One Night Stand
Page 16
“You can stay and have fun but I need to go,” I told him firmly. I wasn’t going to stay and put myself through this any longer. I’d been itching to leave ever since my run in with Chris, not to mention everything that followed.
“I’m going to stay,” he declared.
“Okay, have a good night,” I told him and got up and left. I was a little surprised by his decision. I didn’t bother giving him a peck goodbye; I was in too much of a pissy mood. Hunter made no attempt to walk me out or make sure I made it out okay. I stumbled out the front door, my heel getting caught as I exited. I was caught by a pair of warm strong hands. I looked up into the beautiful green gems and it was like a déjà vu from all those months ago in Munich. Axel stared down at me, his expression soft. He was always there when I needed him to save me.
“Thanks” I breathed out. “I really have got to get better at this whole walking thing,” I joked with a smile. He chuckled at that, still holding me protectively.
“I don’t mind catching you,” he flirted back. “Where are you going?” he asked looking around, seeing that I was in fact alone again.
“Home, it’s been quite the night and I’m not in the mood.” He nodded at my statement.
“Alone?” he questioned, surprise evident.
“Yep,” I replied, not wanting to get into it. “I had a run-in with Chelsea and I really can’t wait to get out of here. Literally everyone is here tonight.” I shuddered. Just as Hunter had said they would be.
“You okay?” he asked, genuinely concerned, knowing my history with Chelsea more than anyone else.
“Yeah, I’m actually a lot better, like I’ve gotten closure I guess. I’m just completely exhausted now,” I relayed.
“Well, do you need a ride home? I was going to leave myself,” He offered, his eyes full of warmth and security. I hesitated and he watched me debate my internal conflict. “Seriously, it’s no problem. I’d really feel better if I drove you home,” he assured. I nodded slowly.
“Yes, that would be great. Thanks,” I agreed and followed him to his car. It was just a ride, an innocent ride home. That was all, I kept telling myself.
Axel
I DROVE THE LONG WAY to Leah’s apartment, doing anything I could to make the drive last longer and get just a little more time with her. I’d missed her so much during our time apart and just being with her made me feel so much better. Neither one of us spoke much and we drove mostly in silence, but it wasn’t awkward at all, it was a comfortable silence. Something I only had with Leah.
“So, what have you been up to since I left?” I asked, dying to know. She shrugged her shoulders.
“Honestly, not much. I’ve just been focusing on school,” she answered sounding bored. “My grades have actually never been better.” She laughed. “But what about you, what have you been up to?” she asked, sounding a little nervous.
“My life has been exceptionally boring,” I told her, being honest as well. “I’ve just been keeping myself busy with work.” And oh boy, had I. I’d raked in a load of cash in the month we had been apart. I took all the extra shifts I could get, so I wouldn’t have to think about how crushed I’d been.
“I’m surprised you managed to get the night off,” she stated. “It must be a busy night for the bar.”
“Yeah it is, but I pulled a few strings,” I told her. “I was hoping you’d be here and that we could work things out,” I admitted to her, watching her face closely to see her reaction. Her warm chocolate brown eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks flushed pink at my admission. I could tell that there were real feelings there, hidden underneath the surface and I wished, that now that she knew the truth and understood how I felt about her, that she’d give into these feelings. But Leah was loyal and I knew she would never cheat, it was one of the things I loved the most about her. I could trust her wholeheartedly. It was the only thing that made the situation more bearable.
“I know you’re seeing Hunter now,” I said slowly, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t try being friends,” I said, trying hard not to bite my tongue when I said the word friends. The pain was like a knife to my gut. What was I, crazy? Friends would be unbearable. She remained silent in deep contemplation. “What do you think?” I questioned, the nervous one now.
“I don’t know Axel,” she said softly, really thinking about it. “That might be really hard,” she admitted much quieter. Who was I kidding, she was right, it had been a dumb thing to even offer. I was being a masochist, I was trying so hard to hold on to her and not lose her completely.
