Page 88 of Made For Ruin

The hurt in his expression makes my chest ache. This isn’t the theatrical anger he uses to get his way or the sullen silence when he’s being petty. This is real pain, and I put it there.

“Hey,” I say, my voice barely carrying across the space. “That new song sounds good.”

“Thanks.” He fiddles with his guitar strap, not quite meeting my eyes. “Still working on the bridge.”

“The tempo change is cool.” I take a few steps closer, falling back on the music terminology I picked up during our relationship. “Very... dynamic.”

He sighs. “What do you want, Lainey?”

I glance at his bandmates, who are very obviously pretending not to listen. “Can we talk?”

Axel looks at me for a long moment, his jaw working as he considers my request. Finally, he turns to his bandmates. "Guys, can you give us ten minutes?"

They exchange curious glances but don't argue, setting down their instruments and filing out of the room. The door clangs shut behind them, leaving Axel and me alone in the cavernous space. The air feels thick with tension and unspoken words.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself.

"Axel, I'm so sorry about last night. About everything. I know I should have told you sooner about Marcus and me. I never meant for you to find out like that or for it to hurt you."

Axel scoffs, shaking his head. "Spare me the bullshit, Lainey. You knew exactly what you were doing. Sneaking around with my dad behind my back, lying to my face for months. How did you think I would feel when I found out?"

I flinch at the venom in his tone, the raw pain beneath the anger.

"I didn't lie, Axel. I just... didn't tell you the whole truth. And I am sorry for that, I really am. But you and your dad weren’t on the best terms, and I didn’t know what to do."

“Don’t try to make this about me and him. This is about you lying to my face for weeks. Sitting on my couch, eating my food, acting like everything was normal-”

“No,” I cut in, my voice stronger now. “This is about you judging me when you have no right.”

"What do you mean?"

I take a step closer, holding his gaze.

"I mean, you're not exactly innocent here either. Or have you forgotten that you cheated on me with Kayla Simmons while she had a boyfriend?"

Axel pales, his eyes widening. "That was different," he stammers.

“Was it?” I straighten my spine, done with feeling guilty. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks pretty damn similar. You went behind my back with another girl. Lied to me about it for weeks. And then when I found out, you turned it around on me. Made me out to be the crazy, clingy girlfriend on social media."

Axel at least has the decency to look ashamed, dropping his gaze to the scuffed concrete floor.

"I was an asshole. I know that now. But this thing with you and my dad isn’t the same."

"You're right. It's not the same. Because unlike you, I didn't cheat. I didn't set out to hurt you or humiliate you. I fell in love with Marcus after you and I broke up. I should have told you sooner, and I'm sorry for that. But I won't apologize for loving him."

Axel gives me a curious look, his brow furrowing. "You're really in love with him?”

I meet his gaze steadily, my heart in my throat. "I am. More than I knew was possible."

Something flickers in Axel's eyes, an emotion I can't quite decipher. Surprise, maybe. Or begrudging respect.

But then he turns away, bracing his hands on the sound board. I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers press against the metal until they turn white.

"He's twice your age, Lainey," he says finally, his voice strained. "He's... he's my dad."

"Don't you think I've agonized over the age difference? Worried what people would think?" I shake my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "But here's the thing - when I'm with him, none of that matters. He makes me happy. Happier than I've ever been."

Axel sighs heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. He turns to face me, leaning back against the soundboard.

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