Page 17 of Sex & Cigarettes

“Can’t choose who we love I suppose.”

“We can try but the heart wants what the heart wants.” I look back at Axel as he plugs a cigarette between his lips, looking all sexy and tough. He runs hand over his disheveled hair.

“Did you happen to get a picture of the baby?” Goldie breaks me out of ogling my man.

“No, sorry. I don’t even have a phone right now. I was kind of taken by that crazy bitch and her thug.”

“Oh jeez. I had no idea Oaklyn well or um Andrea was a lying cunt. My dad’s girlfriend was friends with her. I wonder if she knew?”

“I guess you could ask her.” I shrug. “She here?”

Goldie’s smile fades. “She’s dead.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.” That’s right. “We all do fucked up things for the people we love and for our friends I suppose. I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing her, but I don’t believe she would have kept a secret like that from your father, do you?”

She shrugs. “Do we ever really know anyone? I loved Teagan, and I know she loved my dad. I just worry about him. He’s been hurt a lot.”

Axel steps up behind me and gives the back of my neck a squeeze. “I’m hungry.”

‘”You guys sit. There’s some stuff for steak subs in the kitchen. It will only take me a few minutes to throw them together.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Axle takes up the stool next to mine and puts his hand on my upper thigh.

Axel

“C’mere.” I crook my finger at Coralie as I lay in the bed of the guest room Murphy put us in at the clubhouse. Sorry bastard. He’s taking all this shit hard. I don’t know what I’d do if something like what happened to Teagan happened to Coralie.

Fucking brutal.

She looks perfectly fuckable with her hair piled on top her head in a messy bun wearing a borrowed tee and shorts from Goldie. Coralie’s always been beautiful. Life is giving me a second chance with her, and I’m grabbing hold and never letting go.

Her knee drops to the edge of the bed. “Axel.”

“Yeah, babe?”

“I need to know where I stand with you. You know I love you. I always will, but I can’t get into this bed with you unless I know that we’re on the same page with where we’re headed. You said back at hospital you wanted to head west. Did you mean that? That you want me to come?”

“I’m about to make you come if you’d get over here, woman.” I move to grab her, and she manages to avoid me.

“Be serious for two seconds, Axel. The past forty-eight hours have been insane.”

“I know they have and yeah we got a lot to talk about, but I’m not in the mood for talkin’. But if you need me to say it then I’m motherfuckin’ grateful you’re here. I want you to come with me when I leave. I don’t want to fight about the past or what might’ve been.”

“And you’re cool with your brother and Ainsley.”

“Shit worked out in the end. They’re happy, and I’d be a helluva lot happier if you’d bring that fine ass to this bed and gimme’ that pussy. Fuckin’ love you, Coralie. I can’t promise shit’ll be easy or that I got all the answers cause I don’t. I don’t know what will happen. All I do know is that whatever the future holds I want you in it by my side and in my bed.”

“You love me?” She grins.

“You know I do.”

She crawls onto the bed and settles in next to me on her side, facing me.

“I want to be with you.” She links her fingers with mine, and I bring her knuckles to my lips.

“I’m all yours.”

“I am sorry for—”

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