“You’re right, I was being stupid,” I agreed and sighed deeply as I pulled up to her building. We both sat in silence just staring up at her building.
“Thank you, Axel,” she said and undid her seatbelt. Leah put her hand on the door as if to leave but then paused and looked up at me. I felt my heart beat speed up and I held my breath as Leah leaned toward me. I turned my face towards her to meet her lips. She inhaled surprised and I realized that she had probably intended on kissing me on the cheek but instead I had kissed her. I kissed her once more and she surprisingly kissed me back, the electricity from the kiss coursed through my body and then all too soon she pulled back, breaking the kiss. Her face was rosy and her breathing labored, clearly she was just as affected as I was.
“Bye Axel,” she said and opened the door, fleeing to her apartment. Even though she was still leaving me, I was surprisingly okay. All the passion and fire had rekindled from our kiss and I could tell she felt it too. Maybe there was still hope for us. This wasn’t over.
I’D KISSED AXEL! I MEAN it hadn’t been my intention but I had done it! I was freaking out, tonight had been the most messed up night of my life. I thought I would have been coming back home with Hunter tonight and sharing our first night together. Instead, I’d left Hunter at the bar and had Axel bring me home, only to be kissing him at the end of the night. I had never seen this coming. But somehow even after everything awful that had happened with Chris, Ashley, Chelsea, and even Hunter, I was okay, happy even. And it was all thanks to Axel. Axel had wanted me all along and he still did. I found myself smiling to myself as I lay in bed, replaying the kiss we shared, over and over again in my head. My only problem was, what to do now? I could be with Axel but I had to end things with Hunter first.
All morning I tried to figure out how to end things with Hunter. He had already sent me four text messages, there were three missed calls, and one voice mail, all apologizing for the night before. All of which made this even harder to do. Hunter had always been such a sweet guy and although I didn’t have romantic feelings for him, no matter how hard I tried to force them, I still didn’t want to hurt him. I avoided his calls and messages until late afternoon and then I finally decided I needed to rip the Band-Aid off. I agreed to meet Hunter at his place, I wanted to avoid doing this in public and I wanted to be able to leave when it was over. I walked over to Hunter’s apartment and waited for him to buzz me in. Hunter buzzed me up and I felt my stomach tense in anxiety with knots. This was going to be hard, I knocked once on Hunter’s door and it opened immediately. He had clearly been waiting for me.
“Leah, I’m sorry about last night. I was stupid, I made the whole night about me and my friends when it should have been about us,” he rattled out, before I even stepped through the door. “I’m really sorry; let me make it up to you tonight.” He spoke fast with enthusiasm and squeezed my hand, looking hopeful.
“Hunter, can we talk?” I asked, ignoring everything he’d said. He really looked at me now, looking flustered.
“Sure.” He nodded and stepped back, letting me in to take a seat at his kitchen table, I motioned for him to sit as well.
“Hunter, I’m really sorry but I can’t do this,” I told him, my voice wavering slightly with anxiety. “Do what Leah? Go out tonight?” he asked, looking both wistful and nervous.
“No, Hunter. I can’t do us,” I clarified, motioning between him and me. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulp
ed down.
“Why? If it’s because of last night, I know I messed up but please just give me another chance,” he pled, his brown eyes wide with fear now.
“No, it’s not because of you, Hunter. I’m sorry but I just don’t feel the same way you do. I’m not over Axel,” I admitted. His mouth parted but remained speechless. “You deserve more than this. I’m sorry,” I said and pushed the chair back, getting up to leave. He got up with me.
“I asked you if things were over between the two of you before we started this,” he stated, his voice angry and filled with pain.
“They were but I’m still in love with him,” I divulged, shocking the both of us. “Take care, Hunter,” I told him and left, leaving him standing by the door. It had been hard to do that but it had to be done and there was no easy way around it. Relief flooded through me as I made my way back to my apartment. Now there was nothing stopping me from being with Axel.
