26. Sturdy and Dependable
STURDY AND DEPENDABLE
Lorelei
Standing in the parking lot of the bowling alley, I stared at my cell, a furious mix of anger and fear pummeling my insides.
Dad: The repo company will be here in the morning to take your car. Make sure it’s in good shape and sitting in my driveway by nine.
Me: Are you serious?
Dad: I wasn’t kidding about your engagement to Brock. It was necessary for our survival. Now you’ve screwed that up, so you’ll be dealing with the consequences.
Me: I’m working on Axel, okay? Engagements don’t happen overnight.
I felt sick just typing the words.
Dad: Hopefully walking for the next month will hasten things along.
“Hey, Lore, you okay?” Axel’s voice over my shoulder forced my gaze away from the screen.
Shoving my cell into my jeans’ pocket, I attempted that smile, the fake one I’d been practicing since I learned to walk, but my resolve crumbled when I took in Axel’s expression.
His brows were furrowed, lips twisting into an adorable pout.
And what I saw in those eyes, brought hot tears to my own. Concern. Worry. Genuine caring.
I couldn’t remember the last time anyone looked at me like that.
He stepped closer, and a tear spilled over. Oh, dammit, if he touches me, I’ll crumble.
“What’s going on?” he whispered. “Is it that fucker, Brock? Is he threatening you?”
I shook my head, blinking quickly to keep the remaining tears at bay. Axel moved in and cupped my cheek, wiping the stray tear with his big thumb.
“Tell me what it is, and we’ll handle it. Together. I’m here for you, blondie.”
A sob worked its way up my throat and despite the hard swallow, it burst free.
A tremor raced through my shoulders as the dam burst and tears streamed down my face.
Axel tugged me into his chest when I lost control, the wall that hid my emotions annihilated with one look.
Strong arms enveloped me, that musky, citrusy scent I now recognized as purely Axel invaded my nostrils as he pressed me against his t-shirt.
He held me for a long moment, until my chest stopped heaving and the world didn’t quite feel like it was coming down on me.
So I was going to lose my Mercedes? It wasn’t the worst thing in the world. I barely needed a car on campus and besides now that I had Axel…
It’s not real, Lore. It’s all for show. What are you going to do when your fake boyfriend dumps you at the end of the summer and goes running back to Cordelia?
That damned taunting voice echoed through my mind, the smoky timbre awfully similar to my mother’s.
Axel buried his nose in my hair, his warm breath spilling all the way down the back of my neck. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or will I have to chase down Brock Haversham and beat him up for answers?”
A rueful chuckle slid out. “It wasn’t him for once,” I murmured against his shirt. “Or at least not directly.”
Axel held me out to arm’s length, and I swept at the trailing tears and my runny nose. How embarrassing. My mascara must have been streaking down my cheeks and my face all splotchy from crying.
“Then what’s going on?” he whispered.
I gnawed on the inside of my cheek for an endless moment as I considered what to tell him. As my boyfriend, he’d notice my car was missing.
I could fudge the reason though…
“I have to give up my car,” I blurted. “My dad refuses to renew the lease. Things are kind of tough right now and—"
A deep chuckle escaped through Axel’s pursed lips. “You’re kidding? That’s what you’re crying about, Lore? God, I thought something terrible happened.”
I punched him in the chest as his smile grew wider. “It is terrible,” I whined. “How am I going to get around town?”
“That’s what you have me for.” His big hands closed around my shoulders and squeezed.
“Yeah, for now.” Damn loose lips. My eyes chased up to meet his.
The vibrant blue had darkened, the crease between his brows deepening. “I promise even after this fake dating thing is over, I’ll give you a lift whenever you need one. As long as you don’t mind riding in my old Jeep.”
Warmth flooded my chest, the unfamiliar sensation tightening my throat all over again. “I’d never admit it to anyone else, but I actually love that ratty old Jeep, Ax.”
