Saturday morning was the last day of camp. They had a scrimmage and gave out awards afterwards. Chayton had been unusually cold to him today, and Maryn wouldn’t even look at him. He’d worried the past few days that someone would tell them about him and Kaitlyn. Had it happened, and did they all hate him now? Thursday night, he’d gone over to their house for pizza, and everything had seemed normal and good, relieving a lot of his anxiety. He’d miss this little town and especially this family, but he was getting anxious to be gone and to finally be able to pursue Kaitlyn. Doubts rushed through him. Kaitlyn had told him she loved him, but that she needed time, and she hadn’t contacted him since then. He was in an awful state of limbo.
They were almost through the awards when he pulled out the Heart of Lacrosse award and grinned. “This goes to Maryn Liechty.”
Everyone clapped and cheered. Obviously they all loved the little girl as much as he did. Emma had come to watch the awards, and she nodded encouragingly to Maryn. The little girl stuck out her chin and shook her head resolutely.
“Maryn?” Axel could hear the uncertainty in his own voice.
“Come up here, Maryn,” Chayton said.
She clamped her lips together and marched to the front of the crowd. Everyone cheered again. Axel held out the award to her. She took it from him, her brown eyes filled with fire. Then she balled up her fist and punched him in the thigh. Axel started in surprise. “Maryn?”
“I hate you!” she screamed. “How could you steal Kaitlyn from my Mace?” She let out a little sob then ran off the field and toward the parking lot.
Axel looked helplessly at Chayton. His lips were pressed together. He shook his head and then clapped his hands loudly. “Thanks for coming, everyone. If you didn’t pay for a signed poster as part of your package, Axel has agreed to stay after and sign whatever you like.” He gave Axel a tight smile then walked away.
Axel was quickly surrounded by players and parents wanting him to sign a ball or just shake his hand and thank him. It was almost an hour before the crowd dispersed. He glanced around for any sign of Chayton, Emma, Addison, or Maryn, but they had disappeared. Axel cleaned up his gear and any trash that had been left behind. Usually, the host would do this, but obviously, things weren’t good with the Liechtys right now.
He slowly left the field and loaded everything into his Lexus. He’d stepped back from Kaitlyn so this wouldn’t happen, and now the Liechtys hated him anyway. He could see it from their perspective—he’d come in here and taken what wasn’t his, but how did he explain that Kaitlyn was meant to be with him. He sighed. First, he needed to convince her of that.
Driving away from the field, he tried to talk himself out of it, but in the end, he couldn’t stop himself from driving to their house. Before common sense could kick in, he was knocking on their door. Addison opened it and placed a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowing like a teenager. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to your dad.”
“Whatevs,” she said saucily, stepping back from the door. “Daddy! The jerk guy is here.”
Axel had to laugh at that. He’d gone from her friend to the jerk guy pretty quickly. She was only eight, teenage years were going to be interesting with this one. Sadness washed over him. She wouldn’t even remember his name by teenage years.
Chayton walked out of one of the bedrooms with baby Jude in his arms. The baby smiled happily at Axel. At least someone in this family still liked him. Did Mason know he’d gone after Kaitlyn? His gut tightened, hating the thought of Mason glaring at him like Maryn had this morning.
Chayton handed the baby off to Addison. “Will you take him out back to mom and Maryn?”
“Sure, Daddy.” She tossed one more haughty look at Axel then babbled to the baby as she walked off.
Chayton’s dark eyes didn’t hold accusation, more sadness as he focused on Axel. “Shall we talk outside?” He walked past Axel onto the porch. He didn’t even want Axel in his house. That hurt.
Chayton gripped the porch railing, not looking at Axel. Axel shut the door softly behind him and folded his arms across his chest. “I’m sorry. I fell for Kaitlyn last spring, and then there was this awful coincidence that she was Mason’s girlfriend.” He shook his head. “I didn’t handle it well. I don’t know what else to say besides sorry.” How did he tell Mason’s dad how much he loved Kaitlyn? How she was meant to be with him?
