Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
It had been another two weeks before Axel saw Maisie again.
Delivery trucks were filling up the main parking lot, and it was an all-hands-on-deck situation.
Walker had hired a team of workers who were going to help unload the trucks and assemble furniture.
Today’s deliveries were for all the rooms in the lodge.
Maisie was standing with a tablet and directing people on where to take what they were unloading.
Technically, he could help, but he had decided to tackle punch list items on the cabins.
It wasn’t that he was avoiding her—they had ended on good terms—but if furniture and decor were arriving, the cabins were going to need to be finished.
So he put on his tool belt, grabbed a few guys from his crew, and started walking through every cabin.
Some of them needed just a few things—nail pops needed to be repaired or missing hardware had to be installed—but others had more extensive lists that would require sending the finishers back in to repaint.
By lunchtime, they had knocked out almost twenty cabins. They still had another thirty to get through, but he wasn’t sure it was all going to happen today.
Well…he would probably continue to work after his guys went home for the day, but it was so much easier when he had the crew with him. Maybe the next batch of cabins wouldn’t need as much attention.
“Why don’t you guys take your lunch break and we’ll meet back here in an hour?
” he suggested. The guys all gave him a thumbs-up before walking away.
Axel was going to follow because they had food brought into the lodge for everyone, but he wasn’t really interested in going up there and getting in the middle of the chaos.
Instead, he opted to head to his cabin, where he’d make his own lunch.
Stepping onto his porch, he dropped his tool belt before heading inside. There wasn’t much to choose from—grocery shopping was on his to-do list this weekend—but a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches seemed like the way to go.
The weather was cool today, and he’d left the windows open to air the place out. In the distance, he heard Connor’s voice and didn’t think anything of it. But then he heard Maisie’s and that got his attention.
Going over to the window, he stood out of view and tried to hear what they were talking about. Connor’s cabin was next to Axel’s, so he was wondering why the two of them were out there instead of up at the lodge.
“Were you able to find out anything?” she asked.
“Nothing major, but I think I confirmed some stories that are common knowledge.”
“You did? Is anyone willing to say anything publicly?”
“Not yet. But I’m working on it.”
“Oh. Okay.”
She sounded disappointed, but for the life of him, Axel had no idea what they were even talking about.
“Don’t lose hope,” Connor said. “I’m close. By the time the resort work is done and you put the last fresh flower in a vase, I’ll have answers. I swear.”
“Connor, you can’t know that.”
“Trust me. I can.”
Their voices were getting farther away and the last thing Axel heard was Connor asking about possible decorating ideas for Annabeth’s new room.
Raking a hand through his hair, he moved away from the window and went back to making his sandwiches.
His mind, however, was still focused on what he had just heard.
What were they talking about? What was Connor supposed to be finding out?
And why didn’t he tell Axel that he was helping Maisie with anything?
Everyone knew his fling with her was over and they were fine, so why the secrets?
Dammit. He hated shit like this.
How was he supposed to look at his friend and pretend he hadn’t heard anything? Or Maisie? If he ran into her today, how could he look at her and not demand to know what she was working with Connor on?
It couldn’t just be about the house. There was something very vague and secretive that couldn’t possibly have anything to do with decorating.
Sighing, he finished making his lunch and took a giant bite. He started putting stuff away as he ate and nearly choked when someone knocked on his door.
“Axel? You in there?”
Connor.
I guess I’m about to find out how I’m gonna act when I see him…
“Yeah,” he called out before taking another bite of his lunch. Maybe if his mouth was full, he couldn’t throw out any accusations.
“Hey,” Connor said, smiling as he walked in. “Why are you eating here? We’ve got a ton of great food up at the lodge.”
“I’m just in the zone and wanted to grab something quick before getting back to work. What’s up?”
“One of the guys helping with the move had to leave because of a family emergency, and another guy was his ride, so we’re down two. I was curious if you could spare a few of your guys to help out.”
Instead of answering, he took another bite of his sandwich while he inwardly fumed.
“If it’s too much trouble…”
Shaking his head, Axel quickly swallowed.
