Page 58 of True Blue

“Everything?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Well, she doesn’t need the dirtier details, but yeah, everything I can.” He shrugs one shoulder. “But you don’t want to tell your best friend.”

Bentley glances over at me again, fear seeping into his features. “We’re still figuring things out. Getting solid. Janette wasn’t wrong that first day. The media is going to be brutal when this gets out. I just want to live in our little bubble for as long as we can.”

“And you think Mira will run to the tabloids?” He crosses his arms over his chest.

“No, of course not!” I place my other hand on Bentley’s arm.

“Then telling her wouldn’t be a problem, right?” He points at Bentley, eyes narrowing.

Bentley chews the inside of his cheek. “She’s got a lot going on right now. I don’t want to add to her plate. I know she’ll understand and be happy for me, but she’s not close with Janette and I don’t want her to worry about me and how this works for us right now.”

My chest squeezes when he mentions my relationship with Mira. It’s my fault he’s worried about his best friend’s reaction. I’ve started making progress with Mira today, but I silently vow to put in more effort so that he doesn’t need to worry about this anymore.

“I will tell her,” Bentley adds, resolve hardening as he stares down Axel. “After Thanksgiving break. I promise.”

Axel studies his face, seemingly finding what he needs. “Okay.” He nods. The tension lessens, but I can feel it still lying beneath the surface.

I squeeze both of them at our points of contact. “Now that that’s settled, let's go eat our weight in raw fish.”

Axel slowly smiles, nodding before sliding toward the door to get out.

Bentley watches him get out, taking a deep breath. I squeeze his arm again and he smiles at me, getting out too. I follow, jumping out of the car and rushing toward the restaurant to get out of the cold.

27

Iplace another folded pair of jeans into the open suitcase on my bed, tucking it in and moving things around to try to use as much space as possible. I can hear Axel yelling at the TV a few feet away, playing some online team game with random people while he waits for Layla and Gwen to be ready to leave.

A knock on the door gets him to quit the game and throw the controller down on the couch. I continue packing, figuring it’ll be one of his sisters.

“Hey, Blue!” Axel’s excited voice stops my movement. “What are you doing here?”

I walk over to the open door of my room, leaning against the frame and taking in Janette, standing all bundled up in the threshold of our suite, an overstuffed duffel bag and brimming tote slung over each of her shoulders.

“I wanted to see you guys again before I leave for Georgia.” She bites her lip, and I can see the nerves bubbling up under her surface.

I try to ease her tension. “Packed enough stuff, sunshine? It’s only going to be five days.” Janette walks into the suite, Axel closing the door behind her. I push off, coming forward to standcloser to them as she drops her bags and starts wringing her hands.

Janette shrugs. “You never know what the dress code will be with Mom. For all I know, she has the next five days booked up for me to do appearances with her. I packed for relaxation and formal events.”

Axel frowns. “I still think you should come to Maine with us.”

Janette shakes her head and takes a deep breath. “I’m going to need to face her at some point. The radio silence has been way too eerie. And it’s Thanksgiving. I'm not going to intrude on your family holiday.”

Axel wraps her up in his arms, leaning the side of his head against hers. “You are family, Blue. Not just to me, but Layla, Gwen, and Dad too. They’d all be so excited to have you home with us.” He kisses the side of her head, and she laughs lightly.

She turns in his arms, putting her hands on either side of his face. “I will come back to Maine with you some time. But not this time.” She pecks his mouth, Axel deepening the kiss as he presses her closer against him. She moans and he pulls back with a reluctant groan.

Shaking her head, she turns back toward me, one of Axel’s arms still loosely around her waist.

I raise one shoulder, the fire in her eyes matching the one roaring in my blood. I don’t want to be away from her for five days. “You could come to the Alps with me? I can get another ticket when we get to the airport.”

She chuckles nervously. “I’d need a lot more preparation to meet the parents, Bent.” I hold up my hands, tilting my head in acquiescence. She bites her lip again, eyes unfocused as she looks away from either of us.

“Hey,” I call, walking up to her and putting my hands on the sides of her neck. “It’ll be okay. If you need either of us, call. I will pick up any time of day, promise.”

“I’m just nervous about what she’s going to say.” I nod and she looks over her shoulder at Axel’s concerned face. “She was really pissed at the alumni thing and was so terrible to you. I don’t know what I'm walking into really. She could be totally over it, or she could have been stewing for the last month, planning out some lecture or intervention to get me ‘back on track.’”

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