Page 89 of His One True Wish

“It was a little mean,” I finally agreed.

“You deserve to be happy, Axl. You need to know that. I wanted to tell you.”

“Thanks.”

“And I hope you’re not pissed as hell that I’m staying in your town.”

“No,” I said, exhaling and zipping up my coat. “It’s not my town. I’m leaving this week. It’s your town now. No hard feelings.”

Angel bit her lip and nodded at me, arms crossed.

I walked outside, resolved to pack up and leave town. It was time to go back to Florida and the blue skies above. I didn’t belong with my feet on the ground too long anywhere.

CHAPTER 26

BILLIE

Iawoke with my face pressed against my pillow, my mouth dry. I was totally disoriented. I reached across the bed, expecting to feel Axl beside me. Then the present came crashing in, reminding me of where I was in the world.

This was my mother’s house, and I was half asleep in my old bedroom. The house was quiet, and it was still dark outside. I lay under the covers for a moment, staring at the ceiling. Nothing felt right anymore. Downstairs, the floor was ripped up by the powder room. The for-sale sign stood outside with a QR code advertising the upcoming open house.

I wanted to message my friends and let them know I needed a few more days to help Mom prep for the sale, but I also didn’t know how to tell them about Axl. I was sure to have a backlog of unread messages. I missed my friends back home, but they felt so distant. I had more pressing issues, like talking to Mom about terminating Axl’s lease.

I got out of bed, still wearing my cozy pants and fuzzy socks. I hadn’t even bothered to change my clothes before falling into bed. No wonder I was exhausted. I’d been up late every night with Axl. I opened up my duffle bag and took the lease out, setting it on the desk.

I couldn’t go back to sleep, that was for sure. I padded down the stairs, careful to be quiet. I wanted to make a cup of tea.

I stepped across the plastic tarp covering the gap in the floor. The workers would be back soon to finish patching up the hardwood. At least that is what Mom told me before going to bed. I still couldn’t help but think that maybe the flood was a sign that Mom wasn’t supposed to sell. Things were complicated, and I wondered if we were making a mistake.

The kitchen was quiet, the sky dark, as I grabbed the tea kettle to boil some water. I watched the pot so I didn’t wake anyone. Mom kept a collection of tea bags in tins in the pantry. I took out a bag of English Breakfast, remembering Axl’s tea selection.

Damn him for ruining tea for me, I thought as I set the kettle on the stove.

I sat down at the table, flipping the light on so I wasn’t in the dark. I pulled Gran’s quilt around my shoulders. Outside, as the sky above the Rockies grew light, I rubbed my fingers across the stitched stars in the quilt.

A week ago, I would have made a wish, but right now, I felt as though all my wishing was for nothing. Mom was selling. Gran kept secrets. Axl was a liar. And I wasn’t sure where I belonged anymore. Seattle felt like home, sure, but Denver was changing, and I feared that my nights with Axl had irrevocably broken something inside of me. He touched me in places I didn’t know existed, and now he was all over Smoke River. How could I ever go back there and not be reminded of what we shared — and his unspoken lies?

I replayed the conversation we had before I left. It wasn’t really a conversation. It was more like I lost my shit, screamed at him, and then told him about Gran. I bit my lip, remembering how his eyes flashed at the news. Some part of me knew that he cared about her, but I was so angry. I wanted him to feel my pain. He barely knew her. I loved her with every fiber of my being, and she was gone. She was gone. He was her secret, and I was so angry at them both.

Tears flooded my eyes. The tea kettle shook. I dashed across thekitchen to remove it from the heat just as someone rapped on the door.

“Sorry, one sec,” I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. The porch light was off and it still wasn't fully light, so I switched it on. Abby stood outside. Waving, she held a big pink-and-black box of donuts in her hands.

My stomach dropped. The last person I wanted to talk to right now was Miss Super Star Real Estate. She smiled and leaned forward. I had no choice but to open the door.

“Morning,” I said as she stepped inside.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “I came by early to drop off donuts for the crew. They’re supposed to start at seven, and I have another open house to kick off later today.”

“Thanks,” I said, taking the donuts from her. “That’s very nice of you.”

“You’re welcome.” She stood in the kitchen, arms crossed. “Actually, I’m glad I saw you. I thought we could talk. Do you mind if we sit for a minute?”

“Sure,” I said, pulling out a chair. We sat across from each other in the kitchen. I took the seat with Gran’s quilt in it, but didn’t pull it around my shoulders.

When Abby didn’t say anything, I pointed to the kettle. “You want tea?” I asked.

“No, I’m good,” she said. “I have a triple espresso in the car. I won’t stay long.”

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