I made myself dinner and then showered and got dressed, doing my hair and applying a small amount of makeup. My plan was to wait at Axel’s apartment and tell him that Hunter and I were over and take things from there. The butterflies were flying rampant in my stomach and I felt like I was going to puke from anticipation and excitement. I knew the code to get into his building but I didn’t have a key to get into his apartment, so I sat on the floor outside his door and waited, feeling like a crazy person waiting for him to arrive. A few neighbors passed by giving me small smiles or curious glances.
“Locked out?” A middle-aged woman asked me, coming out of the apartment beside Axel’s. I nodded my head yes.
“Yeah, I’m waiting for Axel to get in. He should be here soon,” I explained. She nodded understandingly.
“I’ve seen you here before. It’s been a while,” she commented, I merely nodded, not knowing what to say. “I have a key; I’ll let you in so you don’t have to wait outside,” she offered and pulled a key out of her purse. Her kindness shocked me and worried me a little at the same time.
“Thank you so much,” I said as she unlocked the door for me and let me in. I hoped Axel would be okay with this.
“It’s no problem.” She smiled and laughed. I locked the door behind me and went to sit on his couch. I inhaled the manly scent of leather and Axel, and sank into it. Before I knew it, I’d dozed off, exhausted from the events of the night before, having barely got any sleep and breaking up with Hunter this afternoon, and the anticipation of getting to be with Axel. It had been a lot to deal with in the past twenty-four hours. The sound of a door shutting snapped me out of my slumber.
“Leah?” I heard Axel’s deep manly voice ask, before my eyes even had the chance to adjust and see him. I rubbed my eyes and stretched out my arms, trying to wake up from my snooze.
“Hi,” I said sleepily. Axel chuckled and kneeled down in front of me, smiling from ear-to-ear.
“Your neighbor, a very nice lady let me in,” I explained. “I hope that’s okay.” He nodded happily, waiting for more.
“Why are you here Leah?” he asked, his voice not angry in the slightest.
“I broke up with Hunter,” I blurted out. His smile transformed into a giant grin, showing all of his perfect white teeth. “If you meant what you said yesterday, well, I’m here,” I continued lamely. Axel took my face in his big warm hands and brought his lips to mine, kissing me softly at first but then hungrily and frenzied. I matched his frantic kisses just as passionately.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I laughed lightly, as we came up for air. His chest rumbled with deep laughter.
“Yes Leah, I meant every word I said.” He smiled and kissed me. “I’ve been waiting all my life to meet someone who makes me feel the way you do and I lost you once and I’m never making that mistake again,” he vowed, serious now. “I have one condition though,” he paused, smiling.
“What?” I questioned, my heart beating faster.
“You be my girlfriend. I want it all with you; I want all of you Leah. No more holding back,” he said, taking my breath away.
“No more holding back,” I promised with a huge smile on my face.
“Good. Now, we have lost time to make up for.” He grinned wickedly and picked me up, putting me over his shoulder and carried me to the bedroom. I giggled, overjoyed as he smacked my ass playfully.
AXEL AND I HAD JUMPED right back into our relationship, like there had never been a pause. Now that we were official and were not holding back our feelings, things were going pretty amazingly. We spent every night together and I’d even moved some of my things into his apartment and he’d moved some of his things into mine. Not that we stayed at my place often anymore. Axel couldn’t wait to start taking me out on dates and started the very next morning after our first night back together, a night that had been both very magical and steamy. He’d been taking me out as much as I allowed ever since, always trying to spoil me. He also introduced me to all of his good friends, they had been very nice and welcoming. Most of them hadn’t believed I existed until I met them.
“When can I meet your family?” Axel asked unexpectedly and kissed my neck softly, making tingles course down to my nether regions.
“Oh,” I hesitated, breathing in deeply as he continued to find my erogenous zones.
“I know we haven’t been official long but I love you Leah and I’m planning on sticking around, I want to be part of every aspect of your life,” he said, removing his mouth from my neck and leaving me speechless. He watched me, his green eyes wide, awaiting my response.
