Change of Plans_An Echo Ridge Romance Read online

  She nodded shortly and filled his order then ran his credit card. She smiled at him as he told her thanks, but there was something off about her reaction. Axel shrugged it off and hurried to the women’s department. An obviously pregnant lady with long, blonde hair wearing a fitted dress and spike heels was laughing with the dark-haired preppy guy who’d been helping Axel the other day when he first saw Kaitlyn. Would this be awkward? He couldn’t see Kaitlyn anywhere, but she said she was working from noon to close today.

  The couple must’ve sensed him because they turned as one. The guy’s expression was friendly, but the lady just lit up. “Axel?”

  “Yeah.” How did she know who he was?

  “Oh! Kaitlyn is going to be so excited.” She clapped her hands together. “She’s just bringing down some inventory from upstairs.”

  Kaitlyn walked into the department with an armload of sweaters. She saw Axel and grinned, those perfectly blue eyes sparkling at him. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey.” He held up the bag of chocolate. “I come bearing gifts.”

  “Chocolate? Ooh, you’re the best!” She set the sweaters down on a table and noticed the couple watching them both. “Can I take a little break?” she asked the lady.

  “Take an hour. You never had lunch, and you’re here late tonight.” The lady winked and leaned into the guy. He wrapped his arm around her.

  “Thanks,” Kaitlyn and Axel said at the same time.

  The lady laughed a pretty, tinkling laughter. Kaitlyn walked to his side. She was wearing a silky, floral dress that was off the shoulder and rose a couple of inches above her knee. She could’ve been a supermodel, but it was the light in her eyes that really snagged him. He offered his hand, and she took it. They walked past the candy counter, and she called out to the woman there, “Thanks for my chocolate, Reese.”

  The brunette who had helped Axel glanced at the two of them. Her eyes widened as she took in their clasped hands. “I hope you enjoy them.”

  Axel smiled at the lady, but her return smile seemed forced. Neither he or Kaitlyn said anything as they made their way into the bright sun and walked toward the park and lake. They passed a few people who greeted Kaitlyn warmly, but either glared at him openly or watched him warily like he was some intruder stealing the princess. He’d loved this little town when he first came here and had thought the people were friendly. He didn’t like the feeling of being the jerk who was treading where he didn’t belong.

  They reached a park bench close to the water, and Kaitlyn sat down and tugged the bag of chocolate out of his hands, opening it up. Her eyes sparkled up at him. “How did you know my favorites?” She took out a peanut cluster and bit it in half. Closing her eyes, she chewed slowly. “Oh, yum.”

  Axel sat down next to her. He touched the smooth skin of her cheek and watched her enjoy the chocolate. He’d do anything in the world to see her happy. He hated to interrupt her chocolate time, but had to ask, “Why did the chocolate lady glare at me?”

  Kaitlyn swallowed and blinked a couple of times. “Reese glared at you?”

  “Like I’d ran over her cat.”

  Her brow furrowed, and it only took a second before her eyes clouded. She took a long breath and smiled sadly at him. “Did you grow up on Long Island?”

  He nodded. “The Hamptons.”

  “So, you’ve never really been part of a small town?”

  “No. I was close to people at church and school, but our neighbors kind of kept to themselves.”

  She set the chocolate aside and stared out at the lake. “In small towns, everybody knows each other almost too well. It’s good in a lot of ways. We all care about each other and watch out for each other, but everyone here has watched me and Mason for the past four years.” She took a long breath.

  Axel nodded. He didn’t know small towns, but he understood people having a certain image in their head and it being hard to change. He just hoped it didn’t make Kaitlyn uncomfortable or second-guess being with him. He focused on her beautiful face, and all the doubts and worries settled. Somehow, he knew she was meant to be the center of his world.

  He gently rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Makes sense why the chocolate lady changed her tune as soon as I told her I was buying these for you.”

  Kaitlyn smiled sadly as she removed a melti-mint from the bag and popped it in her mouth. She closed her eyes and moaned softly. “So good.”

  Axel could not resist planting a tender kiss on her lips. He moaned slightly. “So good.”

