~ AXEL~
"I only have one or two meetings tomorrow. If you want, you can come with me."
I watched her reaction carefully, noting the way her eyes widened with genuine surprise. It wasn't the sad, shocked or guarded look I'd grown accustomed to seeing when she's around me. This was pure excitement.
"Really?" she asked in a pitch higher than usual.
"Don't make me regret it," I said dryly, though I felt something unfamiliar tug at the corner of my mouth, almost like a smile.
"I won't," she promised quickly, perhaps a bit too eagerly. "I promise I'll be professional and…"
"Good." I straightened my cuffs, cutting off what would undoubtedly be an unnecessary ramble of assurances. "Then get some sleep. We have a long day ahead. I'm taking a shower."
Inside the bathroom, I caught my reflection in the mirror and stopped short.
