound of her television.

Everything I’d practiced saying on the drive vanished from my mind with that first knock.

“Des?” I called out when she didn’t answer. “Des, please. Answer.”

Silence.

My forehead sank to the door, and I knocked again. “Des, I’m not leaving until you answer.”

A shadow moved on the other side—three more knocks. “Des, I need to talk to you. Come on. If you need me on my knees, I’ll do it. Hit me. Throw things at me. Anything but this.”

The door swung open, and I almost fell inside.

Pain filled her eyes when she looked at me and crossed her arms. She’d taken off her skirt and shirt and put on a short black robe over her pantyhose, her hair now pinned back in a large clip.

“What?” she asked.

My mind blanked seeing her there, knowing I had caused the pain in her expression.

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