It’s honestly hard to watch.
Axel pressed his lips together, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else, but when the little girl’s face started to crumple and she looked about to burst into tears, he caved. “Alright, let’s go.”
Instantly, Baby’s mood did a 180—tears gone, replaced by a huge grin. She grabbed Axel’s hand, bouncing in place. “Thank you, Mr. Axel!”
She turned and called over her shoulder to Elysia, “Mom, I’m going with Mr. Axel to pick up Blossom!”
Elysia shot Axel a look of pure resignation. The whole world knew Blossom had a crush on Axel. Unfortunately, Axel—like Keaton—was a hardcore bachelor.
Difference was, Keaton didn’t believe in marriage, but he had no shortage of girlfriends.
Axel? He avoided relationships altogether. Didn’t even flirt.
Elysia knew exactly what was going on—Blossom had probably roped Baby into matchmaking. She just waved them off. “Go on, then.”
Tarquin watched Axel with a knowing squint, secretly impressed with Blossom’s tactics. If he’d asked Axel to go pick up Blossom, Axel would’ve flat out refused. But with Baby asking? Axel was helpless.
Elysia, Tarquin, a few other kids, and family friends Clayton and Pamela all piled into the SUV for the ski resort.
Meanwhile, Axel started up his Jeep, buckled Baby into the back, and headed off to get Blossom.
They’d barely made it out of the driveway when Baby piped up, “Mr. Axel, call Blossom for me! I want to talk to her.”
Axel hesitated. “...I don’t have her number.”
“Call my mom, then! She’ll give it to you. Mom has Blossom’s number!” Baby insisted.
Axel paused, then, resigned, unlocked his phone and punched in a string of numbers. He handed the phone over.
Baby’s eyes widened. “Wait, I thought you didn’t have Blossom’s number?”
Before Axel could respond, Blossom picked up. “Baby?”
“Hi Blossom!” Baby chirped.
Axel struggled to explain. After a long pause, he finally muttered, “I don’t like her, so I don’t want to talk to her.”
Baby’s big eyes went even wider, confused. “How come you don’t like Blossom? We all love Blossom—she’s so nice! And she really likes you. She even said she wants to be your wife someday.”
Axel’s expression was frosty. “Don’t listen to her nonsense.”
Baby shook her head, all innocence. “It’s not nonsense! Blossom’s super serious. She said she’ll have a bunch of babies with you, and they’ll call me big sis!”
Axel gripped the steering wheel tighter, eyes fixed on the road ahead, jaw clenched. He had no idea how to answer that, so he just pulled out his secret weapon for keeping kids quiet—he found a cartoon on his phone and handed it back to Baby.
Blossom’s preschool was the fanciest private school in Jindale City, nestled right in the middle of the gated community. It was barely a ten-minute drive from Number One Mansion.
A few minutes later, Axel spotted a familiar silhouette up ahead.
She was wearing a black tracksuit and a matching baseball cap—just like Axel’s usual style. Even her sneakers were the same brand and color he always wore.
Axel frowned, pulling the Jeep to a stop right next to Blossom.
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