Page 57 of Pretty Broken Wings

“What?”

Axel storms into my living room, throwing up his hands. “She had no food! No food, no money, and someone named Max who’s sending her love letters?”

My first instinct is to punch Axel. He’s been fucking Raven. But something isn’t right. I notice something’s off about his hair. “Slow down. Why do you smell like pesto?” And how the fuck did he get here? Did he drive while blind?

“Raven!” Axel turns on me. “He’s fucking stalking her.”

Unease rips through me. “Who?”

“Fucking Max! Are you listening?”

I haven’t seen Axel this upset since Mom announced she was marrying Rich. Since then, he’s shut down and put on a mask. He tries to act unbothered, but he’s my twin. I know him. And now he’s really upset.

Slowly, Axel’s words sink in. Raven’s being stalked?

“Who’s Max?” I ask, my voice dropping.

Axel stalks back and forth, ripping out his hair. “I think he’s Raven’s ex.”

Raven has an ex? Well, of course she does. She’s hot and smart, so why wouldn’t she?

“How do you know?” I ask.

“Because he sent her a letter!” Axel reaches into his pocket, shoving a piece of paper at me.

I scan it, a sense of dread filling me. “Did you ask Raven about it?”

“No, I just found it at her place.”

“Then why didn’t you ask her about it?”

“Because she’s at my place!”

Those words send a bolt of white-hot rage through me, and I remember how I was picturing ripping Axel’s head off all day. I can’t help the next words, but they sneer out of me, “Oh, right. Because you’re fucking her.”

“What?” Axel stops, frowns, then throws his hands up. “No.”

I snort.

He continues to keep up his farce with a scowl.

“Sure.” I shake my head, the day overflowing. “Sure you aren’t. Because you’ve never fucked my girl before.” I don’t mean to say it, but it comes out. And now that it’s out in the open, I can’t take it back.

Axel freezes. He stares at me, and neither of us says anything. Buddy moves up to nuzzle Axel, and almost robotically, he reaches down to pet her.

The room is quiet, and horror starts to creep through me. I just showed my cards and embarrassed myself.

“Listen, man.” Axel’s jaw twitches. “Back then, I wasn’t trying to… I know you really liked Jess–”

“Doesn’t matter.” I wave him off. Because it doesn’t. And the pity that’s lacing his tone? I can’t stop the shame from heating my cheeks, and I don’t know why. I’m not the one who did anything wrong.

Buddy continues to beg for pets, and Axel bends down to pet her. He sucks in a few breaths, visibly calming.

It’s then that Buddy pukes all over his pants and shoes.

For a second, I just stare.

Axel scrambles back, holding up his hands. “What the…”