When Clara stepped back into the room, drying her hands, she found Axiel standing there with a shy but a big grin.
"What's all this?" she asked, her brows lifting.
He held out a paper plate with a neat slice of cake... Chocolate Fudge.
"Ethan told me this is your favorite," Axiel said.
Her heart squeezed in a way she hadn't expected. How did Ethan know? She took the plate and followed him to the small couch tucked in the corner of the bedroom. They sat side by side as they shared bites of cake.
"Did you enjoy your wedding today?" Axiel asked suddenly.
The question caught her so off guard that her fork paused mid air.
"Uh... yeah," she said after a moment of silence, her voice carrying more honesty than she intended. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."
She wasn't sure why she admitted that to him of all people. Maybe because Ethan had told her he was only eight. Maybe because, for a second, she imagined Cade at that age, an image she quickly shoved away before it could hurt more.
"You look sad," Axiel said softly. "Is Ethan being mean to you?"
Clara laughed, really laughed for the first time that day. The sound startled her almost as much as it delighted her.
"Maybe just a little," she teased.
Axiel grinned, pleased with himself, and the tension in the room melted. They turned their attention to the TV, settling into Teen Titans Go!. The room grew warmer and cozier. Somewhere between the second and third episode, Axiel slumped against her, asleep with his head on her arm.