“I’m just trying to make sure the cabins are all ready,” he said levelly.
“I mean…if the lodge is getting everything delivered, it’s only a matter of time before the stuff for the cabins arrive.
And if they’re not ready, everyone’s gonna look at me like I screwed up. ”
“Okay, but…”
“Like you’re all gonna think I couldn’t handle it,” he went on. “And that you made a mistake in even letting me be a part of this whole freaking project!”
“Axel, no one’s saying…”
“No, you didn’t have to. I get it, okay?
I was a pity addition to the project. I’m not an equal investor, and therefore, not as important.
Well, go ahead. Take two of my guys, but let’s just put it on the record that if any of the cabins aren’t done, it’s because you think that what you’re working on and your role around here take priority! ”
And with that, he shoved the rest of his sandwich in his mouth.
For a moment, neither said a word. Then Connor pulled one of the stools out that stood in front of the tiny kitchen island and sat.
“Want to talk about it?” Connor calmly asked.
“About what?”
“About whatever’s put those ridiculous thoughts in your head.
When has anyone ever said that you’re any less of anything, huh?
Do you realize that you’re the guy keeping it all together?
Walker may have been the guy who started it all, but there is no way he could have handled or even understood the scope of the work without you. ”
Rather than say anything, he picked up his second sandwich and took a bite.
“And I don’t think anything I’m doing is taking priority.
I was simply asking. Honestly, I had no idea what you and your team were working on, so…
I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be a dick or anything, I was just looking to keep things on track up at the lodge.
We’re making good progress, and I wanted to keep it going.
But obviously, you’ve got a lot going on here, so we’ll be fine.
You keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll keep doing what we’re doing, minus two guys. ”
“Good.”
By the look on Connor’s face—part amusement, part smug—he knew the conversation was far from over.
“You still haven’t answered the question,” Connor said after a long moment. “What brought all this on? You’re not usually this insecure or defensive.”
This was his opening. He could toss it out there that he overheard him and Maisie talking and how he thought it was weird that they were being so secretive. It was right there. The perfect opportunity.
But he didn’t take it.
“Nothing brought it on. I’m simply telling you I don’t appreciate you treating my work like it’s less important, that’s all.”
Liar.
Well, it was partially a lie. He didn’t like anyone treating him that way, but that was rarely the case with his friends.
“Axel, come on. We’ve known each other for far too long. I know when something’s bothering you. Just like we all knew you were upset about Maisie a few weeks ago.”
“You were all just being nosy. And where did it get me, huh? Things still ended.”
Crap.
Resting his arms on the counter, Connor’s expression turned a little serene. “Can I ask you something?”
“No. But you’re going to anyway, so you might as well.”
That earned him a small snicker before Connor asked, “Was this just a fling to you? It was just a few days, Axel, and you’ve never been the guy who gets attached. Especially not that fast. So what is it about Maisie that has you so twisted up in knots?”
I wish I knew.
And that was the real lie, because he knew exactly what it was, and maybe if he just said it, he’d feel better.
“There was a connection there,” he said, hating how vulnerable he sounded. “Like…I never experienced anything like it before. We spent so much time talking and just having to do stuff together because we were stuck here, and I feel like we got to know each other really well.”
“That’s not a bad thing, right?”
“I didn’t think so. Plus…like I wanted to protect her.
She won’t tell me what’s going on with her family and all that shit, but I just want to find them and kick all of their asses and demand that they be good to her.
She’s clearly struggling and doesn’t have much of anything.
I don’t either, but whatever I have, I’d give it to her if it would make her life easier. ”
Sighing, he waited for Connor to say something, but he didn’t.
“I can still see the sadness in her eyes and hear the desperation in her voice when she first showed up here. I’m telling you, whatever’s going on in her life is bad. And I know that feeling, Connor. I know that desperation. Hell, I’d give anything to make it better for her.”
Letting out a long breath, Connor studied him before saying, “I’m sorry, man. I really am. We all figured you were still into her by the way you were acting, but…”