Chapter 56

Chapter 56

The bones and muscles of my right hand curled into a fist crumpling the godforsaken letter.

Meet at Rockefeller Center? You wish. Wait there like a statue, I'll come to you when hell freezes over.

"Lauren?" Hailey's voice was soon followed by a few knocks. I stuffed the letter under the cushion in panic.

"Coming," I stood from the couch and opened the door. "Hey, you're early."

"I take it Axel isn't here yet?"

"No, you said 7:30, it's just 7:00. Josh isn't with you?"

"He'll come later with the food. I told you we'll bring the food."

"Yeah, well, I don't think I have anything useful in the fridge. And at short notice anyway." We went to the kitchen and I took out two glasses. "You want wine?"

"Always."

I took out the red from the fridge and poured it into our glasses. "So, why did you want to meet for dinner?"

"Is it so bad that I want to have dinner with you? Besides, when was the last time we did this?"

"Uh, let me think... Never?"

"All the more reason to start."

"Come on, Hailey, you're not fooling me here."

"Fine," she scooched and made herself comfortable on the metal stool. "What's wrong if I want to get to know my best friend's new beau?"

"Nothing... I guess." I pushed the filled wine glass towards her. "But don't grill him."

"Of course," she tipped her glass to her lips obviously avoiding eye contact.

Jeez, my acting skills would be tested with this dinner tonight.

"I don't know if that's a yes or a no on the grilling. Look, Hailey, I know what he's done and I know you don't approve of him but I truly believe he's changed."

"Lauren, I just want the best for you. I don't want you to get hurt again. We both know you've been through it several times."

"Uh-huh," My brain wandered to Clark's letter. "I guess I'm just the type of person who men like to toy around."

"Don't say that."

"I know. But sometimes I just can't help but think."

She placed her glass on the counter then held my hands. "You deserve the world, Lauren Grant."

"Oh, don't get sappy."

"I'm serious. You deserve everything that's good because you are kind and helpful and honest."

The pent-up guilt of omitting the reason I left Steinhouse and worse, pretending and lying about my relationship with Axel just seems too much right now and I don't know what I'd do if all of it spills out the edges and drown me.

"And even if you aren't those things, I will always love you and you will always have me."

I can't help but tear up at her sentiment, "I'm not any of those things, Hales."

"Oh, honey, don't cry," she pulled me in for a hug, "It's okay. I got you."

Knocks on the door caught our attention. "Babe?"

"There's your knight in shining armor."

I sniffed and wiped my tears. "Oh, please," I rolled my eyes and she laughed as I went to open the door.

"Hey," Axel greeted then kissed me full in the mouth.

"Hmpf." I pushed the heels on my hands against his chest to get out of his grasp but he only deepened the kiss.

"Get a room, you two," Hailey remarked.

Axel finally let go of the kiss with a smug look on his face and wrapped his arms around my shoulder. "Good evening, Ms. Ferguson."

"Good evening, Mr. James. You ready for dinner?"

"Eh."

"You're not hungry?" I asked.

"I am. But not for dinner."

"O-kay! I should've known it was bad to have dinner with new couples. Hormones are just flying everywhere," she made an exaggerated movement with her hands and went to the kitchen.

Axel chuckled. I freed myself from his arm and shoved him a little. "What?"

"I'll talk to you later."

"She was looking!"

I followed Hailey to the kitchen, "So when's Josh getting here?"

"Should be in a while. I'll call him, give me a sec," She scrolled through her phone. "Your reception's still better by the window, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead."

Just as Hailey got out of the kitchen, Axel went in with both hands in his pockets. "So..."

"What do you mean so?" I leaned closer to whisper, "You can't just kiss me out of a whim."

"It's not a whim. I told you, she was watching. You wouldn't want to give anything away, wouldn't you?"

"At this point, I'm not so sure."

"Oh, come on, remember what Josh said."

I heaved out a sigh and rolled my eyes, "I know, I know. But warn me next time."

"You got it."

"Okay," Hailey entered the room. "He's on the way."

"Oh, good, I'm getting pretty hungry. So, where are we having dinner?"

"Here?"

Axel looked around at my empty kitchen. "I don't understand. Okay, well, I'm sure I can call someone to bump us up even without reservations."

I tugged at the hem of his shirt. Shut up.

Hailey's brows raised, "Don't bother. Josh is bringing the food."

"Oh," he nodded.

"You do remember him, do you?" Hailey asked.

His mouth quirked up sourly pretending he doesn't remember.

"He's the chef at the restaurant you and Lauren ate lunch at?"

"Oh!" he said, feigning realization. "Yeah, that... That guy."

