Page 163 of Pretty Broken Wings
“Oh, you think that’s funny?” Axel’s whole face is rosy.
I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s sweet, but all the stress is rolling over me, and I can’t keep from laughing. “It’s sweet.”
Axel looks disgusted. “Yeah, well. You owe me five packs of cinnamon gum.”
I arch an eyebrow.
“Poems are expensive these days.”
“I’m not paying you if I don’t get to see it.”
Axel crosses his arms. “I already threw it away.” His eyes shift.
“No you didn’t. Let me see it.”
“Not a chance in hell, little bird. What’s your answer?”
I get stiff again. “My answer?”
“Are you gonna break my brother’s heart or not?”
There’s a silence where I can see he’s asking for more than just Gage. Axel is nervous. His fingers flutter on the console, and I can see tiny beads of sweat on his forehead. I don’t think I’veever seen him like this. He’s waiting for my answer. Waiting, not demanding. Not locking me in a room.
I swallow, then reach my hand over to cover his, squeezing once. “I can’t work in a store while freezing my nuts off.”
Axel blinks, then looks at me with an odd confusion.
“Does the heat work?” I ask.
There’s a flash of something in his gaze. I think it’s hope before he stifles it under a smirk. “And what if it does?”
“Good.” I lean back. “‘Cause all I can pay with is in poems, and a certain someone refuses to give me the one I’m owed.”
“Fuck, Raven.” Axel’s tone is earnest, with so much relief in it that it makes my throat tighten. He lets his head fall back against the seat, releasing a breath. Then, he starts laughing, dropping his head to his hands.
I lightly slap his shoulder. “You said you’d embarrass yourself. You didn’t even cry.”
Axel just laughs more and pulls something out from under the seat. “Guess I won’t have to use these.”
Handcuffs. He has handcuffs.
This time, I punch him hard.
Axel leans over like I shot him, grasping his arm. “Jesus, woman!” But he’s grinning.
“Be glad it wasn’t the glasses this time.” I stifle a smile at his antics.
Axel shoots me a look. “If it means I get to keep you, you can break my glasses all you want.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
Axel won’t tell me what his plan is, but on the way back, he gets that spark in his eye that makes me both nervous and excited. Thinking about Gage sitting at home and thinking I don’t want him makes me antsy, and I drive faster.
However, when we get back, I’m scared to go inside. I didn’t mean to hurt Gage by leaving. Either of them.
Axel doesn’t open my door. He just waits for me.
I suck in a few breaths, then step outside. Axel hands me something, and I glance down. It’s his knife.
