LIBERTY

Chapter XIV

Axel gritted his teeth when he heard Libby's phone buzz for the hundredth time. She was staring at her screen with a silly smile as she typed something back. He hadn't seen her this happy since what seemed like forever and he would be lying if he said he didn't care what made her eyes twinkle like fucking stars again.

Libby chuckled softly, her fingers working to text a reply.

The sound of her laughter made Axel want to gag. He added some milk into the mixer and pushed the button just to drown out her giddy giggles.

Deep down he had his suspicions, deep down he knew who was on the receiving end of her texts. It wasn't Chloe, his brother got rid of her. It was someone else, someone whose name rhymed with motherfucking-piece-of-shit-Leon.

He watched her closely – the smile in her eyes, her front teeth catching her bottom lip, her fingers repeatedly tucking the same strand of hair behind her ear. Axel knew that look all too well, that was the look of someone who was crushing.

Crushing, he snorted at the thought. The only crushing happening is that jerk's face.

Aaron walked into the kitchen, panting and shirtless. He grabbed his T-shirt tucked in the hem of his basketball shorts and used it to wipe away the sweat on his chest and face. He lightly raised his eyebrows when he noticed his sister sitting at the kitchen counter with her phone in her hands, in the exact same position he had left her an hour ago.

He caught his twin's eyes and made a little head tilt towards Libby as if to say who the fuck is she talking to?

Axel didn't respond and simply poured himself a glass of his home-made milkshake.

"Libby," Aaron said as he opened the fridge for a bottle of water. "Libby!"

She looked up from her phone. "What?"

"Who're you texting?"

"A friend."

Aaron took a seat across from her and leaned over on his arms. "What friend?"

She tucked her phone in her jeans. "A friend," she simply repeated.

"Do we know her?"

More like him, Axel thought bitterly.

"I'm sorry but since when do you two care about who I talk to?"

Aaron put up his hands in defense. "Just asking." He reached over and stole a piece of fruit from her plate. "We're gonna throw a pool party at the house next week."

"Just tell me when and I'll make sure to stay away."

Axel and Aaron exchanged a look.

Axel cleared his throat. "You don't have to do that, you're invited too."

"Yeah, we're gonna do one of those pool parties. You can even bring some friends over if you want," Aaron said.

Libby stared at the twins with a mix of confusion and suspicion. Whenever they threw a party, her brothers would always kick her out of the house. Aaron used to say it was because of the R-rated stuff going on and Axel just plainly didn't want her around.

"You can bring Leon over too if he wants," Axel proposed, his face blank but his eyes told another story.

Libby's jaw dropped. Leon? What did he know about Leon? She decided not to fall into Axel's trap and tried not to dwell on it.

"Okay ... Why the change of heart?" she couldn't help but ask.

Aaron shrugged as he took another sip from his water. "After everything that's been going on, we thought you should have some fun you know. A little distraction."