Chayton released the railing and turned to look at him. He pressed his lips together then finally muttered, “I don’t think you have any clue what Mason has been through, what Kaitlyn means to him.” He took a slow breath then pushed it out. “What do you care? You’re this superstar who can have any girl he wants.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Really?” Chayton stepped closer. Axel was a big guy, but Chayton was close to his height and breadth, and he was mad. Axel could feel it radiating from him, but he didn’t step back. “Tell me what it’s like then,” Chayton demanded. “You’re saying you don’t have women all over you? You’re saying our sweet little Kaitlyn wasn’t just another pretty face for you?”
Axel blinked at this man who he’d considered a friend. Did Chayton really think that little of him, or was he just angry? “Yes, women chase me, but they aren’t the type of woman you’d want chasing you. The women that stalk an athlete are fluff or calculating or just looking for the status or the fling. They’re not like Kaitlyn at all.”
Chayton raised an eyebrow at him, not saying anything.
“I went about it wrong. I should’ve waited until we were back in the city. But you don’t understand. Kaitlyn told Mason she wanted to date other people, and she is just … pure sunshine. I’ve known she’s the one for me since last spring. I love her.”
Chayton stared at him then let out a cold, disbelieving laugh. “You don’t even know what love is.”
Axel held up his hands. “You don’t have any right to tell me that.”
“You want to hear about love, about what kind of sunshine Kaitlyn is?” Chayton took another step and was in his face. “Mason and Emma were abused by Emma’s husband. He took their money, and he ran them into the ground. Mason worked his butt off to even be able to play lacrosse and to shield his sisters and Mom from Beau. Emma worked her butt off to keep food on the table. Kaitlyn fell in love with Mason despite the fact that he couldn’t even afford to take her out for ice cream and he didn’t have an item of clothing without a hole in it. She loved him for him, not because he was some rich, famous, handsome guy who could sweep her off her feet.” Chayton stepped back and his shoulders rounded. “Mason protected Emma from her abusive husband, who was an ultimate fighter. The kid is pure gold, and he deserves to have his happily ever after!” Chayton stood tall again. “He deserves it more than anyone I know. What right do you have to take that from him?”
Axel swallowed hard. How did he explain to Mason’s dad that Kaitlyn didn’t love Mason anymore? Was that even true? Maybe she just needed to remember why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. Chayton was right that Mason deserved every happiness. Axel’s stomach rolled. Maybe he was completely in the wrong even being in this town. It was him who was messing things up. Not Mason. Not Kaitlyn. They’d been promised to each other for years, and here he came and got in the way.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
Chayton studied him. “What’s your play here, man?”
Now Axel was the one who had to turn away and grasp the porch railing. He loved Kaitlyn. He’d never felt like this about a woman before. Was he even close to the kind of man that Mason was? Could he walk away and give Mason his happily ever after with the woman Axel felt was meant for him?
“I don’t know.”
A blur of blonde rushed onto the porch and knocked into his legs. Maryn pounded on his stomach with her tiny fists and yelled, “Why? Why did you have to steal Mace’s princess? Why?” Tears pooled in her dark eyes, and Axel felt like the scum of the earth.
Axel
swept her up into his arms and held her close. She resisted for half a second then she clung to him. “I thought you were my favorite, and you turned into a big old jerk.” She sobbed into his neck.
Axel hugged her against him. “I’m sorry, Mar. I’m so sorry. I’m going to leave.” His heart was being torn wide open. He was going to miss this little girl, this family. He’d brought them pain, and that was the last thing he’d ever wanted to do.
She pulled back and looked at him. “What if you go away and Kaitlyn still doesn’t love Mace? You messed it all up!”
Axel didn’t have any kind of answer. Maybe he and Kaitlyn shouldn’t have started dating so quickly, but he was still hoping that Kaitlyn would only love him. That she would chase after him. He didn’t understand Kaitlyn and Mason’s past, but he still knew she should be his future.
