“Maddie.”
When she doesn’t look at me, I climb out of the car and circle around to her side – making sure I move fast enough to get there before she can get out – and open the door.
I crouch down next to the car, putting us at eye level. “Baby, talk to me. Do you need to go to the hospital?”
Why didn’t I think about that sooner? Maybe she’s really ill and needs a doctor?
When she shakes her head, I reach out and grip her chin, gently turning her to look at me.
Her eyes are red-rimmed, evidence of tears on her cheeks, and my chest squeezes even tighter.
“Maddison.” My gaze moves over her face, back up to her eyes. “You gotta talk to me.”
I can see the movement in her neck as she forces down a swallow. “I don’t need to go to the hospital. I just want to go to bed.”
I watch her for another moment, my thumb tracing her jawline. Then I tip my head in a single nod. “Alright, Baby Doll. We’ll go to bed.”
She sniffles again and I lean in, pressing a kiss to her forehead before helping her out of the car.
Chapter71
Maddie
Feeling even worsethan I did before, I curl onto my side, putting my back to the bedroom door and Axel’s side of the bed.
Axel’s side of the bed. It’s become that. And the thought of it being empty again, forever, tears at my sanity.
Breathe.
While I took my time in the bathroom, scrubbing the ruined makeup from my face and brushing my teeth, Axel was in my kitchen. Making me tea.
I press my lips together and exhale through my nose.
I can’t start crying again.
And if he does anything else nice for me, I’ll break down and tell him everything.
Every nasty word that woman said to me.
Every word that has sunk into my brain.
Every word that I’m terrified might be true.
Slow inhale.
I can’t take him acting like this, so caring, while I’m lying to him.
He’s being sweet and I’m being deceitful, and it makes me feel like the worst kind of human garbage.
Axel doesn’t deserve this.
He doesn’t deserve a broken girl, with her broken heart and broken feelings.
A tear escapes my eye, slipping down and soaking into my pillow.
I need to do better.
Or I need to let him go.