22. Axel
CHAPTER 22
AXEL
Finally after what felt like hours of racing through the streets, I find myself pulling into Eva’s driveway in record time, which if I’m being honest, I’m rather proud of myself. ?? Stopping at the entrance I check my surroundings, making sure no one is around before I pull my mask out of my bag.
I don’t waste any time putting it on before jumping off to stash the bag between the trees.
I can’t be a superhero with a fucking backpack on. Has anyone ever seen Batman with a backpack? Yeah, didn’t think so.
I’m halfway back to my bike when the sharp crash of breaking glass snaps me to attention. My head whips toward the house. “Eva,” I whisper, her name catching in my throat. My body twitches as adrenaline surges through my veins. I ditch the bike without a second thought and sprint toward the front of the house, running in time to the thumping sound of my pulse in my ears.
I round the corner to see the door wide open, slowly swinging against the breeze as it brushes inside.
Fear claws at my chest, threatening to pull me towards the floor at all the possibilities. My mind instantly going to the worst.
I left her alone.
After that photo, I should’ve been here. I should’ve done something.
Please, don’t be too late.
Slowing down my pace, I creep towards the door, making sure to listen out for any sounds around me. Gently, I place my hand against the door, opening it wider as I glance at the mess inside. A smashed vase is scattered across the marble flooring at the bottom of the staircase. The heads of the flowers ripped from their stem as they drown in the water they once drank.
Soft whimpers drift from the room to my left, faint but unmistakable. My chest tightens as I inch closer, every step deliberate and quiet. Peering around the corner of the door frame, I spot someone curled up on the sofa, their body trembling in time to the sounds.
A floorboard creaks beneath my foot as I step forward. Eva’s head snaps up, and I freeze, not wanting to startle her with any sudden movements. For a moment, her tear-streaked face looks fragile as redness surrounds her face, but then her eyes narrow, and the vulnerability vanishes. Hatred floods her expression, wiping away the tears as she pushes herself up to stand before me.
She moves around the sofa slowly, her gaze locked on me like a predator sizing up its prey. “You…” she murmurs, her voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief. Her breathing quickens with each step, the air between us growing heavier as she closes the distance.
She stops a few steps in front of me, her eyes full of suspicion. “What do you want from me?” Her voice cracks, but the anger inside is clear, mixed with something else, fear… Confusion maybe.
“Why are you here? Why do you keep showing up randomly? What the hell do you want from me?”
A part of me can’t tell if she’s furious or scared, or even if it’s both. Her body is tense, her fists clenched at her side as her chest rises and falls quickly, but I can see the vulnerability hiding behind the anger in her eyes. No matter how hard she tries to hide it, I see it there, lingering.
I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
“I’m not here to hurt you Eva.” The words come out rougher than I intended, causing her to take a step back. “I don’t know what you think I’m here for, but I just… I like to make sure you’re okay.”
She scoffs at my words. “Make sure I’m okay? You think you can just randomly appear in my life and play hero ?” Her words match the roughness of my tone as her emotions try and fight their way back to the surface.
I watch her closely, taking note of how her eyes flick around the room, as if searching for a way out. I stay rooted to the spot, giving her space, not wanting to make her feel cornered.
This isn’t how I imagined it going.
In my head, I’d walk in, and she’d run straight to me, desperate for answers about what happened to Mandy, begging me to help. But no… Here I am, stuck in a standoff with a woman whose strength is almost as intimidating as her anger, but the longer I watch her, the more I admire it. The more I admire her.
The defiance in her eyes, the way she stands her ground, even when everything around her is falling apart, she doesn’t let it show.
“I just wan-” I don’t get the chance to finish my sentence as she holds her hand up in front of my face.
“Save it, I don’t care why you’re here, I have things I need to do, so close the door on your way out.” She says before walking past me, leaving me staring after her as she walks into another room.
When she’s out of sight I pull my phone out, sending Ant a quick text.
Axel: I need Mandy to call Eva, she needs to tell her that she is okay and she will see her soon.
It doesn’t take long for the distant sound of a phone ringing to break the silence. I strain to listen, hoping to catch what Eva says, but her voice is too soft, too far away as she speaks quietly.
I take a step toward the direction she went, but she reappears, wiping fresh tears from her flushed cheeks.
Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, we’re both still, frozen in time.
