Axel's Daisy

50 • Destiny

  My phone wouldn't stop buzzing, and I knew who was behind the flood of messages.

  Groaning with my eyes still closed, I fumbled around on the bedside table. After slapping the hard wood in frustration, I paused as memories from last night surged through my mind. A wide grin spread across my face.

  I touched my skin—it felt softer than before, and my lips were pleasantly plump. Axel's arm was draped across my waist, his head resting on my shoulder. His sullen breaths fanned my cheek, and his cinnamon spice scent was intoxicating—like a signature fragrance I wanted to explore more.

  My fingers intertwined with his, and he instinctively clasped them as if they were meant for him.

  "Can you shut your phone up and cuddle with me?" His deep voice stirred something inside me, making me clench my thighs in response.

  Thankfully, my back was to his chest, so he couldn't see my flushed cheeks when he tightened his hold.

  Then I remembered dad. I sat up abruptly, and our heads collided with a dull thud. We both groaned and rubbed our temples.

  "Are you okay?" I asked, brushing his hair back as I checked for any bruises. Thankfully, there were none. He was chewing on his lips, trying to suppress a grin.

  "I am... whenever I see your face." He smirked and pressed a soft kiss to my lips before stretching and heading to the bathroom.

  Moments later, he emerged as I struggled to stand up in his oversized shirt. My dress was draped over a chair in the corner.

  "Jade wouldn't stop sending messages. I put it on silent, but it's still going off," I said, gesturing to the blinking screen.

  Axel's eyes widened when he saw the flood of messages—some were just emojis, but others were more explicit. I blushed and tried to hide my phone behind my back, but Axel was determined. He climbed on top of me to grab it.

  "Give it to me, Daisy."

  He had too much fun with it, his laughter echoing as he lay back on the bed. My arms were too short to retrieve the phone from him, so I just huffed in frustration.

  "It's not funny!" I protested, which only made him laugh harder.

•••

  Axel finally dropped me off at home after a much-needed warm bath. I could feel the pride in his gaze as he watched me, his actions leaving a mark.

  "I've got to head to practice. I'll text you later. Say hi to your dad for me," he said, planting a kiss on my forehead before cursing under his breath at his buzzing phone.

  I completely understood his frustration.

  Standing at the doorstep was the enigmatic blonde in a blue maxi dress. She crossed her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing at me.

  "Where the heck did you disappear to?" She demanded, her gaze flicking to a spot on my neck. "Oh, okay—" she sniggered, poking the spot and making me hiss in response. "I definitely missed something. So now, I need to find out what over some amazing pancakes and tea." She began dragging me toward the house.

  "It was an amazing night, Jade. Peaceful, and I was glad he liked to cuddle—" We walked into the kitchen where Dad and a woman sat with teacups arranged on the table.

  We froze, like we'd been caught in the act. The woman smiled warmly, and I attempted a smile that came off awkwardly.

  "Girls, this is Rebecca. She's our new neighbor," Dad announced with a hopeful tone. "Rebecca, this is Destiny and Jade, my beautiful daughters." Jade's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Dad, who patted her back affectionately.

  "You know you're like a dad to me too," Jade said, making Dad chuckle.

  Rebecca's eyes crinkled with warmth as she glanced at them and then at me. I had a good feeling about her. She looked at dad with a kind gaze, and I could almost see matchmaking thoughts in my head. This time, he had found the woman.

  Jade and I shared a look of giddiness.

  "Oh, and one more thing," I teased. "Dad, do I have to give you the warning talk?"

  Dad's face turned a furious shade of red, and Rebecca had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter.

  "Destiny, kindly shut up. We're just new friends," Dad said sternly, but I saw through his hard exterior. He had a soft spot for her.

  "Nice to meet you, Rebecca. We have to go now," I said, shaking her hand. She pulled me into a hug, and I hugged her back, exchanging a knowing glance with dad. I wiggled my eyebrows at him, which made him cough and awkwardly clear his throat.

  It was our cue to head upstairs. Jade and I quickly went up, and once in my room, she sat on my bed, legs crossed and ready to interrogate me.

  "Spill. I'm aging here."

  "Sorry to break it to you, but we just kissed, cuddled, and slept," I said.

  "Way to phrase it in a boring way," she retorted, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

  I was about to dive into the juicy details when my phone vibrated with West's name on the screen.