Once he gets to know the others a little better, he’ll see that they aren’t all like Axel, and they don’t all agree with his behavior. Right now, Nate thinks they condone it. That they worship Axel. In some ways, it’s true, but they also have my back, when necessary—at least I think they do.
He’s just looking out for me, and I appreciate his concern. I still haven’t told him that Axel and I dated, but it hasn’t really come up. I’ve never even mentioned him to Nate before; yesterday was the first time they’d met. In fact, Nate never met any of my friends before last night, aside from Taya and April. I don’t even know that I’d call April a friend yet. Taya has some sort of family connection with her, and she didn’t want to stay in the dorms, so here she is.
Cars, trucks, tents, grills, and body to body fans, all line the parking lot. Different music blasts through the speakers as we walk by. We’ve got old rock, new rock, country, r&b, hip-hop, and even some jazz. Personally, I’m a country girl. Not literally, I’ve never rode a horse, and I don’t own a pair of cowgirl boots, but country music is my jam. Blast me some Chase Rice with a cold glass of iced tea, and I’m content.
The plan is to meet the guys here, per Taya’s request. She and Kip have this weird on-again, off-again thing going, but you’d think they were married. Lately, everything we do together revolves around him, and I’m always dragged along. I don’t know why she insists I go to everything; it’s not like I bring the party with me. For what it’s worth, I do know how to have fun. I just can’t seem to do that when everywhere I go Axel is there, breathing down my neck. Part of me is glad that we are only staying an hour and then going to meet up with Nate’s friends. I think it will be good for me to find a different group to hang out with for a while.
Nate takes my hand in his, as we approach the vehicles everyone is gathered around. I look up at him and smile, but quickly catch on to his discomfort. There’s Knox’s pickup truck where Claire is moving her hips gracefully to some Tom Petty with a Mike’s Hard Lemonade in her hand. I’m so glad that her and Knox found each other. I heard she’s had a rough life, but you’d never guess it with the way she wears her new-found happiness. It’s still weird that she was once a teacher who we all couldn’t stand, now she has a light in her eyes and a calm in her voice.
“There are so many people,” I say, as we continue to walk.
“This is nothing. You should see this place when we play the Trojans,” Nate says. This is his third year here, so he knows a lot about the games, tailgate parties, campus life, and pretty much all the other ins and outs.
Taya and April are about six feet ahead of us and join the group. Handing out hugs to some of the girls and catching jokes from the guys.
Blakely's vehicle is parked next to Knox’s. She and some of her friends are hanging around it, laughing and pointing as people walk by. A few others who I don’t recognize in between, and, of course, Axel’s. His big black Range Rover blasts some heavy metal music, as he sits on the hatch, his feet dangling and his head down, as he types on his phone. He’s wearing black skinny jeans, a black t-shirt that squeezes his upper arms, and a black beanie on his head. Not surprised that he is dressed head-to-toe in a color that absorbs heat; he needs it to chill his ice-cold veins.
Nate gives my hand a squeeze, and I pull my eyes away promptly. I look up at him and realize that he was watching me. My cheeks flush, as I wonder how long I was actually staring and how long he noticed.
Nate leans down, and his mouth ghosts my ear. “What’s with you and this guy?” he whispers. I look up at him and don’t really know how to respond.
“He was a friend, and now he’s not. That about sums it up.” I shrug my shoulders, hoping that was a good enough explanation.
It wasn’t.
His whole body turns toward me. “Why do I feel like there is something more to your relationship with this guy than what you’re telling me?”
As I work out what to say, something catches my eye over Nate’s shoulder. Axel is staring me dead in the eye with a sadistic expression on his face. His gaze twists the inside of my stomach into tiny little knots. When he stands up, the knots tighten.
Please don’t come over here. I beg in silence.
Nate turns my attention back to him, his eyes wide, demanding an explanation. Axel starts taking steps toward us, and I do the only thing I can to shut both of them out. I wrap my hands around Nate’s head, fingers interlocked, and pull his face to mine. Our lips connect instantly. It’s forced, but he reciprocates by sliding his tongue into mine. His hands find my ass, and he gives each cheek a firm squeeze.
I don’t even have to open my eyes to know that Axel’s there. It’s like a shift in the air movement. A cool breeze brushes over my body, like a ghost from my past there to haunt me. The air is extra thick, and the breaths I take through my nose are restricted—suffocating myself by Nate’s kiss, but my heart thudding against my chest because of the guy standing behind him.
“On second thought, maybe we should just skip the game.” He groans into my mouth.
My eyes shoot up when Nate’s suddenly being pulled back.
“I need to talk to you.” Axel’s crimson eyes narrow at me as he keeps his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his jeans. It’s something he does often as a defense mechanism, at least that’s the way I’ve always looked at it.
“We’re busy. Get lost.” Nate turns back around and plants his hands on my cheeks, pulling my mouth back to his. But, any desire to kiss him back has been ruined.
Not accepting his dismissal, Axel comes to my side and puts his hand on my arm, non-aggressively. “Please?” His tone has dropped about fifty octaves, as his eyes beg me to comply.
“I’ll be right back.” I look to Nate in question, seeking his approval. He drops his arms and walks away abruptly.
I cross my arms over my chest and tap the toe of my white canvas shoe on the pavement. “What do you want?”
“Not here.” His hand is back on my arm, and he begins pulling me through the parking lot.
We make it about five feet, before I jerk myself away. “Get your hand off me,” I snap, “If you want to talk then talk.”
“It’s about Marni.”
I take a deep breath and nod toward his SUV. “Fine, let’s go.”
If Marni is in some sort of trouble, I’m willing to hear him out. We aren’t exactly close, but she’s been in my corner, lately, and agrees that her brother is doing me wrong in more ways than one. For the longest time, she scared me. She’s an intimidating girl. Strong, confident, and doesn’t hold back. She’s always thought that I was good for Axel, but she also knows that he is bad for me.
We reach his vehicle, where everyone is still standing around it, but no one even notices we are here. They’re too busy carrying on with their own business and getting hammered. Axel slams the hatch shut, then gestures me toward the passenger side, where he opens the door for me. I look at him like he’s crazy.
“No one is even paying attention, just talk,” I say.
“Please.” He nods to the passenger seat.
I sigh. “Fine, but make this quick. I have things to do.” My legs stick to the leather seat, as I slide in farther.