“Kaitlyn will love who she’s supposed to love.” Emma’s soft voice came from the open doorway.
Axel whirled to face Mason’s mom, still clinging to Maryn. He swallowed hard and said, “I’m sorry, Emma.”
Emma didn’t respond to that. She looked at Maryn. “Go help Addy with Jude.”
Maryn gave Axel one last squeeze. “Even if you’re a jerk, you’re still my favorite,” she said.
Axel hugged her back. “Sorry for being a jerk.”
She nodded, and he set her on her feet. She gave him one last longing glance before she scampered away. Emma walked up to him, and Axel didn’t know what to expect. She squeezed his arm with her soft hand. “What’s meant to be will work out.”
“I went about this all wrong,” he said. “I fell in love with Kaitlyn, and that was all I could focus on.”
“These things happen.” She shrugged and smiled at her husband. “Chayton thought he loved Chelsea, but it wasn’t right, and he had to walk away. Look how happy he is now.”
Chayton smiled and pulled his petite wife to his side. “It couldn’t have worked out better.”
Emma stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly then turned and looked at Axel.
He sucked in a breath. “I want what you two have—family, love, a home, a town.”
“You can’t take what isn’t yours,” Emma said. “But the right thing will happen for you, and we’ll be there cheering you on when it does.”
Chayton looked down at her as if he was as confused by her words as Axel was. Axel didn’t really know what else to say. He’d apologized. He’d been put in his place. Maryn still loved him, and Emma and Chayton didn’t appear to hate him. It was past time he left. He stuck his hand out. Chayton gripped it and then released it. Emma gave him a quick hug.
He stepped down off the porch and glanced back at the two of them. “Thank you.”
They both nodded.
It wasn’t anything profound, and he wished with everything in him that he was leaving on different terms, but he’d created this situation. Now he had to deal with it, by walking away from his dream woman until she figured things out. And trying to believe that Emma was right, and the right thing would happen for him someday. He couldn’t help thinking he wanted it to be Kaitlyn … today.
Chapter Eleven
Kaitlyn ached for Axel like she had the flu. It wasn’t just her heart. It was her entire body that wanted to be near him, talk to him, touch him, smell him, look at him. She’d tried to be strong these past few days and not chase after him. To wait until she could clear things up with Mason and then give herself fully to Axel, but it was absolutely, completely killing her.
Saturday, she had the late shift, so at least, she would be busy. She didn’t know if Axel would leave town or come talk to her first. She wanted to see him so badly, but she had put herself in this self-inflicted state of misery, and she was going to see it through until the end. The town of Echo Ridge might bemoan her and Mason breaking up, but at least she would be doing it right and be free to be with Axel without any guilt.
“You have a customer who needs you,” Jessica said. Her friend smiled sadly at her, knowing the pain she was going through. Thank heavens she had Jessica since Lolly was traveling through Europe right now.
Kaitlyn nodded and walked toward the cash register. Emma was there waiting for her. She saw Kaitlyn and gave her a soft smile. “Can you talk outside?”
Kaitlyn glanced at Jessica, who nodded. “Sure.”
Kaitlyn walked next to Emma, neither of them making an effort to talk. They made it outside and, without verbal agreement, turned toward the park and the lake. The irony wasn’t lost on Kaitlyn when they sat on the same bench by the lake that she had last kissed Axel on. Forcing the memory of Axel out was impossible. Dang she missed him.
She turned slightly to face Emma, blinking against the bright sunlight reflecting from the lake. “Everything okay?” she asked, knowing nothing was okay, at least in her world.
Emma took her hand. “I was worried about you.”
“You know.”
Emma nodded.
“And you hate me?”
Emma tilted her head to the side and released Kaitlyn’s hand. “Should I hate you?”
Kaitlyn cleared her throat and clasped her hands together. “You know I’ve always loved Mason.”
Emma nodded.
