I looked up.

"For Bryson," he clarified. "I mean... if he doesn't come back."

I gripped my cup tighter. "Why do I get the feeling you know more than you're letting on?"

Axel didn't flinch. "Because I do."

That honesty caught me off guard.

"I want to tell you," he added. "But not yet. Not until I know it won't hurt you more than helping you."

I hated how my heart reacted - not with distrust, but with something else.

Axel leaned closer. "I want to be ...