Page 138 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11

Monday

Jacob’s shirt was in the laundry. And my face was now clean. But I’d had to put on my glasses because it was the only way to stop my eyes from burning.

I felt...hyper. Like I had all this energy I needed to release. And I kept pressing my thighs together.

I stared down at the cracked screen on my phone. Hopefully my dad wouldn’t be too mad about this. It was tempting to use the credit card I had in case of emergencies. But last time I’d used that, I’d bought my high heels and wound up grounded. I wasn’t going to risk it.

And technically my phone still worked. I pulled up the last text from my kiss thief. He said he was playing the long game. He wanted to marry me. And that was something only an older person would be thinking of. Like Mr. Halifax.

“I’m only 17,” I texted back.

His response came right away. “You’ll be 18 soon.”

Ah! My kiss thief was definitely Mr. Halifax, right? Like...who the heck else would this be? I’d be legal at 18. And maybe Mr. Halifax wouldn’t be arrested.

“And I did promise to steal all your firsts,” the kiss thief texted.

“You can’t steal a wife.”

“Want to bet?”

I pressed my thighs together as I stared at his text. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Yeah, but I bet we’ll be engaged next year. And Scarlett will sound good with my last name.”

“You’re out of your damned mind.”

“Because you’re driving me crazy, baby.”

It felt like my heart was beating in my throat. What last name sounded good with Scarlett? Halifax? Ah! Did Scarlett Halifax sound good?! God. It actually sounded okay, I guess. Not that I liked the sound of it. Sophie Halifax sounded a million times better in my head.

The trapdoor started to lift and I jumped.

“It’s just me,” Axel said as he walked into my room. “Still spooked from that movie, huh?”

I nodded. But that wasn’t the truth. I was all amped up from my time with Jacob. And my texts with my kiss thief.

“Luckily you have me all night,” he said. And then he just stood there staring at me.

“What?” Oh no, did I still have skeet on my face? Or worse...in my hair? I hadn’t had time to shower. But I thought Jacob had gotten it all.

“You’re wearing your glasses,” Axel said.

“Mhm.”

He lowered his eyebrows as he stared at me. “Have you been crying?”

“No.” I forced a laugh.

He stepped toward me. “Your eyes are red, Scarlett.”

“I think I’m allergic to something.”

“Hey.” He put his hand on the side of my face. “Did Jacob do something?”

Yes. But not what Axel was implying. “It’s just allergies.”

His eyes searched mine. “Scarlett, are you high?”

“What? No.” I pushed his hand off of me.

“Either way...”

“I’m not.”

“Either way,” he repeated. “You can’t let your dad see you like that. He’ll assume the worst.” Axel dropped his backpack on my bed and rummaged around in it. “Did you see anyone go into my room on Sunday?”

“What? No. Why?”

He shrugged as he kept looking through his backpack. “Everything in my backpack is all in the wrong pockets.”

Darn it, Parker. “Maybe you were just in a hurry last time you packed it up?”

“Yeah. Maybe. Here we are.” He pulled out a little bottle of eyedrops.

“Why do you have those?”

“So that my eyes aren’t red.”

“Are you high right now?”

He laughed. “No. Tilt your head back.”

“I can do it myself.”

“Just close your eyes, Scarlett.”

I wished Jacob had given me that warning. I closed my eyes and Axel put his hand on the side of my face again. I felt the little drop of wetness touch the inside corner of my eye.

“Blink,” he said.

I followed his instructions and then he did it with the other eye too.

His hand gently slid down the side of my neck. “Better?”

I slowly nodded. “Yeah. They don’t burn as much now.”

“Seriously...what happened?”

“Nothing.” I forced myself to sniffle. “See? Allergies.”

“You never had allergies before.”

“I think I’m allergic to homework.”

Axel laughed. “Well luckily we don’t have any tonight.”

“What?”

“I finished the assignment your dad gave us before I came over.”

“You can’t keep working on it without me,” I said. “I haven’t even seen our official proposal. Let alone any of the coding.”

He shrugged. “I’ve got it covered.”

“Axel, we’re supposed to be a team.”

“I already have a team. Now, shall we?” He gestured to my door.

“Shall we what? We need to talk about our project.”

“I’m starving. Aren’t we having dinner?”

Crap. I’d been so distracted I’d forgotten to tell my parents that Axel was coming to dinner. “Other door,” I said.

He laughed. “When is this going to stop?”

“Never.”

“Your dad won’t be mad that we’re alone together in here now.”

“You’re right. He’d be livid.”

Axel chuckled. “If you say so.” He pulled open the trapdoor. “By the way, what happened in your secret lair? I forgot to ask you yesterday about the glass. But now there’s water all over the place too. It looks like a tornado swept through there.”

“ Our secret lair. And how would I know?” I lied. “Sophie uses it more than me.”

