Page 82 of Ravaged For You

“Winston?” she blurts out.

“Astrid?” my boss exclaims

Wait, they know each other?

“What…”

Astrid is at a loss for words. Both Axel and I spin our heads between the two.

“How long has it been?” Winston asks Axel’s mom. “Years?”

“Decades,” she corrects him sternly.

Are they old friends?

They don’t go in for a hug as old friends should. Instead, they maintain a formal distance of a few yards apart in the middle of the restaurant. It’s like some kind of Western standoff. This isn’t two acquaintances seeing each other after years apart.

This is something more.

“How do you know Maddie?” Winston asks her.

“She’s currently dating my son.”

Oh, Astrid is cold.

“Your son is Axel Stoll? I didn’t know you had a child.”

“I got married.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I changed my last name.”

“Right.”

“Yep.”

This is awkward.

“Well, Maddie is actually one of my employees.”

Astrid remains fixated on Winston. “Is she?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“Good for you. She’s a nice girl.”

I want to sit down. This is so stiff. Astrid’s face makes her seem like she’s about to bite Winston’s head off. His presence has completely erased her lovely smile.

“It would be nice to talk to you, Astrid. About how things… ended.”

Axel’s mom crosses her arms. “Now is not the time or the place.”

“I see.”

“Goodbye, Winston.”

Astrid’s word is final. She wants him gone, and even my boss can see that.