  Kaitlyn giggled. “You’re making fun of me.”

  “Never.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she laid her head against his neck. Together they simply watched the ducks quacking on the lake and some children tossing them bread. “So basically, you don’t want to be seen around town with me,” Axel said.

  Kaitlyn straightened and looked at him. “I want to be with you.”

  Axel appreciated her answer, but he didn’t want to make things uncomfortable for anyone, especially Kaitlyn or Mason. The image of them together when Axel first came to Kenworth’s, when Mason picked Kaitlyn up and swung her around, was in his mind’s eye. They were the perfect little couple. He could see why the town liked seeing them together. He’d also learned a little bit about how Mason’s first stepdad had been abusive and how Mason had protected his mom and sisters before Emma had fallen in love with Chayton. Mason was a stud, plain and simple. Naturally, everyone loved him and wanted to see him be happy. Axel wanted him happy too, just not with Kaitlyn.

  “You two were like the town sweethearts?”

  Kaitlyn shrugged. “I guess.”

  “Why do your mom and Jessica seem to be on my side?”

  Kaitlyn shifted closer to him, her arm pressed against his abdomen.

  “Before you answer that, I really like your dress,” Axel said quickly.

  Kaitlyn grinned up at him then gave him a lingering kiss. Axel’s arm tightened on her bare shoulder.

  She pulled back and said breathlessly, “What was the question again?”

  Axel chuckled. “Your mom and Jessica?”

  Kaitlyn trailed her fingers along his jawline. “Maybe they just think you’re cute.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Easily impressed then.”

  She shook her head. “Not really. The truth is …” She dropped her hand and dipped her head, biting at the side of her lip.

  Axel let out a low groan. “You’d better stop that now or I’m going to kiss you until everyone in this town knows how much I want you.”

  Kaitlyn smiled and released her lip. “I’ll do it tomorrow night when we’re alone.”

  “Sounds good.” Axel’s heart rate sped up.

  She looked out at the lake, not meeting his gaze as she said, “I tell my mom, Jessica, and Lolly everything.”

  “Okay.” He waited, wondering why that would mean they’d like him.

  “They’ve all known the past year that Mason and I have fallen out of love, or maybe we never really were in love. Maybe it was just one of those high school romances, you know?”

  Axel’s heart was beating hard again. “It’s not my fault you aren’t with Mason?”

  She grinned up at him. “I like blaming you, but no, not really. I mean you did bring daydreams and sparkles and shine back into my life. From the very first time I saw you play, I was infatuated with you.”

  Axel grinned at that.

  “But Mason and I have been dying for a while, I just didn’t know how to tell him. In high school, it was great, and I’ve always loved him, but compared to what I feel when I’m around you, Mason’s more like a brother or a best friend.”

  Axel’s head was spinning. She’d just said, “compared to what I feel when I’m around you.” She did have the same intense feelings for him that he had for her. He grasped her shoulder more firmly in his palm and turned her to face him. “What do you feel about me?”

  Kaitlyn looked up at him with those deep blue eyes. “I’ve only dated on
e boy, Axel. I kissed a few guys before Mason, but it was just silly high school stuff. What if I’m not capable of staying true to a man, and I fall out of love with you like I did with Mason?”

  “Whoa, hold up. Do you love me?”

  “Did that slip out?” Kaitlyn’s eyes widened, and she leaned away.

  Axel was having none of that. He wrapped both arms around her back and pulled her in, kissing her to show her exactly how he felt about her. When he released her, her cheeks were red, and her mouth was full, and he wanted to kiss her all over again.

  “Kaitlyn?” A woman’s voice came from beside the bench.

  Kaitlyn pushed out of his arms and to her feet. Axel stood next to her. A tall, athletic-looking couple lingered next to the bench. A dark-haired toddler was in their stroller, trying to squirm out.

  “Hi, Drew, Chelsea.” Kaitlyn gave the woman a quick hug. “Look how big Ladd is!”

  The brunette smiled happily at her son. “He’s crazy fun right now.” She looked to Axel with a questioning glance.

