Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1372

Lowell stood off to the side, his eyes already rimmed red.

He knew exactly what Axel was walking into with this trip to Mariana Land—it was a one-way ticket, a near-suicide mission.

But there was nothing he could do to stop him. Even if he tried, Axel wouldn’t let anyone hold him back. Until he pulled out that thorn in his side, he’d never find peace.

Lowell’s voice was rough with emotion.

“We’ll throw you a big party when you get back, all right? Just promise me, whatever happens—don’t be a hero. Your life comes first!”

Axel looked at him, nodded once. “Yeah.”

Elysia came over, helping Blossom limp along. Lowell quickly wiped his eyes, and Tarquin stubbed out his cigarette.

Elysia called out from a distance,

“Blossom twisted her ankle. We need to get it checked at the ER.”

Blossom looked at Axel with big, pleading eyes. She clearly hoped Axel would be the one to take her.

Tarquin glanced at Axel, asking,

“You’re heading back to the city, right? Mind giving Blossom a ride to the hospital?”

“Nope,” Axel replied flatly.

He turned and walked straight to his car, not sparing Blossom a glance or a word about her injury.

Blossom’s face crumpled,

“Hey, what’s your problem? I really hurt my ankle. It hurts like hell!”

Axel didn’t even look back. “…”

Elysia frowned, but she couldn’t blame Axel. Matters of the heart were never that simple.

Just because Axel didn’t return Blossom’s feelings didn’t make him a bad guy.

Still, her heart ached for Blossom.

Love always made the one who fell first look so small.

Tarquin stepped in, “He’s got a long trip ahead, and he’s on a tight schedule.”

Blossom quickly asked, “Where’s he going?”

Tarquin hesitated, “Somewhere far away.”

Lowell couldn’t hold back, “Go say goodbye, Blossom. Wish him luck. Tell him to come back safe.”

Blossom saw the look on Lowell’s face and felt a jolt of dread.

She knew Axel worked as Tarquin’s personal security, always in the thick of some dangerous mess.

“He’s going on a job, isn’t he?”

Blossom shot back, “Then at least tell me where you’re going?”

“Can’t say.”

“Is it dangerous?”

Axel’s lips pressed together. “I’m in a hurry.”

Blossom pouted, then slipped off the silver locket she always wore—a little horseshoe charm for good luck—and pressed it into his hand.

“Take this, okay? Keep it with you. For good luck.”

Axel tried to hand it back, but she forced it on him.

“If you don’t take it, I’m not letting you leave!”

He sat there, stony-faced, silent for a long moment before finally muttering,

“I told you before—I don’t like you.”

Blossom sniffled, “Can’t we at least be friends?”

Axel: “…”

Her eyes shone with tears.

“Just take it, please. I won’t bug you to like me anymore. I’ll even think about… about moving on. But let me do this, okay?”