Chapter 10

Axton

“I don’t understand,” Carson says as he reaches to grab a coffee mug out of the cabinet.

“What’s confusing about it? I don’t want to go to a party tonight.”

“Are you tired? Getting sick?” Looking over his shoulder, he watches me with motherly eyes.

“Not physically tired. I slept pretty well last night after leaving the bar. I just want some time to myself.”

He shakes his head. “Now isn’t the time. Breaks are for people with record contracts and a heavy tour schedule.”

“I don’t have either,” I huff.

“Exactly,” he confirms. “Since the last party, traffic has increased dramatically. We’re at the point where fans are so supportive, they’re paying for sponsored ads to promote you. We have to keep the momentum.”

“It’s one night, Carson. Just leave it alone.” I shake my head as an agitated grunt leaves his lips. “Spin it. Tell them I’m resting my voice and support is more important now than ever.”

“That could work.” He nods, running the scenario through his head, and I check my phone for the hundredth time. I texted Addi several times yesterday and once this morning, yet my phone has remained silent. I frown down at the perpetually blank screen, questioning everything that happened the other night. Did I come on too strong? Not strong enough?

I know my mouth gets me into trouble and the other night was no different. If she only knew I told her things, revealed more in one evening with her than I ever had with any other woman, maybe she’d be more receptive.

“Leave it alone,” Carson advises as he sits beside me, eyes on his own phone.

“Stick to your own business,” I sneer.

“I’m serious.” The screen of his phone grows dark as he looks at me. “Pastor’s daughters aren’t to be fucked with. You’re better off.”

“You don’t know shit,” I mutter.

“They want commitment and babies. You want freedom and a good time.”

I try to ignore him, the truth burning my ears.

“She’s bad for your image.” I grunt—not an admission, merely acknowledgement that I’m hearing him. Why won’t he just go away? Ignoring him doesn’t work. The more active I seem in the conversation, the sooner we can get it over with. “And you sure as fuck are bad for hers.”

“We just hung out. No big deal,” I say, hating minimizing the time we spent together.

The last thirty-six hours, I’ve caught myself in a daze, eyes closing so I can visualize her sweet voice as she sings, the way the wind blew her hair near the lake. I think of the way she smiled when we joked, the way she frowned when I cussed or said something inappropriate. Even in her absence this last day and a half, I’ve enjoyed the memories more than the time I’ve spent in the arms of others.

“And you didn’t think of giving her The Ax even once?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I wish you’d stop referring to my dick as The Ax. It’s ridiculous.”

He laughs. “I’ll stop calling it that when you stop using it as a weapon to dismantle the hearts and pussies of every girl who stands in front of you.”

“Asshole,” I mumble.

“Do you want to hurt her? I’ve known you since before you had hair on your nuts, man. You’re an asshole, but even you wouldn’t be okay with making some chick fall in love with you just so you can fuck her.”

“Why are we even having this conversation?” I sneer at him. I don’t know what’s worse, the thought of Adelaide crying over me or never getting the chance to know her in that way.

“I could tell by the unimpressed look on her face she’s different from the other girls you go after.” I hate that he’s noticed her at all, and I force out the voice telling me many men must notice her. Fire heats my blood as a possessiveness I’ve never felt before settles in my bones. “That’s what she’d expect, you know. She’d have to love you to sleep with you. You should go after her sister. She’s not as selective.”

I scowl in his direction. “The chick with the glasses?”

“That’s her sister too, but I’m talking about Renee. She’s down for just about anything.”

“I don’t want her sister,” I grumble.

“You shouldn’t want her. Do you want to stay in this town forever, or do you want to head to Nashville?”

“You know I’ve been trying to escape this town since I was old enough to form an opinion of it on my own. I’m not sticking around. Not for my parents, and definitely not for some chick.”

Even as I say the words, a fraction of them no longer rings true in my heart. I hate being confused. I hate how Addi just appears one day and has me second-guessing so much. Standing from the table, I carry my now cold cup of coffee to the sink.

“So, if you’re not going to rest up for the party tonight, what are your plans? I’m hungry as hell. Figured we could go grab something to eat.”

“I could eat. Let me get changed.”

“Damn it,” Carson mumbles when the hostess at the most popular sushi place shows us to our table.

I grin as she stops right next to a table with three very pretty girls. The one facing me looks up, grinning, salacious intent gleaming in her eyes. I’d be impressed by her forwardness if it wasn’t for the familiar brown locks on the girl with her back to me.

Spinning around to see what grabbed her sister’s attention, Addi gasps, and the other sister with the glasses giggles, either at my presence or Addi’s reaction to it. Whatever the cause, she’s been talking about me, which is all I need to know for something a whole lot like hope to settle into my gut.

“This is adorable,” I say, reaching up and touching the red tips of her ears.

“Are you stalking me?” Addi asks as Carson takes a seat at the table.

I don’t bother to sit. Instead, I grab the edge of the small table and drag it flush to theirs.

“Can we join you?” I grin.

“Of course,” Renee says from across the table, and I try not to look at her, but my eyes find their way over regardless, and I realize I misread her earlier look. She’s not interested in me. She finds me attractive, sure, but my appeal is in regards to her sister. And thank fuck for that. That situation would be messy as hell.

I huff at the thought. As if not being able to take my mind off the pastor’s daughter isn’t messy enough.

“Asshole,” Carson mutters when he has to get up from his chair and drag it to the new location at the table.

“You’ve been ignoring me,” I whisper in Addi’s ear.