  “Oh, this is my … friend, Axel Olsen.”

  The awkward pause wasn’t lost on any of them and it hit Axel harder than being in the way of a lacrosse shot on net. Did she love him or was he simply her … friend?

  The man offered his hand. “Drew Stirling. This is my wife, Chelsea, and our son, Ladd.”

  Axel shook his and his wife’s hands, smiling at their little guy. “Nice to meet you.”

  “How do you know Kaitlyn?” the woman asked, her gaze not mean, but definitely not friendly.

  “He’s doing a lacrosse camp for Chayton,” Kaitlyn answered quickly before he could say anything. “He plays for the Lizards.”

  Drew’s eyes widened. “Wait, you’re that Axel Olsen?”

  Axel nodded. Lacrosse wasn’t a popular enough sport that he got recognized everywhere he went, but a lot of people did know who he was because of all of his sponsorships with Warrior, and there had been a lot of hype when he was the first professional lacrosse player to be worth millions.

  “Wow. That’s great. Nice to meet you.”

  “You as well.”

  They waved goodbye and walked away, Drew pushing the stroller. Chelsea glanced back over her shoulder and offered them a smile, but it seemed a little tight to Axel.

  “Let me guess, friends of Chayton and Emma?”

  “Really good friends. Chayton and Chelsea both teach at the high school, and Drew and Chayton play basketball or racquetball every morning.” Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around her middle and took in a long breath then exhaled. She released her arms and grabbed the bag of chocolate. “Thanks for this. I need to get back to work.”

  Axel froze for half a second. Then he chased after her. Luckily, her heels slowed her down. “Wait.”

  Kaitlyn stopped but didn’t turn around to face him. An older lady toddled around them then stopped and squealed. “Kaitlyn Johanson! Oh, you darling girl. Where’s Mason?” She glanced at Axel then narrowed her eyes at him. “Who are you?”

  “This is my friend, Axel, Mrs. Stringer.”

  “Humph. What, do you think I’m old and batty? Pretty young things don’t just have friends who are handsome, six foot four, and full of muscle.”

  Axel grunted out a surprised laugh.

  “Oh, you think that’s funny do you, young man? Well, you’d better back off. I’m Mason’s neighbor, and I’ll watch out for my boy, you got that?”

  She glared at the both of them and toddled off.

  Axel’s stomach was churning. What was with this town today? Did they all hate him? “She seemed nice. Mason’s neighbor, huh?”

  Kaitlyn pressed her lips together and shook her head. “This isn’t going to work, Axel. Why don’t we just wait until I get back to school? You’ll be back in the city by then, and we can date like normal people without all of this town watching and thinking I’m not being true to Mason.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Maybe they’re right. It’s not like I’ve completely broken things off with him.”

  Axel stared at her. He felt like he was on a roller coaster ride that didn’t have any safety features and any second his head was going to be dashed on the concrete. She’d broken up with Mason. Why the sudden guilt, or had she had it all the time they’d been together? Last night they’d been them. Why was Mason intruding now?

  “You said you loved me,” he reminded her.

  Shaking her head, she stared past his shoulder at the sparkling blue lake. “I love so many things about you, but I don’t really know you, Axel.”

  He wanted to protest. He loved her no matter how short their time together had been. She was the one for him. He knew it as well as he knew how to rip a shot that no goalie could stop.

  “I’ve got to go.” She whirled and hurried across the street and into Kenworth’s. Her beautiful shoulders were revealed in that dress he liked so much, and they were shaking like she was crying or something.

  Axel should’ve followed her. He should’ve demanded some answers or grabbed her and kissed her until she knew exactly how he felt about her and that he wasn’t about to just let her go, but he didn’t do anything.

  Suddenly Mason’s crazy neighbor was standing next to him again. “See what you’ve gone and done? She was crying. Mason would never make her cry.”

  Axel just looked at her. How did she know Kaitlyn was crying? “Should I go after her?” he asked, not sure why he wanted advice from this grumpy lady, but he sure needed it from someone.

