Sweet Hope (Sweet Home 3)

Molly laughed, choking on emotion. “Sorry, guys, it’s my hormones,” she said, wiping her cheeks.

Releasing her hand and wiping at her cheeks with my thumb, I said, “Nah, it’s just you two.”

Molly laughed, and we sat down.

Truth was I wanted a love like theirs… a soul-shattering, leave you breathless kind of love…

That thought had my eyes instinctively searching for Elpi under my lashes and we immediately locked gazes. He was still watching me, that intense, see-into-my-soul Italian stare of his was burning into mine.

The whistle sounded on the field, making me jump, forcing me to look away from the man I feared I’d already lost my heart to. I made myself watch the game and tried not to think of all the wrongs he’d done in his past… the mountain of wrongs… the wrongs I wasn't sure I could ever get past…

Chapter Twelve

Ally

The Seahawks won. Austin even scored a debut touchdown, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at Elpi’s reaction. In fact, the longer I sat in this chair, the more I couldn’t take the tension pulsing between us.

“Ally?”

Blinking fast, realizing Lexi was calling my name, I glanced to my side. Lexi leaned forward, waving for me to lean forward too.

“You okay?” she whispered, and cautiously watched Axel as he stared out the window at the emptying field.

I nodded, but Lexi said, “He won’t hurt you, you know.”

My forehead pulled down in confusion. “What are you—”

“You’ve been staring at Axel all game, and I know it’s because you’re scared. He looks scary, all those scars and tattoos, and those dark eyes that look like they can incinerate people where they stand. But he won’t hurt you. You can be assured of that.”

Shocked that I’d obviously been paying Axel so much attention, I simply nodded and sat back in my seat, praying Rome and Austin would hurry and get up here so we could leave.

I needed time to think. I just needed time to friggin’ deal...

Then Axel got up from his chair and I froze.

My hands grew damp as I watched Axel scan the room, and Molly and Lexi watched him too. Axel’s head was downcast and his fists were clenching and unclenching. He acted nervous about something, and the reason for that nervousness was soon revealed when he walked to Levi.

“You wanna go get a drink or something to eat with me, kid?” he asked, and my pulse raced, seeing the flare of hope spark in his eyes.

But Levi ignored him and kept his head down. Levi’s face was stone as his jaw clenched.

“Lev?” Axel prompted and reached out to touch Levi’s shoulder.

Levi ripped his shoulder away. “I ain’t going nowhere with you.”

The expression of raw hurt that ghosted across Axel’s face was my undoing. It cut to the core and carved a pit of sympathy in my stomach the size of the Grand Canyon. I fought the urge to jump to my feet and hold him in my arms.

“I’ll have a water please, Axe, if you’re going to the bar?” Lexi said, and Axel nodded, seemingly thankful for something to do after being so harshly shunned. He moved to leave the suite, but not before he flickered his eyes to me, desperate hurt glinting in his gaze.

When Axel had left the room, Lexi faced Levi. “Lev, did you have to be like that?” she said, clear disappointment in her tone.

Levi shrugged. “I didn’t want a damn drink.”

Lexi sighed and dropped her head.

Molly shuffled forward to comfort Lexi, when Rome walked into the suite.

Rome, as always, bee-lined for Molly and, wrapping his arms around her, pulled her in for a kiss.

Austin walked in the room shortly after Rome, and immediately his eyes began to search the suite. We all knew he was looking for Axel.

Austin, seeing his wife clapping her hands at him in congratulations, laughed and, taking her face in his hands, brought her in for a kiss. As he broke away, he whispered, “Ti amo tantissimo,” in her ear, making her blush, then next took Levi in his arms.

“You were fucking unreal, Aust,” Levi said proudly.

“Thanks, Lev,” Austin replied, and just at that moment, the suite door opened and Axel stepped through carrying a bottle of water for Lexi.

Rome, who had just hugged me, stiffened. But Austin, Austin’s whole face lit up as he crossed the room and threw his arms around Axel’s neck. Axel’s assessing eyes looked up to all of us watching, and he awkwardly pushed Austin back after tapping his back.

“You came, Axe,” Austin said in relief.

Axe tapped his hand on Austin’s face. “You know it, kid,” Axel replied. “Sei stato grande, fratello.”

“Grazie, Axe, grazie,” Austin replied.

Slinging an arm around Axel’s shoulder, Austin led him back toward us. “We having drinks here first, then catching dinner?” he asked, looking to Rome.

Rome’s eyes narrowed and focused on Axel. Axel’s eyes were glaring at my cousin just as fiercely.

“Axe,” Rome greeted coldly.

“Rome,” Axel greeted back.

Austin tensed as he looked between his brother and best friend, but Rome broke the tension when he turned to Austin and said, “Dinner sounds good,” and sat down, pulling Molly to sit on his lap. Lexi moved next to Austin where he immediately sloped his arm around her neck.

Axel stayed next to Austin, drinking a beer, and listened to his brother’s rundown of the game. Levi watched on, unwilling to join them, but by the look on his face, clearly wanting to.