His grin turned downright blinding. “That is shocking, babe. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” He pressed his palm to my forehead.
I tugged his hand off, but now I was smiling too.
“Nope, not feverish.”
“I guess it just reminds me of you.” I shrugged, forcing my mouth closed before I said something stupid.
“Great, old and beat up?” Mischief flashed across those bright blue eyes.
“No,” I laughed. “Sturdy and dependable.”
“I guess I’ll take it.” He laced his arm around my shoulders and steered me back to the entrance of the bowling alley as I wiped away the smudged mascara.
Perched on the bleachers watching Axel pummel a guy was oddly satisfying. His biceps glistened beneath the mid-afternoon sun, sweat pouring down his muscled arms. Damn, how had I been so blind to his hotness all this time?
Sure, Killian was gorgeous, but no one came close to Axel’s boy next door, Abercrombie and Fitch model looks. He offered the guy he just tackled a hand and hauled him off the ground. When Axel spotted me, he winked.
An unexpected flutter quickened my pulse. I didn’t often come to his practices, but after today, I might have to change that.
His gaze shifted to the far bleacher, and I followed his line of sight. Cordelia, Lexi and Micah sat in the top row. I didn’t know how I’d missed them. The three friends waved, Cordi shooting him a flirty smile, and Ax offered one in return.
Completely uncalled-for jealousy bubbled its way up my gut.
Dammit. I needed to get this under control. The more time I spent with Ax, the harder it was for my stupid heart not to get attached. It didn’t matter how many times I told myself this wasn’t real.
“Hey, Lore.”
I glanced up and barely suppressed a scowl as Tate shimmied down the bleacher.
With my fake smile firmly in place, I crossed my legs and angled my body toward her in an effort to avoid the looks passing between Ax and Cordi. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? I’ve been dating Jacob Patterson.” She ticked her head at number forty-seven, the second-string quarterback. “He’s getting so good. He’ll probably give Axel a run for his money soon.”
I snorted on a laugh. “Doubtful.”
“Guess we’ll see.” A devious grin spread her glossy lips.
“Actually, I was thinking we should go on a double date. Daddy just bought me a new Range Rover so we could all ride together.” Her light eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I heard you won’t be needing your parking spot at the sorority anymore. What happened to your car?”
Heat sailed across my cheeks, and I cleared my throat, pretending to have something caught in it. As I coughed lamely, my gaze flickered across the way to Lexi, Cordi and Micah. I waved and shouted, “Oh, sure, be right there.”
The threesome glanced in my direction, matching expressions of confusion on their faces, but I kept that smile in place before turning back to Tate.
“Sorry, I totally forgot I was supposed to meet up with Cordelia. We’ll have to catch up later. See ya.” I leapt off the bleacher and bounded toward the top row leaving Tate with her jaw hanging open.
Great, now I actually had to sit with these three. Even after our double date, I was fairly certain Lexi still hated me after last year, and Cordi was clearly jealous of me. Micah was the only questionable one, but since he was their bestie, I didn’t have high hopes.
“Hey, guys,” I muttered as I sank onto the seat beside Micah.
The girls gave me tight smiles, but at least Micah’s grin seemed genuine as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
“Hey, Lorelei,” he said. “Thanks for the assist the other night by the way.”
Oh, perfect segue.
“That’s actually why I stopped by.”
“It is?” His eyes widened, and Lexi and Cordelia leaned in.
“I was just going to warn you to stop doing whatever it is you’re trying to do. You’re in Sigma Delta and, well, you know...” My gaze dipped to his forearm that bore the same snake and dagger tattoo as Axel and all the other Lords. “Those are not the kind of people you want to fuck with.”
“She’s right,” Lexi added. “I know from personal experience.”
“Oh, I remember, and that’s exactly why I can’t stop. I won’t give up until I find out exactly what happened to my friend. And I have a feeling your boyfriend knows more than what he’s letting on.”