Page 149 of Pretty Broken Wings

“I’m well aware,” Axel drones. I register a flicker of movement as his head looks down the hall like he’s planning on walking away again.

“No, wait. I mean, I need help with her.” Axel knew what to do tonight. He knew how to take care of her. I was the one being a dickhead. The one hurting her.

“Get a therapist,” Axel says, “Now get off me.”

“No! I’m saying… she likes you. Us. She likes both of us.”

He tries to shove me off.

“Listen.” I dig my fingers into his shoulders. “I see the way she looks at you. The way she fights.” I close my eyes but keep going. “She wants you, Axel. Not just me. You too.”

It’s silent, and I’m too afraid to open my eyes. But the words are true. Axel and I are different people, and for some reason, she likes both of us. She likes taking control of me, and she likes it even better when Axel directs her.

“What are you saying?” Axel’s voice is cautious.

“I’m offering to share, you stupid asshole.” As soon as the words are out, I feel an odd relief. Like the tension I’ve been holding for so long just… dissipates.

I open my eyes, wishing I could really look at my brother. I want to see what he thinks. Instead, I feel the way his muscles tense like rocks under my fingers. They hold that position for so long that I know he’s actually thinking about what I said. Then, there’s a tiny intake of breath. One that I’m sure he didn’t mean for me to hear.

Then, he stiffens again. “I’m not relationship material.” He tries to shove past me.

Is he… trying to walk away from this?

I stride after him with newfound confidence, stopping him again. “You’re just gonna walk away?”

“Yep.” Axel keeps going.

“Who’s the one running now?”

Axel doesn’t stop.

“If you leave, you’re the coward. Raven needs you. Needs both of us.”

There’s a pause so silent only the ticking of the grandfather clock can be heard.

Axel’s shoulders are tense. “I…”

I know he’s afraid. Fuck, I am too. But I’m tired of sitting back in fear and letting life pass me by. I just cross my arms. “You’ll cut the bullshit act, and you’ll do exactly what you did tonight. You’ll be you. The real you.”

I wish I could see what’s going on in his head. If Axel runs now, I know Raven will run too. She’ll pack up with the money I gave her and head… wherever she was going to head. Because as much as she’d deny it, she’d see Axel leaving as a rejection. Hell,I’llsee it as a rejection.

“I can’t… love her like you can.” Axel’s voice cracks, and his voice comes out so quiet, I can hardly hear it. “I’m broken, Gage.”

My chest hurts, and I stride up to him, spinning him around. Instead of saying anything, I wrap him in my arms. Much like Raven did, Axel crumples. He doesn’t cry, but I want to.

“We’re all a little broken, Ax. Doesn’t make us any less worthy of love.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

After Axel leaves, I wash my hair thoroughly, thinking about all that has happened. For a minute, I thought Axel was going to get in the shower with me, and that thought had me more turned on than I wanted.

No. I’m with Gage. This is so wrong of me.

I wash off quickly, stepping into the steamy room. As I do, there’s a shape against the doorway.

I jump. It’s Axel. Or is it Gage? No, it’s Axel. He’s fully clothed in the same outfit he watched me fuck his brother in.

“Fuck! I thought you left.” My cheeks burn, and I grab for a towel.