She looks down at her phone, and when she looks up again, there’s a small smile, but it’s there.
The shift is so sudden, I don’t know how to react.
I tilt my head, playing it off. “Is everything okay?” I ask, trying my best to sound clueless.
Her chest falls as she exhales deeply, “It will be.”
My eyes follow her as she heads back towards the sofa, “Are you not scared of me?” I ask her, intrigued to know the answer.
She shakes her head, “Why be scared when I know you’re going to turn up no matter what? At this point I might as well embrace the company.”
I can’t help but be shocked at her response, she sounded so calm that I could actually believe the words coming out of her mouth.
“Do you trust me?” I ask, as a plan forms in my mind.
She looks me in the eyes, except this time instead of anger, her eyes are full of mystery.
She pulls herself on to her knees, leaning over the back of the sofa, “You asked me that last night didn’t you? Unless you’re planning on murdering me, my answer hasn’t changed.” She responds, giving me the slightest smile.
A small laugh escapes me at her boldness. “I’ll never hurt you, buttercup. Unless you want me to, of course.”
Her mouth opens, then closes, clearly caught off guard by my response. Deciding that I’ve waited enough to touch her, I put my plan into motion. “Get dressed and meet me outside,” I say, turning and walking towards the door.
As soon as I step into the cold breeze, I hear her shout after me. “Where are we going?”
I smile behind my mask, “Trust me,” I call back over my shoulder before closing the door.
We’re about to play a little game.
I drum my fingers against the bike as I wait patiently for her. It’s been fifteen minutes since I walked out of that door.
How long does it take for a woman to get ready? ?Just as I start to think she’s run away from me, the door creaks open.
And there she is.
My breath catches in my throat as she steps outside, closing the door quietly behind her. She’s breathtaking. Her blonde hair is pulled up in to a bun, but a few strands escape, framing her face perfectly as they wisp in the wind. There’s something about the way she carries herself, the confidence, the grace.
Her makeup is soft, almost natural, but it brings out those emerald eyes of hers against the darkness of her mascara. Her lips are now a shade of pink, matching the colour of her cheeks.
And her outfit. Fuck, it’s like she’s stepped out of my dreams.
The way her hips sway as she walks, the way her leggings hug every curve of her body, especially those sweet thighs of hers. It’s impossible to look away.
I’m pretty sure if I wasn’t wearing my mask, she will catch drool coming out of my mouth.
She’s wearing a baggy hoodie, just like last night, but this one’s pink, matching the colour in her cheeks.
I can’t help but smile under my mask, completely lost at the utter perfection of the woman walking towards me.
She’s in front of me within seconds, and I realise I’ve been sitting here, frozen… lost in the way she looks.
She stands there patiently, like she’s expecting me to say something.
Oh fuck, I am meant to say something… compliment her you idiot.
Clearing my throat I sit up, trying to bring myself back to the situation in front of me, or more who is in front of me. “You look… breathtaking.” I tell her as I reach for my bag, pulling out a second mask, except this one is orange.
“And who’s that for?” She asks, eyeing it with suspicion.
I know I look like an idiot, standing here holding out a mask to her, but I can’t help it- standing this close to her, I feel like a nervous kid all over again.
The way I feel right now, I might as well be twelve, the way my heart races and my palms sweat. But fuck, she has that effect on me and she doesn’t even know it.
She slowly reaches forward and takes the mask out of my hand, “It’s for you” I tell her.
She pulls a face, confused as to why I would hand it to her, “Are you trying to say I’m breathtakingly ugly?”
“No, Not a-” Fuck, panic fills me, “No, no, no, no, it’s ju-”
She starts laughing, the sound light and teasing as it cuts off my stuttering.
“Gotcha,” She says with a wink before slipping the mask over her face. I sit there stunned, but also somewhat impressed by her.
She steps beside me and pauses, tilting her head like I did earlier, “Now we’re matching. Cute.”
I take a deep breath as I try and hold it together as the weight of the bike shifts when she climbs on behind me. Just as I think I’ve regained control, her arms slip around my waist, holding on tight.
Well fuck.
A whole different kind of feeling floods me, A feeling I’m not ready for but I don't fight it. Her warmth spreads against my back as she wiggles closer, showing me that little bit of trust from her. It may be a little but it’s enough to make my heart trip over itself.
Whatever game I thought we were playing, I’m not sure who is going to win.