Page 21 of Don't Say You're Sorry

“You didn’t get off after I left you hanging last night?”

I shake my head, my hips still rolling, still sucking on the lollipop he’s feeding me.

“Good boy,” he whispers. “Save it for me.”

“Take it now,” I beg.

He pulls the lollipop out and puts it back into his mouth, leaning back in his seat. “Get out. I’m going home.”

“You never answered my question,” I rasp, putting myself away and buttoning my jeans.

“Yeah,” he finally answers, cocky as ever. “I’m happy.”

I narrow my eyes.

As I get out of the car, I say, “That’s the second time you’ve ever lied to me.”

“Oh, yeah? When was the first?”

When you told me you didn’t love me anymore.

I don’t say it. It’s too much. But I canfeelit.

I’m not too late.

He’s not telling me he doesn’t want me to come home.

He wants me to stay.

Rushing into the hotel room a half hour later, I’m shaking with anxiety and anticipation as I grab my duffel bag and drop it onto the chair.

Axel’s lying on his bed with his arm folded beneath his head, watching some dumb reality show on TV. He’s surrounded by all of his favorite American snacks. With his hand buried in the packet of Goldfish crackers on his stomach, he looks annoyed with me for disturbing his me time. “What are you doing?” he asks.

“Going back to London.” Grabbing everything I brought with me, I pack in under two minutes.

Axel sighs, turning the TV off. “What happened?—”

“To sell my car and get the rest of my stuff,” I add, pausing to look up at him. “I want to come home, Axel.”

“Londonisour home.”

“No. It’s not,” I say, searching his eyes. “Are you coming?”

He hesitates, his wary eyes searching mine right back.

Finally, he nods once.

I toss his bag at him. “Hurry up. You can bring your snacks with you.”

CHAPTER 8

ADAM

Three days later, I’m leaning back against a new rental car on Easton’s driveway with all my shit in the boot, waiting for him to get home.

It’s official. I’m back in Hawthorne. For good.

I don’t have anywhere to stay yet, but I’m hoping that won’t be the case for much longer. And if it doesn’t work out the way I want it to, I know my mum would take me in with open arms, but I haven’t even told her I’m back yet. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’m hoping I can smooth things over with Easton first, make sure he doesn’t throw my ass out of his life for good before I risk getting my mum’s hopes up just to crush them again. Plus, there’s the fact that my stepdad doesn’t want me anywhere near his son. I’m not looking forward to that conversation, so I’m stalling.