Page 164 of Wicked Lord

Axel and his mom both lifted their glasses, and all four of us clinked the fine crystal. A smile parted my lips, and I was so damned happy my cheeks hurt. I swallowed down the fizzy, cool liquid and turned to Ax. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“No need to thank me, blondie. You earned this.” He brushed another quick kiss to my cheek before offering me his hand. “Now come on, we have to show my brothers you’re not only amazing at flag football, but you can also kick their asses in pickleball.”

A devious grin kicked up the corners of Axel’s lips, and it was all I could do to keep from kissing him again.

So instead, I rose, pulling him up with me. “Let’s show them who’s the boss of the pickleball courts, baby.”

EPILOGUE - WATCH HER SPIRAL

Gage

Loud cheers erupted through Stonewall’s small stadium as the announcer yelled into the microphone, the shrill feedback making me wince.

“Vanderhart throws another perfect toss to Phillips in the endzone. Touchdown Knights!”

I yanked my earbuds out and shoved them into my pocket, grumbling under my breath. The bright scoreboard on the left showed the clock slowly winding down the last quarter.

“What’s with the frown, Gage?” Slate poked my side from his seat on my right, dressed in black and gold like everyone else in the raucous student section. “You can’t hear your murder podcast over the game?”

“There’s only so much school spirit I can take.” Of course I wanted to support Axel, but spending my night under stadium lights so harsh the turf seemed to glow neon green was not my idea of a good time.

Slate rubbed my head, messing up my plum fauxhawk, one of the only people brave enough to do that. “We can’t miss Axel’s big night.”

“Why is this Axel’s big night?” Cordelia leaned over Slate to butt into our conversation. Her purple hair was half up with a gold and black ribbon blowing in the breeze. “It’s only a pre-season scrimmage with Pinehaven University.”

Panic streaked through Slate’s hazel eyes. “Uh, you know, it’s his first game back since that douchebag shot him.”

At least Haversham had finally been dealt with. His antics had fucked with Axel enough. If Brock hadn’t taken a tumble off that cliff, I’d be tempted to hunt him down and deliver my own brand of punishment.

It would have been much worse than what he got.

She coiled a lock of hair around her finger. “He played the other day at?—”

“Why don’t you mind your own damn business, Cordi?” I growled. “No one was even talking to you.”

She flipped me off, but at least it shut her up before Slate accidentally spoiled the surprise.

A ghost of a smile twitched at my lips. I purposely sat this close to the insufferable girl to bask in her torment when Axel’s big plan unfolded.

I couldn’t wait to watch her spiral.

Slate frowned and grabbed a silver flask from his pocket. “Can’t you two get along for one night?"

“No,” we said in unison.

Cordelia flashed me another scowl before she stole Slate’s flask, downed a huge gulp, and turned to Lexi on her right. “We’re going to have so much fun this year, roomie.”

The redhead smiled, but as Killian squeezed her thigh and blood rushed to her cheeks, I was certain she planned to have more fun with her boyfriend than her roommate.

And that suited me just fine. It meant little Cordi would be all alone.

“Do you think everything’s going to work out like Axel wants?” Slate whispered in my ear.

“I’m sure.” The fucker obsessed over every detail and had the team practice it a hundred times.

Slate gave a long sigh and rested his cheek in his hand with his elbow on the black armrest. “I wish I had a girlfriend like Lorelei.”

“You? With a girlfriend?”