Friday (Timeless Series #5) Read Free

want to deal with her, not after getting an earful from Hawke the other day. But if I didn’t face her she would keep pestering me until she got her airtime.
    I opened the door and walked away. “What?”
    She came in behind me and slammed the door. “What do you mean what ?”
    I sat on the couch and got comfortable.
    “You screwed over my best friend. That’s what.”
    I knew Marie would tell Francesca eventually. Actually, I assumed she would have done it sooner. “I didn’t screw her over.”
    “You’re such a coward. How dare you walk out on her like that?”
    “I panicked and I didn’t know what else to do.”
    “Fine,” she said. “I guess I can understand that to a certain degree. But nearly two weeks have come and gone and you haven’t even tried talking to her. She thinks you guys are broken up.”
    “Because we are broken up.”
    “And that’s how you end things? Axel, you were with her for six months.”
    “No, I wasn’t. It was like three.”
    “Whatever,” she snapped. “That’s how you end things? You just walk away and never look back?”
    “Not in those words.” I rested my forearms on my knees and leaned forward. “I don’t know what else to do. I didn’t realize how she felt until it was too late. Staying away from her is the best thing I can do for her.”
    “Yes, you did know how she felt, Axel.”
    I stared at the ground and avoided her look.
    “Because I knew how she felt about you. I saw it written all over her face. And you know what? I see that same look written all over yours.”
    First Hawke and now her.
    “I get that you’re scared of how you feel. We’ve all been there. But this behavior is unacceptable.”
    “I don’t like it anymore than you do.”
    “Then go talk to her.”
    I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that. I hated myself too much.
    Francesca knew she wasn’t going to get anywhere with me. “Pull your head out of your ass before it’s too late, Axel.” She walked out and slammed the door as hard as she could.
    I continued to sit there, feeling alone.

Two Weeks
    Marie
    It’d been two weeks since I’d seen Axel. The time had come and gone quickly, but in my mind it felt like an eternity. My phone never lit up with a text message or phone call from him. Now it was beginning to feel like he’d never been around at all.
    I clocked out then headed home, driving slower than usual. There was no longer any excitement in my life and I wasn’t eager to go anywhere. Normally, I’d rush home and shower because I was anxious to see Axel. But now I knew there was no one to get dressed up for.
    When I pulled into my driveway I saw Axel’s truck against the curb.
    My heart jumped into my throat and I could barely breathe. I couldn’t believe he was there, waiting for me to come home from work. Deep in my heart I hoped he was there to work things out. I hoped he would apologize for his stupidity, tell me he loved me, and then ask me to be with him again.
    I knew I would say yes.
    But what if he was there to say something else? To end the relationship that was already dead? What would I do then?
    I took a deep breath before I got out of the car. I shouldered my purse like always and carried myself with as much respect as possible. After seeing Francesca spiral out of control I realized I never wanted anyone to see me like that—pathetically weak. I held my head high as I walked to his truck, keeping a stoic face and pretending I didn’t have a care in the world.
    He got out of the driver’s side then came around the front, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He stared at me with eyes mixed with sorrow and guilt. I was surprised he could look me in the eye at all. “You’ve got a minute?”
    I already knew what kind of conversation this was going to be. My heart broke all over again but I kept that pain bottled deep inside. I refused to give him the satisfaction of hurting me. “Only a minute. I have somewhere to be.” I stared at him head-on and