Best of 2017

“No, I’ll have Axel take me home.”

“I can’t believe you are with Axel Rye! You’re living the dream, girl.”

Her words made my heart beat even harder. I bit my lip.

I decided to ignore the comment. “I’ll see you when you get home. Be safe.”

“Is he right there next to you?” Felicity whispered, as if Axel might hear her.

I giggled. “You have fun tonight.”

“You have to hook up with him! And I want to hear all about it.”

I laughed nervously, my face suddenly warm. “Felicity!” I whispered. “I’ll be fine. Bye.”

“Let loose! Give it a shot; you might surprise yourself.” Yeah, the last time I listened to her and let loose, my body felt it was going to melt while I watched a man perform acts I never knew possible.

My pulse sped up. Felicity didn’t help my already strained nerves. “I gotta go. Have a good night.” I hung up the phone, trying not to notice Axel watching me.

After dropping everyone off, Axel turned to me and smiled. That smile. It was unlike anything I had seen. It was soft, sensual, and alluring. I shifted in my seat, trying not to appear anxious, but I found it nearly impossible to control my nervous energy. Why was I having such a hard time breathing now?

“Are you hungry?” Axel asked.

I let out the breath I was holding and nodded.

“Good, because I’m starving.” He leaned forward to the driver and muttered some instructions.

We picked up some food at a small coffee shop and headed to the beach, eating along the way in the back seat. I hadn’t realized how hungry I truly was until I bit into my sandwich. Everything about the meal and the company was perfect. Axel had a way of making me feel warm, comforted, and relaxed. I ate more than I would normally and talked more about myself than I would ever do. I guarded my past, my present, and my future. I opened up to very few, and had found it was easier that way. It wasn’t like I had anything exciting to really open up about. My insecurities always had me thinking before that people were judging me for being so boring. I did, however, open up slightly to Axel. I felt comfortable enough to discuss my likes and dislikes. I had told him my favorite color, my favorite food, what music I liked, what movie last made me cry. It must have been that little pink pill, but I was talking a mile a minute.

I took the last bite of my sandwich and leaned back against the leather of the limo seat. “I’m so full, I could explode!”

Axel smiled warmly. “From the looks of it, you could add a few pounds to that frame of yours.”

I blushed. “Yeah, I tend to skip meals. I get caught up in work and forget, I guess. I lose track of time.” When I’d write, hours would fly by.

Axel raised an eyebrow. “Bartending?”

Crap! I had almost given away that I was a writer.

I just shrugged casually. “I needed the sandwich. I feel so much better. My brain seems to be coming back.”

“What exactly did you take?”

I knew I was blushing. I shouldn’t feel weird for doing drugs. Axel was a drug dealer for Christ’s sake, but I totally felt like he would judge me. “I don’t know. It was pink.”

“A pink pill?”

“Yes.”

“You just took a pink pill and didn’t know what it was?” His eyes darkened, and he didn’t look as jovial as he had been before.

“Felicity gave it to me.” I shrugged. “I trust her.”

He nodded slowly and his expression seemed to soften. “Well you need to be careful with that shit. I didn’t sell it to her, so who knows where she got it. It could be dirty.”

I laughed. “As opposed to clean drugs? Are there such things? If she would have bought the pink pill from you, would it then be good for me?”

He stopped for a moment and then let out a deep and hearty laugh. “Good point. Fine. Drugs are bad, little girl. Stay away!”

We laughed until a silent calm washed over us as we both just looked at each other. Axel’s eyes were soft and gentle. He casually had one arm slung over the back of the seat, giving off a sense of comfort and a perception of ease. I realized we were both staring at each other, and I began to grow uneasy.

“So where are we going?” I asked to change up the mood.

Axel took a moment to continue to stare. “To one of my favorite places in the city. Believe it or not, the clubs are my least favorite part.”

“What do you mean?”

“They aren’t me.”

I almost laughed. “You do realize you are Axel Rye, right? Your name alone represents these clubs.”

Axel frowned. “I know, and I hate that.”

I smiled softly and straightened my back. “Then why do you do it?”

Axel’s face grew serious. “That’s a good question. I guess I’m searching.”

I took a deep breath to attempt to soothe my nerves. “Searching?”

Axel reached across the seat and lightly grabbed my hand. He didn’t say anything, but his soft touch made me feel calm and relaxed again. He gave a gentle squeeze before pulling his hand away.

Axel and I sat in silence again. I noticed how easy it was for both of us to sit and be content in each other’s company. We both could stare into each other’s eyes, taking the time to observe. I liked how Axel’s eyes would light up when he smiled. I liked how he was confident enough not to look away. I liked how he had a way of holding my stare, demanding my eyes stay connected with his. I liked… well, I liked Axel.

“So, tell me something about you. I feel you have the upper hand because you know so much about me. I feel like I haven’t stopped talking this whole drive.” This was my chance to start building my story.

“I have no secrets. What would you like to ask?”

“I can ask anything?”

Axel smiled. “Yes, you can ask anything.”

I took a moment to think of a good question. I wasn’t sure if I would get this opportunity to ask anything of my liking again. I also wanted to be careful not to come across as a reporter or something.

“Okay, so why is a good-looking man, like you, not in a serious relationship?” I blushed at how forward I sounded but continued. “You have to give me honesty, nothing simple or general.”

Axel smirked. “So saying I haven’t met the right woman is considered general?”

“Yes.”

Axel took a moment to just stare into my eyes. His eyes narrowed a bit and his jaw tightened. “I’m darker than most.”

I shook my head. “No, that was way too simple of an answer. And cliché. Of course the famous Axel Rye who sells drugs for a living is darker than most.”

“I live in a world not cut out for the average person.”

I shook my head again. “Nope, that was too general.”

“I’m fucked up.”

I pouted out my lip. “You can’t just give broad, elusive answers. Not fair!”

Axel chuckled. “Okay, okay. You are pretty damn cute when you pout.” He took a deep breath and repositioned his body against the back seat. “Well, I think it is no secret I sell drugs. Actually, it’s more than that. I am known for selling drugs. I used to just be the rich kid of Jamison Rye, but I made a name for myself.” He paused and studied me intently for a moment before huffing with a smirk. “Some name.”