“Yet here you are.” Her voice is coated in sweetness, but her tone is clearly filled with exasperation.

“You know you missed me.”

She frowns, but her sister chimes in.

“I think she spent the whole evening refreshing her social media account for the people who tagged you in posts last night.”

“Renee,” the other sister groans. “Stop.”

Addi hangs her head, cheeks darkening with embarrassment.

I like having the knowledge, but I don’t like it at Addi’s expense.

“Sorry, Addi,” Renee mumbles.

“I’m Axton Lane,” I say, offering my hand to the sister in glasses.

Smiling, she gives my hand a quick shake. “Mandy.”

I don’t bother offering the same to Renee since I already know her name.

“Are you ladies fans?” Carson reaches for his wallet. Always the business-minded manager, he pulls out a couple business cards and hands them to Renee and Mandy. “There’s a scanable barcode on there. It’ll take you to his schedule.”

“Nice,” Mandy says as she places the card on the table.

“You know, word of mouth is vital for an up-and-coming star,” Carson states, diving into the spiel I’ve heard a million times.

“Take a break there, buddy.”

Carson glares at me, but the look softens when Mandy praises him for being so invested in my success.

I feel Addi looking at me, the burn of her eyes on my face warm and welcoming. A smile is on my lips before I even turn to look at her.

“I missed you,” I say close to her ear. “Even if you didn’t miss me.”

She doesn’t respond verbally, but when I place my arm on the back of her chair, she doesn’t move away. My thumb begins tracing circles on her shoulder, and she leans into it, rather than pulling away.

Carson’s voice saying my name pulls my attention from the only girl in the room I see.

“What?” I ask, looking over at him.

“He was fixing to tell us a story about middle school choir,” Mandy informs.

I snap my eyes to him, the warning clear. “Don’t.”

He laughs deep from his gut. “They really want to hear it, man.”

“They don’t,” I insist.

“Actually,” Addi starts. I look over to her, and the bright curiosity in her eyes nearly leaves me breathless. “I’d love to hear a story about younger you.”

I shake my head, the smile never leaving my lips as I nod the go-ahead to Carson.

“So,” he begins, “Axton read online somewhere that duct taping your nuts will help with your falsetto…”

I watch Addi’s face the entire time Carson shares the entire ridiculous story, only getting embarrassed when he talks about the rash I got from ripping my pubes out when the tape didn’t work. She grins at first, then her cheeks pink at what I can guess she considers the most humiliating part. My throat thickens, making it difficult to swallow knowing she’s embarrassed for me. I grin at her when she looks at me with sympathy in her eyes, but by the time Carson delivers the punchline, we’re all laughing like we’ve spent years together as friends.

It all feels so natural, sitting in this restaurant, my arm close to the perfect woman, thighs touching. We joke, laugh, and tell stories like we’re old friends. I feel more at ease with the comradery and interaction of this small group than I have in a long time.

When the waitress brings us our tickets, I hand her enough to cover both, then lean closer to Addi.

“So, this is date number two,” I say casually, and she shakes her head.

“Not that it would matter, but the three date rule doesn’t work on Addi.”

She turns her grinning face from mine to glare at her sister. Everything we’d started to build as a group quickly falls away.

“And with that,” she mutters, “it’s time to go.”

We all stand, and I grab Addi’s hand as she begins to walk off without a word. Mandy reprimands Renee, and I catch Carson’s look, the one that tells me whatever I have in mind isn’t a good idea. I block everyone out and focus on Addi.

“Want to hang out?”

She shakes her head immediately, not giving my offer a second to sink in.

“They can drop Carson off at home and we can just chill.”

“I don’t think that’s a great idea,” she counters. “I should just go home. I have things I need to get done.”

“Nope,” Renee interjects. “You finished your list, remember? That’s how we were able to convince you to come to lunch.”

I grin, torn between liking and disliking Renee for the exact same reason. A supportive smile spreads across Mandy’s face, and I can’t help but use the opportunity in my favor.

“See,” I tell Addi, “both of your sisters approve of you hanging out with me.”

Her eyes dart from mine to her sisters, looking for and not finding a reason to say no. Carson huffs behind us, annoyed I’m still wanting to spend time with a girl I have no shot at even after our conversation earlier.

“I promise I won’t try to kiss you again.” I grin, hoping it’s more convincing than my playful tone. “I’ll even keep my hands to myself.”

Her tongue snakes out to lick her bottom lip and my fingers itch to do just that.

“Have fun,” Renee says with a wink as she snatches the keys from Addi’s hand.

“Fucking great,” Carson mumbles before disappearing out the front door of the restaurant with her sisters.

When my phone chimes a text, I pull it out of my pocket.

Carson: She’s a damned virgin, Romeo. Fucking over the virgin daughter of a southern pastor is the same as standing on a stage and fat shaming someone. Your career will never survive it.

Gone less than a minute and already hounding me. Ignoring him, I hold the door open for her and follow her out on to the sidewalk.

“What do we do now?” she asks, wrapping her arms around herself while gazing over the parking lot.

“We can always head to the lake. I had a great time out there on Thursday.”

She shakes her head. “I think staying in public is best.”

“Are you afraid to be alone with me?”

She gives me a weak smile, and my phone chirps again.

Carson: End it. Now.

“I’d never hurt you,” I say the words to her, and mentally send them to Carson, knowing I’m lying to both.

Turning from me, she begins walking down the street, and I swear I hear her say, “Don’t make promises you’ll never be able to keep.”