Page 62 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11

Thursday

“He’s waiting for you,” Liam said as we walked up to the school.

I stared at Axel sitting all alone on the front steps of Empire High. “He could be waiting for anyone.”

“He’s definitely waiting for you,” my dad said.

Good God, why? Why were my little brother and my father having this awkward conversation about my lack of a love life with me right now?

“We’re going to give her a coronary,” Liam said with a laugh.

“Good morning, Axel,” my dad said when we reached the steps.

“Morning, Uncle James,” Axel said, but didn’t stand up.

Uncle James. We aren’t related. Stop calling my dad that!

“The bell is going to ring in just a couple minutes. Don’t be late, you two.”

“I’ll get her to class on time,” Axel said.

My dad nodded and he and Liam walked up the rest of the stairs and into the school.

Axel lifted the corner of his mouth in that smile that seemed reserved just for me. And I swear my heart leapt.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey.”

I waited for him to mention the fact that I was still wearing his jacket. I waited for him to say anything else at all. But he didn’t offer anything else.

“I’m grounded,” I said. “For a week. Which means no party tomorrow night.”

“Maybe you should have thought about that when you got dressed for school yesterday.”

Excuse me? He had to be kidding me right now. “We both know perfectly well that I wasn’t dressed any differently than any other girl here.”

“You already know how I feel about that,” he said.

Yeah. He liked when my skirt was to my knees and I was wearing glasses. Only…that was a lie. Because he’d never said anything about that until yesterday. Sophie thought he was just being jealous. But what was there to be jealous of exactly? I was literally wearing his varsity jacket.

I cleared my throat. “Regardless, I think I’ll be able to go. Liam is concocting some kind of elaborate escape plan.”

Axel smiled. “I bet RJ is helping with that.”

“Oh, 100%.” RJ was all about masterminding crazy plans.

“You seriously couldn’t wait one minute, asshole?” Jacob asked as he walked up the stairs, his eyes directed at Axel. Even though he’d called Axel an asshole, he didn’t actually sound mad.

Axel shrugged. “I didn’t want to be late.”

“Yeah, right.”

Jacob and Axel always came to school together.

Usually in Axel’s BMW. I turned to see Jacob’s truck in the parking lot.

It stuck out because unlike the other cars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, it was really old and dinged up.

It was probably older than I was. And I kind of loved that truck.

I liked the fact that it was different. I liked that Jacob was different.

“I see you’ve ditched the sky-high heels today,” Jacob said.

He’d told me I looked sexy yesterday while I was wearing them.

And then changed it to beautiful. Did he still think that when I was wearing flats?

“My dad was not impressed with my new look. He confiscated my Odegaards so…” I shrugged.

It didn’t look like Jacob was staring at me any differently than yesterday though. And that made me smile.

He laughed. “I like you better mini-sized anyway.”

I laughed. “I’m not mini-sized.”

“Pint-sized.” He put his hand on the top of my head to show how much smaller I was than him. But everyone was smaller than him. He was over 6-feet tall.

“Worse.”

“Bite-sized.” Something darkened in his eyes when he said it.

I swallowed hard.

“The bell’s about to ring,” Axel said and stood up. “And I promised your dad you wouldn’t be late.”

I tore my eyes away from Jacob as Axel grabbed my hand.

I thought he’d drop it as soon as he got my attention, but instead he wound his fingers through mine and pulled me up the stairs.

Axel Stevens is holding my hand.

He still didn’t let go as we entered through the front doors.

He’s holding my hand in the hallways of Empire High!

I saw a few heads turn. And when Sophie saw us her jaw actually dropped. The Triple Gs had similar expressions on their rude faces. Gigi looked the most shocked of all. And I’m pretty sure it made my smile grow even bigger, if that was possible.

Axel Stevens is holding my hand while I’m wearing his varsity jacket!

I looked down to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. But Axel was indeed holding my hand. I would have pinched myself, but even if it was all in my head, I didn’t want the fantasy to end.

