Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Four
“Maybe he just can’t do it... with his half sister,” | said, putting emphasis on the word ‘half’.
“Thane is not a
in ‘that’ fieldleman, and | know for sure he wants you; he has no rules of conduct, not
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Five
“Then why, why did he turndown?” | asked, and Axel had been about to say something, but he stopped.
He knew something, something he wasn’t going to tell me.
“Have you tried a DNA test?” Axel asked instead.
“On my way here, | ran into my mother who also brought that up... but | don’t see the need of going through that
only to have my hope shattered?”
“Riley, | hope you don’t feel bad aboutsaying this, but your mother was with... others too, not just Slade,” he
says, and | nod; | wanted to believe it too, | wanted to believe there was a chance.
“What are the test requirements?” | asked him.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Thane’s blood or oral fluid,” Axel said.
“I'd prefer he doesn’t find out about the test until | get the results, and that would be impossible if | needed his
blood or... saliva.”
“Then his hair would do, and | could get that for you.”
“You can?”
“Of course,” he says with a small smile.
“Thank you... so much
Something occurred to me. Axel had always been there when | needed him, but | had never really thought about
how ‘he’ felt.
“Axel... | think | owe you an apology,” | began.
“Why?”
“I cto you every t| need ‘something’ and then I'm gone. | hadn't considered your feelings and | simply
moved. Also, when you were with Gloria, | was the reason you broke up with her, and then | went on living my
life like nothing happened. | am so sorry. | know I've
been selfish.
| had been mad at Thane for passingto you like | was nothing but an object, never did | consider what it felt
like when being placed as the second option. | am so sorry, Axel, and | really want you to be happy. I do... but...”
“Riley. You shouldn't feel bad for making your decision. | broke up with Gloria’because | didn’t want you to be
uncomfortable, but | was never planning on taking things forward.”
“Who knows, maybe she would have grown on you.
“No. She wouldn't have grown on me. | know what | want, but | am not a fool to cbetween another's
happiness to achieve that. Thane is closer than a brother, though he could act like at complete jerk, but he is a
good person, and | love you. | know he makes you happy, happier than | would, so do not feel guilty,” he says.
“I love you.” And just then | realized what | had just said. What the hell was my problem...
“I love you too, Riley.”
| had spent the night with Axel, and a part ofwas bothered that Thane hadn't even checked ononce; the
little insecurities returned. | wondered who Thane spent his night with.
Axel had not made any advances, but | knew he was simply waiting for my consent; he would never do anything
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmwithout my consent.
With Axel, things felt easier. He had feelings forjust as | did; he could understand me. But with Thane,
everything seemed complicated, and | always found myself wondering if | would ever be good enough for him.
| rearranged the bed just to keep myself busy. | was determined not to go back to Thane; he would have to come
tofirst this time.
Just then Axel walked in with a wide smile on his face.
“I could get used to this,” he says, staring atrearranging the bed for the tenth time.
“I just wanted to keep busy. So... you got it?”
“Of course,” he says, taking out a mini leather bag from his pocket. “I got his hair.”
“Wow... that was fast,” | said as he passed the bag to me. | stared at the strands of brown hair; a part of me
wanted to take it out of the bag and inhale deeply.
“You can’t touch it though,” he warned. “I had to put on sgloves to get it in there.”
“You are good at this,” | said. His smile was infectious, and | found myself smiling along.
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