Page 34 of The Parent Pick-Up
Without a word, he turns and continues along the path with a determined stride.
“Owen! Wait—”
My voice ends in a screech as I slip and go down hard on my butt. Pain radiates up my body, and tears spring to my eyes.
The only good thing Owen having his back to me is he didn’t see me slip in the wet grass and fall with what must be zero Hannah.
I want to call his name again, to scream it this time, but the cluster of reporters on the edge of my property will catch the scent of blood and attack like the sharks they are.
Owen disappears around the side of the house, and I hear the clamor of voices as the reporters swarm him.
I can’t stand that they are dragging him into this, but I can’t risk them seeing me. It will be over for Owen in a minute. For me, it’s never ending.
I push to my feet and walk back to the house. Every step I take sends a rocket of pain up my back. Worse than the pain is the humiliation.
Owen walked away without a second glance. Rejection hurts worse than a bruised butt.
Inside, Axel stands at the counter, scrolling through his phone with the nonchalance of a man who didn’t just sabotage my budding relationship with his mere presence.
He glances up from his phone. “That had to hurt.”
“Screw you, Axel.” A storm rages inside me. “You being here just made it worse. You should’ve stayed in California!”
He places his hands on my shoulders, looking into my eyes with what I know is sincerity. “I’m here to help.”
I know he is telling the truth, but my heart hurts too much to listen to my head. I shrug him off and begin opening every drawer in the kitchen.
“Where did you put my phone?” I check the microwave just in case.
Axel waggles his finger at me. “No phones, babe. It’s for your own good.”
I know he is just trying to protect me from the notifications on my phone, but I need to call Owen. “It’s an emergency.”
Axel shakes his head. “The only emergency is outside.”
I bang a cabinet shut. “You are so fired!”
Footsteps creak on the stairs, and I turn to see Olivia. Too late, I realize the racket I’ve been making.
Her hair is a wild mess, and her eyes are wide with fear. “What’s wrong?”
I toss one more glare at Axel and hurry toward her. “Nothing’s wrong, Livy.”
She shoots a glance over my shoulder. “What is Mr. Axel doing here?”
“I’m helping,” he says.
I ignore him and tuck Olivia’s blanket around her shoulders. “Go back to sleep for a little while. It’s still really early.”
“Do we have to move again?” Her lip trembles, and her eyes fill with tears.
My stomach lurches. I’m so tired of running. An answer forms on my lips. A lie. The truth. I don’t know, yet.
But Olivia doesn’t give me a chance to say anything. She turns and runs back up the stairs, abandoning her blanket. A moment later, her door slams.
The silence is thick in the kitchen. I spin on my bare foot and glare at Axel. He meets my gaze, unbothered.
“Don’t blame me.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “You were the one who had to give that performance.”