When we reached my locker, Axel said, “Hey, Sophie.” All normally like he wasn’t literally holding my hand right now.

“Axel,” she replied in an equally normal tone.

How was I the only one freaking out?

“See you at lunch, Scarlett,” Axel said. He slowly dropped my hand, his fingertips tracing down my palm.

I shivered. “Mhm.” My voice came out all croaky and weird.

Axel gave me one last smile and then walked away without another word.

Like he hadn’t just held my hand for the first time since preschool.

Like the whole world hadn’t just shifted on its axis.

My heart was hammering against my ribcage so hard that it almost hurt. Had all of that really just happened?!

Sophie closed her locker. She looked behind her to make sure Axel was out of earshot and then turned back to me. Her calm facade cracked, replaced by a huge smile. “What the actual F is happening right now? Axel was holding your hand! Did Phase Incest actually work?!”

I cringed. “Please stop calling it that. Let’s just call it Operation Too Hot to Handle.”

“You know perfectly well that Operation THTH has several phases . Hence the flirting with Jacob thing – a la Phase Incest.”

“It’s not called that. And this has nothing to do with any phases. It just…happened. And what do you mean actually worked ? Did you expect it not to? You seemed so confident.”

“I was confident with the plan,” Sophie said. “I just thought it would take more time. But you excelled beyond my wildest expectations.”

I laughed.

“I saw him waiting for you on the front steps. Did he finally ask you out?”

“No…”

“Gah, boys.” She leaned against her locker and crossed her arms. “So many games with that one. Phase Incest continues.”

I shook my head. “But he held my hand. In front of the whole school. That means something.”

“Maybe. What was happening right before he grabbed your hand?”

“I was talking to Jacob…”

Sophie laughed and shook her head. “See? We have him just where we want him. The plan continues. What are you going to wear to the party on Friday night? It has to be sinfully short. And you can borrow a pair of my heels.”

“Technically, I’m grounded.”

“Wait, really? I thought you were joking when you texted me that last night.”

I kind of hoped I had been joking. It had been a really long time since I’d been grounded. But my dad wasn’t bluffing this time. “It’s only for a week instead of a month. But…yeah.”

Sophie waved her hand through the air. “It’s fine. RJ was already concocting an escape plan for you just in case. Can I come over tonight to help you pick a dress?”

I laughed. “Soph, you can’t come over.”

“What?”

“I just told you…I’m grounded.”

“Wait, that includes from seeing me? No way.”

I nodded. “Pretty sure.”

“I don’t think so. I’ll talk to Uncle James…” she started gagging. “Sorry. Reflex from yesterday when I accidentally talked about all the things I wanted to do to our hot new teacher.” She gagged again. “I wonder if I’ll ever be able to talk to him again without wanting to puke.”

“You did say some really gross stuff.”

She gagged again. “Stop it.”

“I’m only kidding with you. You didn’t know it was him.”

“Exactly. All those things I said were for someone not related to me.” She dry heaved.

I laughed. “Or maybe there’s a new Phase Incest?”

She grabbed her stomach like she was legit going to throw up. “I’m not gonna be able to face your dad ever again.”

“You’re fine,” I said and rubbed her back. “Breathe. You gotta get over this. Because you have to see him last period.”

“I’ll ditch.”

“You can’t avoid him forever.”

She took a deep breath. “You’re right. Might as well get it over with and see him tonight.”

“Tonight? What about class?”

“No. I’m not doing that. I’m going to the guidance counselor and switching classes.”

“Wait, can I come with you?” Switching out of my dad’s class was a brilliant idea.

“Miss Hunter,” someone said.

No, not just someone. I knew exactly who said my name in that disdainful way. I turned to see Mr. Hill staring at me.

“Cutting it close today, I see,” he said. “Better get to class. Both of you.”

“Yes, Mr. Hill.”

He gave me a curt nod before walking into his classroom.

