Page 64 of You Started It

“You drove, right?” he asks.

“Yeah. Wait, are we sneaking out?”

He raises a shoulder innocently. “Kind of. Where’s your car?”

“Follow me,” I say, heading down the front steps. It’s pitch-black out but there are a few light posts dotting the path, circles of light shimmering on the ground. We reach the parking lot and I unlock my car. Axel tosses his suit jacket, vest, and tie into the backseat before taking his seat up front.

“When are you going to get your license?” I ask as I take my spot in the driver’s seat.

“I don’t need it. I prefer riding my bike.”

“And apparently being my passenger prince.”

“Yeah, that too.” He grins.

I turn the engine, pulling my dress down a bit.

Axel reaches into the backseat and grabs his suit jacket, draping it over my thighs.

I smile. “Thank you.” I start to drive, not sure where we’re going. “Any place you want to go in particular?”

“Yes.” He opens his map app and types in an address but won’t let me see. “Just follow Siri’s instructions. We’re about ten minutes away.”

“No problem,” I say, following the first directions and turning left out of the venue.

“No problem?” he asks. “No offense, but are you okay?”

“No offense taken. I’ve decided for tonight, one night only, whatever happens, happens.”

And may the consequences of those actions not send me into a spiral I can’t get myself out of.

“I like it. Sounds like my daily mantra.”

“Perhaps I’m learning something from you after all,” I say as I take another left turn.

We drive north on the highway for just over ten minutes before Siri tells me to take the exit at Lawrence Avenue East. After a couple more right turns, Axel tells me to park. He hops out of the car first and comes around to open my door. He helps me out and places his jacket on me before taking my hand.

We walk on a trail for a few minutes and I’m still unsure of where he’s taking me. While I hear cars, I don’t see them. I know I said whatever happens, happens, but taking a stroll in the middle of nowhere at night wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

Soon we’re walking through a tunnel with painted murals. Once we come out the other side, Axel tells me to turn around. Despite the darkness of the night, an arc of colors appears. He brought me to the Rainbow Tunnel.

“I believe this was another item on our bucket list.”

My stomach sinks. Itison the bucket list, but it was supposed to be “kiss Ben under the Rainbow Tunnel.” What could…wait. Is this…? Does Axel want to…?Breathe, Jamie.

He holds my hand and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I know the name next to this goal wasn’t Axel.” He bites on hislower lip, then pauses. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or suggest you do something you don’t want to, so if this is a green apple moment, just say so. But I really like you. And I’ve been fighting the urge to kiss you for a long time now.”

I swallow and nod, taking in his words. “I…I won’t be needing to use the green apple at this time.”

He looks down and smiles. “I think there’s something special between us,” he goes on. “Sure, we came together in an unorthodox way. I mean, who knew I’d fall for the girl who destroyed Betty White.”

“You’ve fallen for me?” I ask, my heart racing a million miles a minute.

“You know what I like most about you?” he asks as his eyes sparkle. “How adorably clueless you can be despite being the smartest person I know.” He takes a step closer and stares so deeply into my eyes it’s like he’s seeing into my soul. “Yes, Jamie. I have fallen for you. Hard. I think about you all the time. I can’t wait to go on new adventures together. The reason I’ve refused to sign the contract is because I don’t want to admit to myself or you that any of this is fake. Because it’s not. To me.”

“It’s not to me either. Anymore.”

He leans in, then pulls back ever so slightly.

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