"Uh-huh," Hailey's voice wavered to hide her disappointment.

I ribbed Axel lightly, I noticed how his lips tightened to cover up a smile.

*        *       *

Josh arrived a little while later and surprisingly, we were all having a nice dinner together. It feels light and airy. I know they use the term to describe Interior design, but that's how the atmosphere feels right now. Just light and airy. Like whipped cream. Soft laughs were exchanged. And even Hailey, whom I thought would be the biggest judge of the night, was in on the small talk fun.

"Holidays are around the corner, do you all have any plans?" Josh asked.

Axel finished chewing the steak before speaking, "Yeah, I can't wait for Thanksgiving."

"Oh, that's nice. Are you having a party or something?" Josh asked.

Hailey interjected, "Oh, too bad. Lauren's coming with us for Thanksgiving. We always spend the holidays at home."

"Yeah, I know, we're spending it together."

Hailey's eyes bulged and she almost choked on her food.

"What's the matter, babe? Here, drink some water." Josh helped her drink the glass of water while rubbing her back. He glared at Axel. 'Sorry,' Axel mouthed.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, yeah, no, I'm okay," she gasped for air. "Went down the wrong pipe. So... you're not coming home with us?"

"I am."

"Then..." her eyes moved back and forth from Axel and me. "Uh?"

I cleared my throat, "He's coming with me. He's spending Thanksgiving with us. You know, we figured it'll be nice since Axel's family wouldn't be doing anything."

"Actually, they're going to Cabo."

"Hm? Um, I didn't know about this."

"Yeah, babe, but we do that every year, so it's kind of getting old. Unless you want to come with us then it's totally fine."

"No!" Josh exclaimed which surprised the three of us. "I mean, Lauren," he chuckled nervously. "You've already made plans for thanksgiving and I'm sure your Mom and Dad, not to mention your Lola, would get mad at you."

"Yeah, yeah, he's right, uh, babe. My family would disown me."

"Yeah, of course, I was just giving you a choice," he held my hand and brought it to his cheek. "You know I'd always go with what you want," he continued and kissed my knuckles.

Josh looked relieved while Hailey's brows were raised as she took a big gulp of wine.

After dinner, we all chatted some more before calling it a night.

"Okay, we're off..." Josh said by the door with his arms draped around Hailey's shoulder.

Axel mirrored Josh and wrapped his arms around me, "Alright, take care, man."

"Uh, why don't I walk you down?" I offered.

"Yeah, sure," Hailey replied and I freed myself from Axel. "Hey, Axel, aren't you going too?"

"Nah, I'll stay here a while longer."

I gave him a questioning look, to which he exchanged with feigned innocence before smiling at Hailey and Josh.

"Alright then," Hailey nodded. "I'll see you soon, Axel."

"Yeah, see you soon," Axel replied then I closed the door keeping him inside.

"I don't know what you see in him, Laure," Hailey remarked as we walked to the elevators.

"I couldn't agree more."

"What?" Hailey stopped walking.

"What?" I glanced over at Josh and saw his eyes widen in warning.

"What do you mean you couldn't agree more?"

"I mean, yeah," I coughed. "I couldn't agree more because sometimes he's insufferable..." Josh's brows knit together in frustration; Hailey looked perplexed. "But he's my, uh, my right amount of insufferable." I almost threw up in my mouth.

"Where are you going with this?"

"I mean," I exhaled loudly.

Come on, Lauren, you dumbass, act head-over-heels.

I smiled at nowhere, "You know, he brings enough chaos in my life that negates the chaos around me. He..." I exhaled. "He's like the bottle of water after I've been parched at sea."

God, that was disgusting but I smiled anyway.

Her mouth parted as her eyes squinted then the elevator door opened catching her attention, "Okay, that's quite enough. Um, um, I mean it's enough waiting, the elevator's here."

"Yeah, let's go?" I was about to step into the elevator when Josh's eyes bulged at me signaling I leave them alone. "Uh, I mean, you know what? You go. I'll get back to my, uh... Axel's still in my apartment so I'll get back to him."

"Yeah, yeah, of course." Josh nodded.

"Alright, I'll see you then."

"I'll text you when we get home." Hailey waved her hand goodbye.

"Okay, take care, you guys. Good night!"

"Good nigh-" then the elevator door closed.

Okay then, that's two down, one more to go. What is he even doing still staying at my place? He should've gone home as well. I opened my door and saw Axel on the couch.

"Hey, they're gone. You could see yourself out," I said closing the door then he turned and I saw the crumpled letter in his hand.

My lungs suddenly felt constricted and my feet were glued to the ground.

"Grant, what is this?"