  “No!” She whacked him with her purse. “You’ve done enough. Mason will take care of her. You just go on and get out of here.”

  Axel didn’t move. The lady grunted and toddled away from him, turning once to glare at him over her shoulder.

  Axel shoved a hand through his hair and slowly walked past Kenworth’s toward the bed and breakfast. Kaitlyn had basically told him their timing was wrong and he should wait until they got back in the city. It wasn’t an official dumping, but it sure felt like one. He pulled out his keys and got into his Lexus, driving toward the high school. Hopefully no one would be on the field. At times like this, shooting a lacrosse ball was the only therapy that helped him.

  Chapter Nine

  Kaitlyn didn’t get home from work until after ten. Her feet hurt, but her heart ached more. Had she really walked away from Axel like that. And why? Because Mason’s parents’ friends and neighbor saw her with Axel? She just didn’t want what she was developing with Axel to be cheapened and misunderstood, or to get back to Mason and his family like this. She needed to be brave enough to tell Mason it was over and to explain to his family too.

  She avoided her mom and hurried up to her room. Being home this summer had been great, but it would be such a relief to go back to her apartment and pursue a relationship with Axel without the entire town watching over her shoulder. She groaned. This wasn’t the town’s fault, but their expectation that she should be with Mason sat heavily on her shoulders. People changed and Axel was amazing. Echo Ridge would just have to understand that.

  Pulling out her phone, she saw a text from Axel. She took a deep breath and clicked on it.

  Not sure what happened today. But I do know I love you. Call me?

  Kaitlyn’s heart swelled. She wanted to push the call back button so badly, but she didn’t know what to tell him. He’d only be here a few more days. Then he’d move on to another town, another camp, and she wouldn’t see him again until she was back at school. She hated the thought of not seeing him, but she just couldn’t shake the feeling that the timing wasn’t right for them. Until she resolved things with Mason and his family, she couldn’t truly be free to pursue Axel.

  I need some more time, but I love you too. She typed the message with trembling fingers before quickly turning off the ringer and setting the phone face-down on the dresser. Kneeling by the side of her bed, she begged for help and understanding. She’d fallen for Axel so quickly. What she’d had with Mason had taken years to develop. Did she really know Axel? Wa
s he the man she thought he was? Yet even if things didn’t work out with Axel like she hoped, she couldn’t keep leading Mason on. They weren’t right for each other. No matter how much that hurt her, him, his family, and this entire town that thought they had some fairy tale relationship. She needed to make things right with him.

  She stood and paced the room for a few minutes, her gaze straying to the phone every other second. Finally, she could take it no longer and grabbed her phone. The reply from Axel was at the top.

  I’ll give you anything you need.

  Oh, Axel. She hugged the phone to her chest then opened his text and quickly replied, Thank you. She wanted to say so much more but even one more word would open up conversations that she wasn’t ready to deal with. Not until she officially broke things off with Mason. She scrolled down to Mason’s name and texted him quickly. When are you going to be home again?

  The text came a few seconds later. About a week and a half. Isn’t that Homecoming? We can reminisce about high school.

  Kaitlyn cringed. She wanted to move on from high school. This was going to be hard. Okay. I’ll see you then.

  He sent back a thumbs up.

  Kaitlyn set her phone down and pulled her arms behind her back, stretching her chest muscles and breathing deeply. Mason was one of the best guys she knew, but they weren’t right for each other. Axel was incredible. Period. She had to figure out how to get through the next week and a half without throwing herself at Axel. Mason deserved to hear what she needed to say in person.

  Chapter Ten

  The next few days dragged by. Axel fought to be upbeat and positive at camp. Thankfully, the young players were a great distraction for him. The worst part was after camp when he had nothing to do but practice, lift weights, or go for runs or hikes. He often found himself wandering past Kenworth’s and looking in the window, hoping to see Kaitlyn or running up the hill and past her house. He was pathetic. Kaitlyn hadn’t reached out to him at all. He wanted to swoop in and force her to remember what they had together, how right they were, but she’d said she needed time. He had to respect that, even though time was so hard to give.