The sonofabitch purposely continued talking, way after he should’ve stopped. Axe read him like a book; the fucker was punishing his mother. He stared at the asshole’s back and did all he could to hold himself back from punching the guy. He was stuck there like a pansy-ass, waiting for his mom to introduce him to a man he didn’t give a shit about. All he wanted was a beer, and Baylee snugly tucked into the crook of his arm.
Finally, her fiancé turned around, and Lorinda practically squealed. She grabbed Axe’s hand again and said, “Michael, this is Stephen.” She clasped her hand around Stephen’s. “Stephen, this is Michael.”
Her smiling face slackened as she looked at both men. Axe’s face was dark and brooding, and Stephen’s was tight and stern.
“This motherfucker is the one you’re marrying?” Axe growled, his eyes never leaving Stephen’s face.
“Michael, watch your language!” His mother dropped his hand and raised her fingers to her gaping mouth.
“You outdid yourself this time. This fucker is the worst you could’ve chosen.”
“Stop it. Right now.” His mother’s eyes flashed and she stood by Stephen, her arm looped around his.
“Lorinda, this—” Stephen pointed his long finger at Axe “—is your son? How didn’t I know that?”
“ ‘Cause you’re a dumb fuck,” Axe snarled.
On the verge of tears, his mother covered her ears with her hands. “No. This can’t be. You’re supposed to like each other. Why’re you saying these things? What is wrong with both of you?”
Axe snorted. “Fucking reality, that’s what, but you always liked delusions. I’m outta here. You deserve one another.”
Axe spun around and strode away, dragging a startled Baylee behind him.
“Wait. Michael, wait!” his mother’s high-pitched voice pierced his ears. “Michael!”
Baylee, struggling to keep up with Axe in her four-inch heels, stopped in her tracks, making Axe slow down. “Axe, what is going on? You need to talk to your mom.”
Axe whipped around, a storm brewing in his eyes. “I don’t need to do shit. And where the fuck do you get off telling me what to do? Nobody tells me what to do.”
When he saw her crestfallen face and glistening eyes, he knew he’d crossed the line, but he didn’t care. He was pissed, and he didn’t need Baylee interfering. She didn’t know shit about what was going on, about his life and how it’d been. She needed to fuckin’ back off. Axe didn’t need her telling him shit. Period.
Lorinda caught up to the couple, who stood still staring at each other. Fury emanated from Axe, and hurt and disappointment were etched across Baylee’s face.
“Michael, please don’t ruin my day.”
His anger moved from Baylee to his mom. “It’s always about you, isn’t it? You don’t give a shit about anything but yourself.”
“That’s not true. I love you, you just never let me in.”
Axe threw his head back and gave a dry, bitter laugh. “Do you really believe the shit you say? The only one you ever loved was Lorinda Tomlinson, or whatever the fuck last name you have now. I’m sure you didn’t give Tomlinson as your name to your fiancé. If you had, he never would’ve considered dating trailer trash.”
Lorinda wiped a tear rolling down her cheek. “Do you know Stephen from somewhere?”
Axe shook his head then looked at Baylee. “You see what a great mother I have?” He turned back to his mom. “You were so strung-out on prescription meds and busy screwing any guy who would have you, you didn’t even know how much shit the Rodgers gave me when I was in high school. His piece-of-shit son, Palmer, made it a point to belittle me every chance he got. And his dad? He made sure I didn’t get the scholarship I was vying for. That asshole also made sure that I had constant contact with the fuckin’ badges. And you didn’t do shit. I dealt with that, but you marrying him? No fuckin’ way am I gonna watch that.”
His mom reached out and ran her hand down Axe’s shirt. He jerked away, like his mother’s touch burned his skin. “Oh, sweetie, I never knew.”
Axe gave her a hard look. “No, you knew, you just didn’t give a shit.” Turning his back on his mother, he took Baylee by the hand. “Let’s go.” He walked toward the doors.
“Michael. Wait,” a deep voice said.
Axe continued walking, but a firm hand grabbed his arm and spun him around. Axe took a swing, but Stephen managed to duck in time.
“Get your goddamned hands off me,” Axe growled.