Chapter 17
Seventeen
Charlie
It was already dark by the time Dr. Foster felt comfortable letting me go back to Axel’s after monitoring me for the majority of the day. My contractions had finally stopped after she hooked me up to an IV, just to make sure I was getting plenty of fluids.
Jo walked with me across the parking lot, going slowly as I took my time so I didn’t slip and fall on the ice beneath the fresh layer of snow that had fallen while I was at the clinic.
I knew the bar would already be closed, but if I knew Axel the way I thought I knew Axel, I knew he would be waiting downstairs for me with food ready to feed me.
I knocked on the door, smiling when I heard footsteps rush over before it flung open, and a worried-looking Axel stared at me.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked as he extended his arm and guided me inside as if I were the most fragile thing he’d ever seen.
“I’m okay,” I replied, trying not to read too much into his concern. We had spent a lot of time together the past few weeks and were friends—that was it. “The baby is good, too. She’s finally resting after kicking me all day and making the contractions feel worse.”
“I’m so glad you’re both okay,” he replied, relief washing over him as we walked in and he closed the door behind us.
“I’m fine, too. Thanks for asking,” Jo said with a smug grin as she shoved her hands into her coat pocket and made a face at him.
“You’re always fine. Practically indestructible. I’m never worried about you,” he teased.
“Well, now that Charlie is home safe, I’m going to head out. Call me if you need anything,” Jo said to me, pulling me in for a hug.
It was weird when she first started doing it, but now I was used to it. Jo reserved her affection for very few people, and I felt honored to be included on that list.
“Thank you for everything today,” I said as we pulled away. “I will keep track of the contractions if they start again and call if I need anything.”
“Sounds good. Take good care of her, Axel,” Jo warned, pointing a finger at him as he walked her out.
I waddled over to the table by the fireplace and sat down, letting the warmth of the fire soothe me.
A few minutes later, Axel secured the front door and slid all seven of the locks in place.
I knew people went to Nowhere to be forgotten, but it was clear that he’d also needed a safe space before, given how many locks he needed to feel safe.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, his eyes carefully scanning my body to make sure I was okay.
“I ate at the clinic, but thank you.” I lifted my hand to cover a yawn and felt my shirt ride up my stomach. It wasn’t my favorite shirt because of how short it was, but I hadn’t had a chance to do laundry yet, so all of the clothes I felt comfortable in were dirty.
“Want to go upstairs and get some rest?” he offered.
“That sounds like a marvelous plan.”
I accepted the hand he offered as he helped me and ignored the flush of heat that spread through my body as he guided me upstairs with his hand on my lower back. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, ignoring the chemistry between us was impossible.
Axel pushed the door open and stepped to the side after we walked inside. Gasping as I took in the scene before me, I quickly turned and looked at him.
“Ashley said it was called nesting, but I think it’s just being prepared,” he said softly with a shrug.
“I realized this morning that there’s a chance the baby can come at any time now.
And if she does, you don’t have anything to take care of her.
I hope you don’t mind, but I went shopping and got what I thought were the basics.
I’m sure I missed a handful of things, but I can always go out later and get what we need. ”
“Axel,” I said, my voice trailing off as I walked over to the bassinet, trailing my fingers over the side of it as I pictured watching my sweet girl sleeping in it.
Axel had somehow managed to tuck it into the corner so it was out of the way, yet it felt like it fit perfectly with plenty of room to get her in and out of it.
On the other side of the room, a new bookshelf was secured to the wall.
Each shelf was stacked with supplies, including packs of baby wipes, several packs of diapers in different sizes, a handful of bottles, and a basket filled with burp cloths and receiving blankets.
I wiped at the corners of my eyes and shook my head when I saw the tiny bar he’d hung on the top shelf, making a mini clothing rack that had several onesies hanging from it. A basket sat on the shelf below it with more baby clothes that had already been washed and folded neatly.
The tears slid down my face as I processed what he had done for me.
While I had been stressed about needing to get stuff for the baby and not having the time to get to the store, I hadn’t said anything to Axel about it.
Yet, he still showed up and took care of something I hadn’t been able to do for myself yet.
He saw a need and filled it the same way he had since the moment I stepped into his bar weeks ago, scared and alone as I fled the only life I had ever known while trying to keep my baby safe.
My eyes stung as I looked around the room, noticing the new pillows on the bed, along with a semicircular one that could be used to feed the baby.
Sitting on the edge of the bed were my favorite pajamas that I needed to wash, only they were already washed for me.
Axel had taken on all of this responsibility, even though none of it was his to bear.
Yet he did it anyway. For me and for my baby, to make sure we had what we needed.
My heart fluttered wildly in my chest as I looked at him, knowing that there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to turn back now. I had already started to fall for Axel when we first kissed, but this—this just sealed the fate that my heart was officially his.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped—” he started, but stopped when I spun around and wrapped my arms around his neck, planting my lips firmly over his.