The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 3

Axel's POV.

I feel like my heart is in my throat as I knock on her door. It's an eternity before it swings open.

I'm confused for a millisecond, because there is no one at the door. Then, my gaze lowers and I look at George, standing in the doorway with a lollipop in his mouth.

He takes it out with a pop and looks me up and down assessing me.

'You're tall,' he comments.

'You're perceptive,' I retort. 'Can I come in'

He shrugs but steps to one side. He puts the lollipop back in his mouth and swaggers back into the playroom.

Kids.

I take off my shoes and close the front door behind me. It appears no one else heard me knock.

I push open the door of the playroom to find Grace's three younger siblings in there. After scanning the room to ensure Grace isn't in it, I quickly withdraw, not wanting to get pulled into more of their games.

I find her mother in the kitchen. Jeanette jumps up when I walk in.

'Axel, hi!' She gives me a tired smile. 'How are you'

I was expecting worse, a lot worse.

'Um, I'm okay, thanks. How are you How's Grace'

Jeanette's smile drops from her face.

'She's…alright. She's upstairs in her room, I think she was having a nap.'

The horrible feeling of dread sat in my stomach, intensifies at her reply. This doesn't sound good.

'How did she take it' I ask, drawing up a chair and sitting down on it.

Jeanette sits back down and rests her elbows on the table. She puts her head in her hands and sighs heavily.

'Not well. She was all stressed out about you, understandably, and I just went and dropped another bombshell on her. It all spilled out; I couldn't stop it. She cried, swore at me, cursed her father to the fiery pits of hell.' She scoffs. 'Like I haven't done that enough times for the both of us.'

'She was just tired when we were done, so I let her rest.' Jeanette looks up at me and smiles weakly. 'I think she's okay with you, you know She's mad about her father and that I kept it from her, but she understands. Hopefully, her anger will pass in the next few days.'

Relief fills me. I really hope she's okay with me.

We've just said 'I love you' to one another, I'd hate to go back to not saying it. I'd hate her to take it back. I'm praying to the Moon Goddess that she still loves me.

'Do you think I should go up and see her' I ask and Jeanette nods.

'Better now than never, hey Good luck and please, be gentle with her, she's had a rough night.'

I wince. 'Don't I know it.'

I creep past the playroom, not wanting her siblings to hear me and try and get involved. I don't know where Grace's room is, so I have to follow her scent.

It lingers at the end of the hall; I knock softly on the door.

A mumbled 'come in' sounds out and I turn the handle. The first thing I notice; how perfect the room smells. It's filled with Grace's scent, and I make the mental decision to stay in it as long as possible.

Fuck, if we lived together, would our whole house smell this good

I look around the room, taking in the simple design. It's decorated in cream and blues, mostly. There's a desk, overspilling with papers, notebooks and textbooks.

Pictures are stuck on the walls. Endless snaps of Grace with her mother, her siblings and random photos of the scenery.

I smile as I spot one of us, snapped by Rory at Finlay's party. She got it printed.

I turn around to see Grace lying on her double bed. She realizes it's me and quickly sits up, patting down her hair self—consciously.

Her red curls are tied up in a messy bun, loose tendrils frame her beautiful face. Her eyes are puffy like she's been crying, and her face is free of make—up.

She's wearing pajama bottoms and big, fluffy socks, but what makes me grin is the fact she's paired the outfit with a hoodie I let her borrow last week.

She blushes as I grin like a maniac at her.

'You're wearing my hoodie,' I note happily.

She blushes some more and pulls the sleeves down over her hands.

'It smells good,' she mumbles.