Page 78 of All My Heart

“I'm so happy for you.” I checked my phone for messages as I ate, eager to see if I heard back from the Realtor. “Oh, she got back to me.” At Axel's questioning look, I said, “I'm looking at this house to flip, and she said I could come see it tomorrow. I wasn't expecting to get in before the holiday. But apparently, the owner died, and the son wants to sell it quickly.”

Axel came around the island, so I pulled up the pictures. I scrolled through them one by one, nervous about his impression. “What do you think?”

“I think it's a good first project. It doesn't look like a complete overhaul. You might want to have one of your brothers go with you.”

“Cooper is walking through today.”

Axel touched my shoulder lightly. “I think you'll do a great job with it.”

“There's only one problem with the house.” Well, two if you counted the fact that it was in Florida and Axel was in Maryland.

“What's that?” Axel asked as he moved to the other side of the island and picked up a piece of bacon.

“I like it too much. I think I might want to live there when I'm done.”

“I thought you were going to live in them while you renovated, then move onto the next.”

“Yeah, but this house is the perfect size for me. I could put a pool in later. It's within walking distance to the beach and the bike paths.”

“That's what makes it a good flip.”

“What if I can't do this? What if I fall in love with every house I buy?”

Axel popped the last bit of bacon in his mouth, chewed, then swallowed it down with orange juice. “I wouldn't worry about that yet. You don't know what's going to happen.”

“I'm so nervous.”

“You're going to do great. Look what you did with my place. You'll make this cottage the best beach house there is.”

“I already have so many ideas— I'm thinking white and blue, or white, blue, and yellow. I can't settle on one.”

“Whatever you decide, it will be perfect. And you'll get better with each flip. You'll know where to spend the time and money, and where you can ease up a bit.”

“Thank you for believing in me. I wouldn't be doing any of this without you.”

Axel shrugged like it was no big deal when it was everything. “You would have. Maybe it would have taken you longer.”

“I wouldn't be doing it now, and I'm so excited about this new step in my life.” I just hoped I could remain close to my family while doing my own thing.

The light in Axel's eyes dimmed slightly before he smiled. “I'm happy for you. We're both moving forward in our lives.”

“It's going to be great,” I forced myself to say because my future was missing the most important part—Axel Calloway.

I wasn't sure I'd ever recover from leaving him behind. But he'd said I was just something to do with his time. He didn't feel the same way. Remembering what he said almost made it easier to leave. Almost.

Any time I was lonely or regretted my life choices, I just had to recall his words. Because they were clear as day. There was no misinterpreting what he meant.

If he asked me to stay now, I would. I'd forget about the beach house waiting for me, my family, and the business. And that wasn't right either. I couldn't give up my dreams for a guy. I'd put them on hold for Rex, and look where that had gotten me. Nowhere, and fast.

In the end, I was alone. I had to make the best choices for myself. I couldn't count on anyone being there for me, outside of family. Axel was no different. Even if it seemed like he had been for a while.

After breakfast, Axel helped me pack, but it wasn't much.

When he put the luggage into the trunk of my rental car, he said, “I almost forgot.”

Was he going to ask me to stay? Tell me I really was the love of his life?

He jogged inside his cabin, and I waited awkwardly for him to return.

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