“At least my portrait is unscathed.”

I laughed. “Did you really paint that?”

“Of course.” He closed the trapdoor behind him.

I shook my head. I didn’t have time to think about that ridiculous painting. I needed to give my parents a heads up.

My dad was already seated at the dinner table with my mom.

“Hey,” I said. “Is it okay if Axel comes for dinner?”

My dad looked up at me. “Pumpkin, he was just here for breakfast yesterday and we spent all day at his parents’ place yesterday. I think that’s enough Stevenses one week.”

“But he’s already on his way.”

“Why?”

“Dad, you gave us that project that’s due at the end of the week.”

My dad raised his eyebrows.

“We wanted to get it done as far in advance as possible.”

“So this is my fault somehow?” my dad asked.

What?

My mom laughed and turned to me. “That’s fine, sweetie. The two of you have been spending a lot of time together recently.” She gave me a knowing look.

But I had no idea what she thought she knew. “Just the same as always.”

“No, your mother is right,” my dad said. “It’s more than usual. How does Jacob feel about that?”

“He’s cool with it.”

The laundry machine chimed.

“Is someone doing laundry?” my mom asked. “I thought Ellen already left for the day.”

“Yeah, sorry, that’s me,” I said. “I’ll be right back.” I ran out of the room. I quickly put Jacob’s shirt in the dryer. But I wasn’t quick enough. Axel was already seated with my parents at the table when I came back out.

“So you’re working on the assignment I gave you tonight?” my dad asked. “Even though it’s not due until Friday?”

I looked at Axel as I sat down next to him. He’d said he’d already done it. So...

“Yeah,” Axel said. “We wanted to get a head start. I don’t want Scarlett to be turning in anything late.”

“Good, good,” my dad said. “I know this project is a lot of work. I’m reconsidering if it should be a group project instead of just partners. What do you think? Maybe four people to a group?”

Seriously? “Dad, it’s a little late for that. Everyone’s already started.”

My dad sighed. “I guess.”

Liam walked into the dining room. He glanced at me and then Axel. “What’s up? Does Axel live here now?”

I shot him a dirty look.

Axel laughed. “Are you excited for your first homecoming game, Liam?”

“Yeah, we’re going to crush them.” Liam sat down in his usual seat.

“We definitely are,” Axel said as he scooted his chair a little closer to mine. And then he put his arm on the back of my chair.

He wasn’t touching me. But it seemed very intimate for a dinner with my family. When he wasn’t my boyfriend...

My dad lowered his eyebrows as he stared at Axel touching my chair.

And everyone was awkwardly quiet as my mom brought the food out. Ellen had made one of my favorites. Teriyaki chicken with lots of veggies and rice.

I helped myself and tried to ignore the awkwardness around me.

“RJ and I were actually wondering if we could go in your limo with you guys,” Liam said. “We forgot we needed to rent one and we called a place and they were all booked for the night.”

“Absolutely not,” I said.

And at the same time Axel said, “Sure, man.”

“Wait,” my dad said and turned to me. “Why are you and Axel in the same limo? Aren’t you sharing one with Jacob?”

“Of course,” I said. “But we don’t need a whole limo to ourselves.”

He just stared at me.

“That would be...weird.”

“Well I’m glad there’s room for your brother and cousin too,” my mom said with a smile.

“And our dates,” Liam said. “RJ asked someone very unexpected.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Why, are you jealous?”

I laughed. “No, I’m not jealous of who our cousin asked to homecoming. I’m just wondering who it is.”

“You’ll have to wait and see. You’re going to love it.”

I had a feeling I was not going to love it. I tried to focus on my food again.

“Oh, Mom,” Liam said. “Scar and Axel were both nominated for the homecoming court today.”

My mom smiled. “That’s fantastic. James, why didn’t you tell me?”

My dad shrugged. “I’ve been distracted today.” He looked at me.

And I was wondering if he was still thinking about Mr. Halifax’s not so subtle wink.

“I think we’re going to win,” Axel said and smiled down at me. “Don’t you think?”

What was he doing?

“Homecoming king and queen,” he said, mistaking my silence for not understanding.

“I’m definitely voting for the two of you,” Liam said.

I glared at him. “You can’t vote. You’re not a senior.”

“Pretty sure I can figure out how to cast a ballot or two illegally.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Liam smiled.

“Liam, don’t vote for your sister,” my dad said.

“Well now that’s just offensive,” I said. “Why shouldn’t someone vote for me?”

“I just don’t think you should draw that kind of sexual attention to yourself.”

Sexual what? “Dad.”

“The homecoming queen is not usually a good girl. Like you. You don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea.”

It definitely seemed like he was thinking of Mr. Halifax right now.

“So you’re saying I should vote for Soph?” Liam asked.

“Your dad did not say that,” my mom said.