Shuffling sounds just as the door swings open, an exhausted looking Garrett appearing in the doorway with a towel clutched in his hand. His hair is long enough to cover his eyes when he allows it to flop forward like this, a yawn pulling his mouth wide open. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he pulls the door closed behind him and almost crashes into me. Jumping out of his way, he continues up the hallway without looking back. My gaze flicks to the door handle, wondering if Axel might be awake yet.
“Don’t even think about it,” Garrett shouts back to me, entering the bathroom and slamming the door shut. What an asshole. I don’t know why I’m surprised Garrett is still as much a possessive dick as always, maybe I figured he’d have realized by now we’re his family and we’re not going anywhere. But no, Garrett takes what he wants, pisses on it like a dog marking his territory and then leaves it chewed up and worthless to anyone else. I hope Axel manages to escape with his heart intact, but he’s a grown ass man and it’s not my problem. I’ll just be here to pick up the pieces.
Jogging downstairs and emerging in the kitchen, a whole team of staff lift their heads to greet me kindly. A guy around my age with a top knot hiding beneath a netted cap grins at me while stirring a huge pan of pasta. Beside him, a group chat easily as they make subs in a production line and another pair are preparing tubs of salads on the far end of the middle island. It doesn’t escape me they all seem to be of college age, cementing my suspicions that Axel’s mom is still every bit the predator she used to be. A busty brunette in a maid’s outfit I’m sure is from a sex shop strides past, giving me a seductive side glance as she walks past.
“You guys know its barely 8am, right? Forget pastas and salads, where’s the bacon and pancakes?” I slip on an effortless smile and slide into a stool opposite Top Knot. It’s been too long since I was social, and I hope I’m pulling off the easy-going friend-to-all I used to be. Top Knot grins wider while a girl to his right balks, quickly turning to whip out some flour and eggs. “No, I didn’t mean- “
“It’s cool man, whatever you want – we can do. Anything for a friend of Axel’s, we’ve heard so much about him. He’s like Steve Jobs and we’re his apples.” Okay, that’s officially strangest thing I’ve ever heard. Feeling eyes on me, I glance around to the others who quickly drop their awe-filled gazes and giggle like schoolgirls, even the men. “To answer your question, its Sunday. We prep lunches and meals for while we’re at college during the week and return on Fridays to stay. Although Sharon requested extras to be made for while you and your friends are staying.” I narrow my eyes at his first-name basis with Axel’s mom, feeling like I’m missing something obvious.
The girl beside him lifts a saucepan onto the hob and pours in pancake batter. Other than the maid, they are wearing their own clothes with the additions of plastic gloves and hair nets. A white t-shirt hugs her curvy frame with a Gucci logo displayed across the front. A heart shaped diamond hangs from her neck that dangles forward as she checks the pancake I’m now going to have to eat out of politeness.
“This weekend job must pay really well,” I say, gesturing to the Rolex sitting on Top Knot’s skinny wrist with a splash of pasta sauce flicked across the glass face. The permanent smirk on his face remains but no more words pass his lips, the twinkling of a secret held within his eyes. Dax slips into the stool beside me, sliding his arm around my shoulder to pull me in for a quick hug. I enjoy the contact more than I should, my chest instantly loosening with his presence. I hadn’t realised how unnatural it’s been without Axel initiating the hugs and gentle touches between us, or the growing void we are all drifting in.
Throwing my inhibitions out the window, I reach over and drag his head down onto my shoulder. Snaking my fingers into his Afro, his muscles relax on a contended sigh. Several pairs of eyes shoot our way, but not with judgement. Hints of jealously and encouragement flare to life in the staff’s faces, Top Knot frozen in place with a look of longing to join us. I clear my throat to pancake girl, jolting her back into action to serve up my stack of pancakes and push them towards me while nibbling her bottom lip. I move the plate between Dax and I, sharing the fluffy goodness with him in silence.
The staff refocus on their tasks, busying themselves with the various meals before packing them into individual portioned boxes. Each container has a white sticker with today’s date placed on top and is stacked into the double doored refrigerator neatly. Dax is still slumped against my body as they all finish up and mostly leave. A few hang back, Top Knot included, clearly waiting for some kind of invite to join us which I can’t help but snarl at. The sound leaving my throat has them scattering like cockroaches after a light has been switched on, leaving us in peace at last.
“How is she?” Dax mumbles, not needing to say her name for me to know who he means. There’s a lot to be seen from the outside of a conflict, the pining stares and misconstrued intentions. Each squandered opportunity to fix their issues and petty words covering their true feelings. I also notice how Avery is desperately trying to ignore