I breathed a sigh of relief. But it was short lived because the bell rang. Shit.

Sophie looped her arm through mine and we ran to first period.

***

I expected Axel to talk to me when I sat down across from him at lunch. But he was preoccupied with something on his phone.

Axel, you held my hand.

In front of everyone.

I’m wearing your varsity jacket.

Look at me.

But his eyes were glued to his screen.

“Bad news,” Sophie said as she sat down next to me.

“Apparently I can’t get out of our coding class because I specifically requested it.

And our guidance counselor didn’t seem to understand the fact that I 100% wouldn’t have requested it if I knew my uncle was teaching it.

Isn’t there some kind of rule about that? It could totally lead to favoritism.”

“My dad wouldn’t do that,” I said. “And it’s going to be fine.” I’d had some time to calm down from this morning. Changing classes would have been a terrible idea. “I for one am happy you’re not switching out. It’s our only class with the four of us all together.”

Sophie sighed. “I know.” Her frown instantly turned into a smile. “By the way, I love that jacket on you.”

Not at all subtle. I glanced at Axel, but he still wasn’t paying us any attention.

“Really, you look smoking hot today even though your dad is a total control freak.”

I laughed. “Thanks.”

“Are you cold or something?” Jacob asked as he sat down next to me.

“Hm?”

“It’s hot out. It still feels like summer. Aren’t you overheated?”

“Oh.” I looked down at the jacket. “You know what? Yeah, I am a bit.” I shrugged out of Axel’s jacket and put it on my lap.

Axel finally looked up from his phone. And he looked anything but pleased.

“Scar and I were just talking about what she should wear to the party on Friday,” Sophie said and turned back to me. “Remember that sparkly dress you bought in the spring? You’ve never worn it. And it’s a total winner.”

“Yeah, maybe,” I said. There was a reason I’d never worn it. Sophie had talked me into getting it when I was about to put it back. It was too short. Too sparkly. Just too much everything. But it would certainly stand out…

“I need access to the blueprints of your apartment,” RJ said as he plopped down at our table. Liam sat down too. I wasn’t sure if them sitting with us was a one-time thing or not. But I was happy they’d decided to join us again today.

“I…don’t know how or where I’d get those,” I said.

“No worries.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll figure it out. And if not, I’ll wing it. I already have all the other necessary supplies.”

“What necessary supplies?”

“Don’t worry about it, baby doll. I’ve got it covered. Why do you and Liam not have them though? That’s so weird.”

Was it? I was pretty sure it was more weird that he thought we should have them. And that he called me baby doll. What was wrong with him? “Do you have them for your apartment?” I asked.

“Of course I do. They really come in handy.”

“That’s true,” Sophie said. “We use them all the time.”

Okay then. “Why do you need ours though?”

“For the escape plan of course,” RJ said.

“Right, I got that. But why do you need blueprints to our apartment for the escape plan? That seems elaborate. I’m just going to wait for my mom and dad to go upstairs and then easily sneak out…”

“Don’t be basic,” RJ said. “Your dad has cameras everywhere and a security detail watching your every move. There is no easily sneaking out .”

“That’s true,” Liam said. “Last time I was grounded Briggs and Porter stood outside the front door. I couldn’t go anywhere.”

Briggs and Porter were our security guards. But they loved me. I was sure if I asked nicely…

“Or you could just accept the fact that you’re grounded and behave so one week doesn’t turn into a month,” Axel said.

“Don’t you want her to come to the party?” Sophie asked.

God, Soph.

Axel just shrugged in response.

Shrugged.

My heart dropped.

Asshole.

“It wouldn’t be the same without you, Scarlett,” Jacob said.

I smiled up at him. “Thanks, Jacob.”

He turned to RJ and Liam. “Let me know if you guys need any extra help.”

“We’ve got this,” RJ said. “It’s a classic Hunter Hunter mess around.”

Oh no. Last time there was a Hunter Hunter mess around we almost got arrested.