Chapter 52

Axton

“Did you forget the fucking keys?” I yell at Carson pounding on my door. I had just barely jumped in the shower when the banging started.

I tug the door open, nearly losing my grip on the towel around my waist at the sight of Addi standing there. My cock threatens to make himself known. There’s just something about minimal clothes and her proximity that makes me stupid.

“I don’t have a key,” she says as her arms fly up to cross over her chest. The slight kick of her right foot and obstinate angle she’s jutted her hip out makes me grin.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey?” she asks as she pushes past me. My skin burns where her shoulder makes contact. “What are you doing here?”

She steps inside, her eyes roving over my apartment. She catalogues familiar items from the house back in Macon, the pictures already hanging on the wall, and the stack of textbooks on the coffee table.

“You said you were registered for classes at the university,” she says with accusation as she points to the books.

“I am,” I answer, barely able to keep my laughter from bubbling up. I wanted her to know I was here soon, but I didn’t anticipate it happening this soon. I can’t lie and say I’m not happy about it, though. “Here in Atlanta.”

“What? You moved here?”

I sweep my hand out, motioning over everything in the apartment. “It’s all mine.”

She turns in a slow circle before facing me again. “Why would you do all of this?”

It’s now or never. If I’m ever going to put it on the line, today seems like the best time.

“Did you really think you were going anywhere without me?”

Her face softens, lips parting just a fraction.

“You’re like a stalker,” she says, but there’s amusement in her beautiful voice.

“More like staying near my heart.” I take one step closer to her. “People can’t live without their hearts. It’s medically impossible.”

She nods. “I can understand that. I wouldn’t want you to suffer through that.”

“You’re the most giving, gracious person I know,” I tease.

“You’ve been absent this week,” she says, turning and walking down the hall toward the empty bedroom. She pushes the door open, finding miscellaneous things I haven’t found a place for yet. “Carson isn’t moving in here with you?”

“Nope. Figured I’d have to grow up and live on my own eventually.” I step out of her way when she moves farther down the hall toward the master bedroom.

“You make enough on gigs to live alone?” She gasps as she steps into the room.

“I have some money in savings,” I tell her. “I lived with Carson before because it was just easier.”

“You got a new bed,” she mumbles, not even paying attention to our original conversation.

“Yes,” I answer, but don’t explain how I don’t want anything here that has been tainted by other women. I also have a new couch, coffee table, and kitchen table.

“I love the bedding,” she says, walking toward it and running her hand over the navy comforter.

“I have a thing for navy these days.” My cock twitches at the thought of her bikini from a few months back. “It’s really soft if you want to try it out.”

She clears her throat, walking away from the bed and pulling open my dresser drawer. She shuffles through the clothes and tosses a t-shirt, boxer briefs, and a pair of sweats at me.

“I can’t focus on anything with you standing there dripping wet in a towel. Finish your shower. I’ll wait for your explanation in the living room.”

Forgoing the shower, I tug on the clothes she threw at me and head right back out to join her. Sitting on the couch, legs crossed, her eyes meet mine.

“You’ve been busy this week.”

“I’ve been scarce because I’ve been moving here. I couldn’t have you over because you’d notice things missing,” I explain. “I wanted to be fully situated in case you didn’t want me here. It made it harder for you to get rid of me.”

I swallow, hoping she doesn’t reject me now, tell me I’m wasting my time, ask me to move away and give her space.

“You didn’t ask me which apartment was mine,” she recalls. “When we pulled up earlier, you just parked like you’d been here before.”

“I asked Mandy last month for the address,” I tell her. When her eyes narrow at the mention of her sister, I hold my hands up in a defensive manor. “She didn’t have a clue. She must’ve assumed I just needed it to rent the U-Haul or something.”

“So, no one in my family knew you were moving in two doors down from me?”

My eyes dart away, unsure of just how far I can take this tonight.

“Axton,” she says in a warning tone.

“Your parents,” I say. “More specifically, your father.”

“You told him?” Her eyes widen, and I love that she still gets a little fearful at her father knowing we’d be this close to one another.

I nod. “Your father is well aware of my plans. All of them.” I swallow again. “When I asked him, he was quite happy, even gave me his blessing.”

She smiles. “He likes knowing you’ll be close to his two daughter living in the big city.”

I shake my head, amused she just skipped past what I’d said without thinking deeper.

“Yes,” I agree. “He’s very happy I’ll be nearby.”

“In case I need a cup of sugar?” she teases.

I’ll give you the world.

“That too,” I answer with a quick smile.

She stands, nervously pacing the living room before heading to the kitchen. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I just don’t know what to do with all this new information.”

I follow her, but keep a respectable distance. “Let’s talk it through.”

It’s an echo of her words from when she helped me with school this summer.

“I feel…” she shakes her hands as if they’re filled with nervous energy, “I’m happy we’ll get to see each other more. I hated the idea of you driving four hours, round-trip, to come visit.”

“We would’ve been able to see each other every Sunday at church,” I assure her. “But I wouldn’t have minded the drive if it ended with your gorgeous face.”

“Such a charmer,” she says, but it doesn’t hold the same playful edge it normally does.

“It’s true,” I say. “I knew we’d spend even less time together between school for both of us, and my gigs on some weekends. I also knew I couldn’t go a full week without seeing you and that you’d feel obligated to spend time with me when I came up, which could cause problems with school.”

She nods as if she’d thought the same thing numerous times before.

“This way, if we both have to study, we can do it together, or have a quick dinner in each other’s presence and go back to our tasks.”

“I like that idea.”

“So things can be exactly as they were this summer.” I pray Atlanta is nothing like this summer. “I know you’ll have even less time with school, but at least I can watch you walk past my apartment through the peephole.”

She walks past me again, hands trembling.

I grab her and turn her to face me. “Just being this close to you makes my life better.”

“What do you want?” she asks on a shaky voice.

“I’m hoping you won’t ask me to pack my stuff and move back to Macon.”

She frowns. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you don’t want me here?”

Head shaking, she takes a step closer. “I do want you here.” I watch her throat as she works on a thick swallow. “You did all of this for me?”

“I told you months ago I was done living without you.”

Her head tilts to the side a fraction of an inch, eyes softening with the threat of tears.

“You’ve stayed single,” she whispers.

“So have you.”

“How long is that going to last?” she asks.

I study her, take in every aspect of her face. Pleading eyes, flushed cheeks, and the slight hitch in her voice when I touch her face give me the courage I need to take a leap of faith.

“Until you admit you love me and take me back.”

“And if that day never comes?” she challenges.

My eyes dart between hers, and I know she can tell they’re filled with fear at her possibly rejecting me.

“Then I’ll get a couple cats.”

“You’re allergic,” she reminds me.

“Then you’d be saving my life and my lungs if you just take me back.” She bites the corner of her bottom lip as she studies my face. “I’m not going anywhere, Addi. I’m not touring ever again. I’m building my future here in Georgia. I pray that includes you.”

“I love you.” The words come out in a rush, as if she’s been holding them back for a while now.

“But are you in love with me?” I have to ask. I don’t doubt for a second she loves me as a friend, that she doesn’t want to lose me as a friend.

“So much, it hurts,” she whispers. “I want to kiss you so bad right now.”

My breaths leave my lips in erratic pants as she leans forward.

“Addi,” I hiss. My head jerks back, and even that little action took all my power. “I need you to do more than want me. I need you to need me. Here.” I place my palm on her chest.