Page 37 of True Blue

I nod, trying to catch my breath as he brings reality back into focus. “You’re right,” I say a moment later, letting go of his shirt. He loosens his grip, slipping his hand out of my hair and we both turn to sit side by side again on the stairs. He keeps his arm around me, going back to rubbing my side soothingly while I lean my head on his shoulder again and he places his chin atop it.

“While we’re admitting truths to each other, I should probably let you know that I hate your mom.” He stops rubbing, tensing beneath me as he waits for my response.

I stare ahead, letting his words settle for a minute. “Yeah, she’s not the same person she was in Maine.” My voice breaks and tears suddenly flood my eyes.

Axel wraps his other arm around me, tucking me in against his chest. “I was pissed when she took you away from Layla...and me.” He hugs me tight against him, turning his head so his cheek lays on my scalp. “Mom and Uncle Levi had just died and suddenly you and her were just gone too. But hearing her speakto you like that, seeing who she is now. I hate her. I know Mom wouldn’t want me to.”

I pull back wiping my eyes and looking into his.

He stares back with a hardness in his eyes. “But I can’t help it.”

I place my hands on either side of his face, swiping my thumbs across his cheeks as he watches me with trepidation. “I think Aunt Tati would understand.” His eyes get misty. “She’s not her best friend anymore. She’s barely my mom most days. I love her, because I know she’s hurting still. She doesn’t talk about Dad or Aunt Tati. Doesn’t talk about anything from Maine at all. There are no pictures of anyone in our house and she spends most of her time in this world.” I gesture at the door beside us. “I think she really needed to escape when she woke up and they both died. She gets drunk on Dad’s birthday every year and spends Aunt Tati’s out of the house, usually at her office or planning some event so she doesn’t have to slow down enough to think. She’s my mother and I love her, but I hate her too. For taking me away from Maine, and Layla, and you. For making me miss the funerals and changing so much I don’t recognize her anymore.” I hiccup as hysteria starts to edge up my throat. “But she’s all I had of them for a while. And now I have Layla and you and I'm starting to get better at telling her no. So, thank you for coming and helping me with that. Please don’t feel bad for hating who she is now.”

Axel leans forward and kisses my forehead. “I’ll be there for you anytime, Blue,” he whispers as he tucks me back in against him. “I’m sorry we lost so much time.”

I laugh. “We were thirteen, Axel. Who knows what would have happened if we had stayed in Maine.”

“I do.” He resumes his methodical rhythm against my waist. “You would have continued to live across the street and come over all the time to annoy me and hang out with Layla and Iwould have slowly fallen in love with you. What other choice would I have had?”

I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me and smile despite myself. An ache blooms at the picture he paints that I never let myself imagine once we settled in Georgia.

He squeezes me, saying, “We all got back to each other in the end though.” I nod and we sit together, the mild warmth from the champagne settling in with the lingering sparks from our kiss.

“Think they’ve noticed we’re gone?” He leans back, nodding toward the door.

“Mom saw us escape so it doesn’t really matter.” I shrug my shoulders.

“Let’s get out of here then.” I look over at him and his head tilts to the side. “We drove on our own. We can leave any time you want.”

I look at the door, imagining going back in there and having to make small talk with a bunch of random people while Mom tries to get campaign donations and Christopher leers at us from the sidelines. “Yeah, let’s get out of here.”

He stands up, holding out his hands and I give him both of mine, letting him pull me off the step to stand in front of him.

“How’s my makeup look?”

“Messy,” he says with a shrug before swiping his thumbs under my eyes. “Not much we can do about it in here.”

I nod and purse my lips before taking a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”

He takes my hand, opening the door with his other and pulling me back into the ballroom behind him. I look up and see a handful of people throwing us scandalized looks and the idea of the two of us emerging from a dark hallway disheveled makes a laugh bark out of my throat. Axel chuckles, leading me acrossthe dance floor. We weave through people, and I see Mom notice us trying to make a hasty exit.

“Janette,” she calls, plastic smile in place even as her eyes beam lasers in our direction. She stands in front of someone with their back turned, leaning over the silent auction table Axel and I never went to before our escape to the stairwell. “Come say hello to Judge Marshall and his grandson.” She waves us over and Axel pauses, looking down at me.

He lifts a shoulder. “We can tell them we’re on our way out.”

I nod, squeezing his hand and then heading over to her. Her smile stays in place as she turns away from us, stepping to the side so we can fill in the little circle she’s creating. We walk up and I smile and nod to the older man in a grey suit who holds a champagne flute and beams at us with twinkling eyes.

“Hello, Judge Marshall,” I say, offering my hand for him to shake. He takes it and the man beside him, who I assume is his grandson whips around, nearly knocking into his grandfather with his speed. I hear Axel’s sharp intake of breath before my eyes slide over to find Bentley Marshall staring down at me in horror.

My perfected façade falters as his eyes find Axel, trailing down his wet shirt and then stopping on our hands intertwined between us. His cheeks flush as he stares at the point of contact, seemingly frozen in place.

“Nice to finally meet you, young lady. Your mother was just telling me you’re a freshman at The Coast.” Bentley’s grandfather lets go of my hand, turning toward Bentley and clapping him on the back. “Bentley here just started as well on the pre-law track.” He chuckles. “Following in my footsteps, though that was nearly a millennium ago.”

Mom laughs, the sound harsh inside my ears. “Oh, Tyson, stop.” She waves her hand at him. Bentley finally comes out of his fugue state, eyes finding mine before moving over to Axeland narrowing. “You’re not that old,” Mom finishes, oblivious to the tension choking me right now.

“We were just on our way out,” I blurt, unable to look away from Bentley. I can see Axel standing up to his full height as they stare each other down and feel his grip tighten around my hand.

Mom looks at me, radiating annoyance while Judge Marshall looks a little surprised, but chuckles politely. “Of course, darling. Go have a good rest of your Saturday. You kids are always running off, having something to do. It’s a wonder I got Bentley to accompany me at all tonight.”

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