“You love me?” I repeated his words that had stunned me. He chuckled deeply and kissed my neck once more.
“Yes Leah, I love you.” He smiled lovingly down at me. “I’ve been in love with you since that day I first saw you in Munich lost in your drawing,” he confessed, shocking me to my core. I’d had no idea he’d even seen me until that night at the bar. I felt my insides turn to mush.
“I love you too,” I admitted, staring back into his warm green eyes. His whole face lit up and broke into a giant smile and he kissed me deeply.
Breaking the kiss he questioned, “So, does this mean I’ll get to meet your family soon?”
“Yes.” I agreed, earning myself some extra brownie points. Before I brought Axel home, I needed to talk to Jackie about Axel and I, and everything that had happened. I was more nervous about Jackie’s reaction to us, than of my parent’s approval. I knew my parents would love Axel just as much as I did.
“Jackie, can we talk?” I asked, making a surprise visit home to talk to her and also tell my parents that Axel would be joining us for dinner on the weekend.
“Sure, Squirt, what is it?” she asked curiously and sat on her bed, welcoming me in to join her. I sat down in front of her, preparing myself.
“I have a boyfriend,” I admitted, wincing.
“Yeah Lee, I know.” She laughed like I was being silly. “Hunter,” she stated, making me squirm. I had completely forgotten to tell my family that I had broken up with Hunter, only to start dating Axel the same day, a lot had happened in the past two weeks since I’d seen them. I shook my head now.
“Actually, I broke up with Hunter,” I told her nonchalantly.
“What, when?” she inquired, fully interested now.
“The day after Valentine’s day,” I admitted. Her eyes widened in surprise and she laughed loudly.
“Ouff, that’s cold Lee. Even for you.” She laughed teasingly. “So, who is this new guy?” she questioned, even more excited now by the drama. She loved drama but I knew she wasn’t going to love this.
“Axel,” I confessed, holding my breath awaiting her reaction. She remained silent for a full minute, the only sound was that of our breathing. The silence ticked on deafeningly loud.
“Axel, as in Axel Peters?” she asked in disbelief. I nodded my head, lips shut tight. “Axel the infamous womanizer, who already played you for a fool?” she asked. “Who’s also sleeping with my best friend Ashley?” she continued in disgust.
“Even if all that’s true, he’s like six years older than you. You’re just a kid; can’t he get someone his own age?” she asked really hurting me. “You don’t find it weird, that he wants to be with you?”
“Jackie, Axel loves me, he doesn’t think I’m just a kid and I love him,” I told her, angry now. She inhaled sharply, clearly shocked. I got up off her bed and went to leave, stopping just at the door.
“You’re my big sister and I want you to like him and be happy for me but if you’re not, that won’t change things between Axel and me. Only between you and me,” I told her, leaving her with that. That hadn’t gone the way I’d hoped it would. At least I only had Mom and Dad left to tell, they were the easy part.
“Mom, Dad!” I called out into the house and they both met me in the living room. “Can we talk?” I asked, motioning for them to sit down, they sat down looking unsure of themselves.
“I need to tell you guys something,” I said, taking a deep breath.
“Are you pregnant?” Mom exclaimed, cutting me off.
“What? No!” I exclaimed, now the shocked one in the room.
“Well then, what is it, Honey?” Dad asked. “You’re making me nervous.” He chuckled uncomfortably, fidgeting in his favorite chair. I laughed at that.
“I broke up with Hunter,” I told them. “A few weeks ago.” Mom’s face softened.
“Oh, Hon. I’m sorry,” she said and patted my arm trying to be soothing. I smiled at that, I wasn’t upset about the breakup at all.
“No, don’t be sorry, I broke up with Hunter because of another guy. I have a new boyfriend,” I admitted. “And I was wondering if he could come over this week for dinner, he would like to meet all of you,” I told them. Their faces transformed into knowing smiles.