He bows his head and lets out a long sigh. “Do you know what it’s like to sit back and watch someone you love turn into themself? You were headed back to that fucked-up hole you always push yourself in. Don’t think I did that lightly, Izzy. Not for one second. You avoided talking about shit to me and Dee and ran around God’s green earth to stay busy enough so you didn’t have to deal with the shit in your life. We were worried. Worried about that shit Brandon was pulling, but mostly worried about how you were handling Axel showing back up. Don’t think I didn’t know the real reason you ran. And you know as well as I do, if I hadn’t forced your hand, you would still be running today.”
“It wasn’t your decision to make, G. It was mine, and by forcing my hand, you took my control, the one thing I have fought to regain in my life. If that wasn’t enough, you forced him on me. I just don’t know if I can forget that so easily. I can forgive you because, even pissed as hell, I know you wouldn’t hurt me, but you knew—you fucking knew—how hard that was going to be on me. I wanted that meeting on my terms when I was ready.” It’s hard to keep eye contact with him because he has started pacing around my room. Surefire sign that Greg is frustrated and worried.
“I’m sorry. I’m fucking sorry. I don’t know what to say other than that. You’re my family, and given the chance, I would do it all over again if it were the best move to help you. Axel aside, that shit with Brandon was fucked up and you needed all the power behind you that you could get if he tried something else. The only thing I regret was upsetting you.”
I hate fighting with Greg. This is by far the worst, and to be honest, not having him around is hard. He is my rock. Maddox is becoming just as important, but no one can replace what Greg means to me.
“I get it, I do. It hurts, but I can see where you were coming from.” I get up and walk into his open arms. “No more fighting, okay? But don’t pull that shit again.”
“Alright, baby girl. No more fighting.”
“Come on. Kickoff should be soon and if you make me miss that you’re watching the game somewhere else.”
Laughing, he follows me out of the room, almost knocking me to the ground when I reach the living room and stop dead in my tracks.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask the man relaxing on my couch, feet propped up on the coffee table with a beer in hand.
“Well, hello to you too, Princess. Coop called, said he would be over here watching the game with Locke. Joined along. Didn’t think you would mind.” Cocky, arrogant asshole. He is just daring me to throw a fit and kick him out.
“You’re a dick, you know that, Axel Reid? Shut up and get your feet off my table.” I kick his feet off the table when I walk past, only earning me a deep laugh before he props them right back up. “Get them down, asshole,” I grumble under my breath as I continue my way into the kitchen to grab the food and a beer.
Coop and Maddox are standing around the island when I walk in. I get a small smirk from Maddox before walking over to Coop and smacking him on the side of the head. “Ass. You do not invite him here.”
Maddox gives a boom of laughter before grabbing the tray of taco dip and walking back into the living room. “Girl, he probably didn’t even feel that with his hard head.”
“Shut up, Mad.” I smile at his retreating back before throwing another scowl at Coop. “Jerk.”
I grab the chips and a few beers before walking back in, just in time for kickoff. Dee and Beck are cozied up on the loveseat against the far wall. Greg and Coop have taken the recliners, leaving Maddox and Axel sitting on the couch with one empty spot between the two of them.
“You have got to be kidding me. Sit on the floor, asshat.” I try to give Axel the mean, hard look Maddox is always sporting, but apparently I lack the conviction.
“You look like you need to take a shit, Princess. I won’t bite . . . unless you want me to.” His evil, arrogant smirk and that cocky twinkle light his emerald eyes up.
I can play this game. I can act like being in the same room with his handsome self isn’t ripping me apart. Easy, right?
“Don’t you know? I prefer it hard and rough now, Axel. But you keep your teeth and everything else to yourself.”
That wipes his face clear. No more look of male giant ego and arrogant pride. Nope, he wasn’t going to get the upper hand on me.
Dee and Beck are too into each other to notice the tension in the room. Greg looks concerned, Coop looks like he might laugh at any moment, and Maddox is just looking at the TV but I can tell he wants to speak up. I just plop down as close as I can to Maddox without sitting in his lap and ignore Axel as long as I can.
The third quarter is just wrapping up when the doorbell rings. I wave off Dee and head off to the door, noticing a little too late how lightheaded I am. I have been throwing back beer after beer for the last hour, not eating much because I am still holding on to my snit about Axel being in the house. Walking around the corner of the living room and down the short entryway, I can hear the loud cheers and male grunting signaling another touchdown as I reach the door. This better be good.