Page 14 of The Honor Society

We walk in relative silence into the hall and into the empty elevator. Actually, the weirdest thing about this hallway, there are literally no patients but him. “Hey, did you notice that for a hospital, it’s not really that busy in this wing?”

He grins and hits the Lobby button. “That happens.”

“Um, no it doesn’t, it’s a hospital.”

“That happens, when you’re me.” For a fraction of a second, something flashes across his face. Gone is the happy-go-lucky Axel, and then he’s all dopey grins again. “I’m kind of a big deal.”

“Wow, there it is.” I actually feel myself relaxing a bit when we walk into the main floor only to jump again when his phone rings.

He curses and hits ignore again.

I can’t see the screen. “Jude?”

“Nah, he’s probably got his hands full right about now.”

“From the art project gone wrong?” I deadpan.

“Exactly.” Axel shoves on his Tom Ford sunglasses and walks with me out into the parking lot. The crosswalk goes off. He grabs my hand and then stares down at my wrist.

The tattoo had been a drunken college decision two weeks after we started dating.

We’d both been plastered and I’d seen his raven tattoo and wanted one too. Or he convinced me I wanted one just like his and he’d been so convincing that I was like ‘wow yes, that’s exactly what our relationship needs this early on, matching birds.’

He drops my hand then.

I still feel the tingle of warmth from his palm, the feel of the bandage. I clench my fist and unclench it.

When we finally make it to my Jeep, I say it. I say the words I need to say. “Axel, I’m really sorry. I’m really,” my lower lip quivers as a tear slides own my cheek. “Sorry.”

His messy hair dances across his forehead, wind picks up, and I wait for him to respond. I wait for him to acknowledge that I’m apologizing for a lot more than he can remember.

“For?” He finally asks.

“Everything. All of it. What you do remember, what you don’t. If you ever do, know that I understand, not wanting to see me, and if you don’t, well, honestly, I’m glad. You deserve good memories.” I lick my dry lips. “It’s not because I’m a coward or because I think I got away with something. Everyone has a limit, everyone has secrets, and everyone has a reason for⁠—”

His phone goes off again. Silencing me.

This time I’m standing next to him.

I see a name flash across the screen. Rhodes.

Who the hell is Rhodes?

He ignores it again. “You were saying?”

“Just that, I’m sorry.” Maybe I am a coward because I leave it at that.

He holds out his hand.

I grab it.

His smile is sad. “Keys, I’ll drive.”

“It’s a fob.” I frown. “Remember?”

“No.” He snatched it out of my hand. “I don’t. Get in, Charlie, let’s get you home first.”

“Why me?”