Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,59
the humiliation that I can’t stop reliving every time I get a second to not obsess over work, I can’t. I promised Rina – something I have to stop doing – that I would be here with her to discuss her case, which is set for court in the morning. The officer’s changed story leads Ax to believe that they’ll be dropping all charges on their own; however, he plans to push for that if they don’t. His pending case being built against the crooked cop seems strong and solid yet not quite ready for presenting. Despite his…open distaste for practicing law, over these past few weeks, I can honestly say I’ve seen him develop…dare I say…a passion for it. Afternoons that were once just spent watching old movies like Point Break and Weekend at Bernie’s with him quoting along in between shoving handfuls of sea salt popcorn in his mouth are now filled with him reading old court cases and law books, the quoting I thought was adorable now replaced by the reading of powerful passages, I find admirable. Notes on who to contact and who to meet are now scribbled beside ones about dogfood and who’s turn it is to pick takeout. And when I work late rounds, coming home at three in the morning, expecting to find him dead asleep with Houndrix snoring on his feet, I’ve been surprised to see the exact opposite. He’s wide awake, in his office, clicking away like every tap of a key is the turn of one in a door to someone’s freedom.
I love watching him fall in love with something here on the shore.
I just wish he would’ve fallen in love with me, too.
Upon my arrival at his house, I’m faced not only by his sunset orange front door but the heart-aching dilemma of do I use the spare key, or do I knock?
Where exactly do we stand?
Have we taken ourselves back to the beginning?
Am I just the cute girl he met who happens to be his sibling’s client – like he so callously presented me as to his ex?
Am I overreacting by assuming it means everything between us is over?
Should I really just throw away these last two months together because we’ve landed in a bit of choppy water?
Suddenly, the front door opens, thankfully, taking the first decision I needed to make away from me. Ax’s beautiful cut face begins to glow, and there’s no denying the sense of tranquility that showers down on me from the sight. His blue eyes instantly flood with hope and excitement alike while his gray tank top-wielding shoulders seem to noticeably relax.
“Nice shirt,” I teasingly comment.
He darts his attention down to read the statement on it as though he forgot what he put on. Seeing the phrase “If It Swells Ride It” immediately has him juvenilely grinning, nodding, and meeting my gaze again. “Gift from E.”
“Why am I not shellshocked?”
Ax snickers the same way he always does when there’s a pun or play on words related to our favorite things. He keeps his smile at the same time he steps out of the way for me to enter his home. “Houndrix knew you were here, by the way. I wasn’t just…uh…stalking the front door.”
I can’t resist the easy playfulness we always find ourselves in. “You sure?”
“Yup.”
“You absolutely sure?”
Another snicker escapes prior to him asking, “Are you trying to get me to incriminate myself?”
“Kind of…” My body continues moving into the room. “Thought it’d be a lot easier.”
His comeback is swiftly severed by the supposed announcer enthusiastically coming for me. I can’t stop myself from rushing over to the couch, dropping down, and letting him hop into my lap. He doesn’t hesitate to roll over and present his stomach for the rubbing.
His dramatic antics receive a coo from me and a chortle from his owner. “As you can see, he missed you.”
Houndrix’s wet nose nudges my hand to get to moving.
“A lot,” Ax adds after witnessing the action.
More baby talk freely falls from my lips while his entire frame wiggles in joy.
“He’s not the only one.”
The words swell my heart causing me to lift my stare back to his.
“I love you but can’t say that I love being ignored for three days.”
“And, I love you but can’t say that I love being ignored for your ex-girlfriend.”
Our abrupt exchange of emotions momentarily stuns us both.
Okay, so that…happened.
Holy shit.
That. Happened.
Sunshine and seashells, the last time I told a guy I had been seeing I loved him