Playing Heart Games

Level 30: Fall In Love With Perfection Incarnate

AXEL

"Did you get home safe?" I asked as I slipped into my apartment.

Outside, the sun had sunk behind the horizon.

Violet's large brown eyes gazed through the phone back at me. "Yeah. Did you?"

I nodded, putting my keys away.

She bit her lip. "I wish we could have spent longer together."

Me too.

I gave her a flirtatious smirk. "Miss me already Curls?"

She made that expression that told me she was embarrassed.

I laughed. She was so adorable. "Miss you too."

And now she was giving me that wide-eyed look she got whenever I flirted with her.

She parted her lips to say something, when a voice off screen made her look up.

"I think that's my mom." Violet made a face. "I have to have dinner with the family."

I grinned. "Good luck. Don't stab anyone."

Violet rolled her eyes. "I'll try not to. Later, alligator."

"In a while, crocodile."

She hung up.

"I love you."

The words filled the silence.

I exhaled, tucking my phone away.

Then I stiffened. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Standing in the doorway to my bedroom was Dakota Johnson.

She blinked quickly, like she was coming out of a daze. "I wanted to talk—Asher let me in."

I really needed to have a conversation with Asher about letting people into the apartment.

"I don't want to talk," I said. "Get out."

I expected her to do what she usually did—pretend she was hurt. Manipulate. But, instead, she just nodded.

Her heels sounded against the tiles as she left.

I stared at the door for a moment, making sure she wasn't coming back, before my thoughts returned to Violet.

Axel Ryder, best friends with perfection incarnate.

And also in love with her.

I almost wanted to laugh.

I tugged off my clothes on the way to the bathroom.

I felt lighter than I had in a long time.

I didn't have to switch on my speakers to drown out the silence.