Sin of the Saint

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: RISING

Axel and Liv walked through the doors of the café together and sat down before taking a quick glance at the menu.

"Got any recommendations for me?" Liv asked.

Axel didn't hesitate to answer, "The roasted chicken and artichoke sandwich—it's got those delicious sun-dried tomatoes and what do you call that stuff...pesto?"

Liv raised her eyebrows, "That sounded almost rehearsed. You come here a lot, don't you?"

Axel shrugged. "A bit."

"Hm," Liv pursed her lips and then set her menu down. "I'm inclined to believe you, then."

"You won't regret it, I promise," he said, winking.

Liv pretended not to notice that wink and tried not to remember how well he'd sang with her. Going out with Nathan, Charity's public boyfriend, was one thing...but spending time with the guy she actually had feelings for...was something entirely different.

She began to feel like she may have been betraying Charity in a way.

"Can I get some drinks for you guys to start you off?" a voice sounding eerily like Auden's asked.

Liv glanced up and was met with Auden's smiling face. She gasped, "Au—"

"Holden! I didn't know you were working today," Axel said, cutting Liv off before she could make a fool of herself.

When Liv took a second look at the waiter who currently took Axel's drink order, she did notice his more slender build, as opposed to Auden's large football-player's figure. She'd only really seen Holden when they were sharing a limo ride together the night before, and it was dark in the cab.

"What would you like to drink?" Holden asked Liv, snapping her out of her stupor.

"Oh, uh—just a cola, thanks," she said, and caught Axel smirking from across the table.

"We're actually going to order the same thing—two roasted chicken artichoke paninis, please," Axel said.

"You got it—anything else?"

Axel looked at Liv expectantly.

"No, thanks," she said, nodding with a polite smile.

Holden left their table, tucking his order pad into his apron pocket.

"That was almost embarrassing," Axel said with a chuckle. "You can tell by their body shape who is who."

"I know, I know...I just forgot for a second," Liv shrugged, "that Auden has a twin."

Axel nodded. "Anyway...how was the dance? You know...besides the awkward situation you were thrown into?"

"Uneventful," Liv said honestly. "Didn't you go?"

"Nah," Axel waved his hand, "I was actually at the hospital last night when Felicity and Holden—I mean Auden—rolled in." He chuckled, winking at her again.

"You are a piece of work," Liv giggled at his poking fun at her for mixing up the Wilson twins. "And...why were you a the hospital?"

"Oh, that? I volunteer there," Axel said. "I do weekends. In fact, I'm due there in a few hours."

"That's...really cool of you," Liv mumbled. That would definitely be a trait of someone Charity would be into. She could easily fall for someone so dedicated to service. "Why did you start doing that?"

At that question, Axel's lips tightened and she noticed his front teeth bite down on his lower lip. Why was he so hesitant to answer?

"You don't have to tell me—"