“But in the last year, it’s changed. We’re great friends, but there really isn’t any kind of romance anymore.” She grimaced. “I know that sounds silly and like a fairy tale or something, but there needs to be some romance, right?”
Emma nodded again. “Chayton can just look at me and I start tingling.”
Kaitlyn smiled. “You two definitely have that spark. I see it with Jessica and Gentry, Chelsea and Drew.” She stopped. “They told you, right?”
“They came over last night.”
Kaitlyn didn’t blame them. They were close friends with Chayton and Emma. She was surprised they took that long.
“I wonder if I’ve just been selfish,” Emma said.
Kaitlyn’s eyes widened. She’d been the selfish one. Wanting to not hurt Mason while she pursued Axel. “You are the least selfish person I know.”
“Mason’s my boy.” She choked up and blinked quickly before continuing. “I saw how happy you made him, and I fell in love with you too. I just assumed you’d be happy together, but it was selfish of me to never take how you feel into consideration.”
“I love Mason too,” Kaitlyn said. “I never want to hurt him.”
“But you’re going to have to.” Emma sighed. “Sometimes life is like that. How long have you known?”
“Known?”
“That you and Mason weren’t going to work.”
Kaitlyn looked out at the sparkling water. “About a year.”
Emma nodded. Then she eyed Kaitlyn perceptively. “You truly love Axel?”
Axel. Kaitlyn felt the light start inside and radiate out. “I think so.”
“You think so?” Emma arched a delicate eyebrow. “You are not breaking my son’s heart on a think so.”
Breaking Mason’s heart. It was horrible, but Kaitlyn knew that it was right. She and Mason wouldn’t have had the happiness that Emma and Chayton had, that she and Axel could have.
“Yes. I love Axel.”
Emma stood so quickly it took Kaitlyn off guard. She reached out a hand and tugged Kaitlyn up. “Then what are you waiting for? Go get him.”
“I think he’s already left town.”
“I saw him walking into the bed and breakfast when I pulled up to Kenworth’s.” She squeezed Kaitlyn’s hand. “Don’t forget about us.”
“Not possible.” Kaitlyn gave Emma a quick hug then ran toward the bed and breakfast, not an easy feat in heels. She was still half a block away when she saw his Lexus driving on the road headed north out of town.
“No!” Kaitlyn ran after him, but she was way too slow. His sport utility gradually got farther and farther away until she couldn’t see the sparkle of silver any longer. She pulled her phone out and scrolled down to his number. Should she call him? Her hand froze, clinging to t
he phone. She wanted to call him, but he’d just driven away without saying goodbye. What did that mean? She’d told him they should wait until they were both back in the city in a couple of weeks to pursue their relationship, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want him to say goodbye. Then there was the promise she’d made to herself to talk with Mason and make a clean break before she pursued Axel. Emma had gotten her excited about being with Axel, but the timing still wasn’t right.
Clinging to her phone, she turned and slowly walked back to work. How was she going to explain this mess to Jessica?
Chapter Twelve
The next week passed excruciatingly slowly. Kaitlyn loved Echo Ridge, but she’d never been so anxious to leave.
Friday night, she got a text from Mason. Meet me at the football game?
Sure.
This was it. She was so nervous she couldn’t eat her lunch or think straight. She gave a customer a fifty percent discount instead of fifteen on over a dozen items. Jessica shook her head and sent her home early.
Two hours later, she waited by the grandstands, searching the crowds for Mason. The smell of hot dogs and popcorn made her stomach even more jumpy. Echo Ridge got a first down, and the crowd cheered triumphantly. If only Kaitlyn could focus on something as carefree as a football game. Would she have to sit through the entire game before they talked?
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Kaitlyn felt herself stiffen instead of lean into Mason. He released her, and she turned to face him.
“You okay?”
She shook her head. “Can we talk?”
He nodded somberly. He clearly knew this was coming. They walked away from the cheering crowd and bright lights of the football stadium to the lacrosse field. Mason stopped and turned to face her.
Change of Plans_An Echo Ridge Romance Page 9
