It''s honestly hard to watch.

    Axel pressed his lips together, looking like he''d rather be anywhere else, but when the little girl''s face started to crumple and she looked about to burst into tears, he caved. "Alright, let''s go."

    Instantly, Baby''s mood did a 180-tears gone, reced by a huge grin. She grabbed Axel''s hand, bouncing in ce. "Thank you, Mr. Axel!"

    She turned and called over her shoulder to Elysia, "Mom, I''m going with Mr. Axel to pick up Blossom!"

    Elysia shot Axel a look of pure resignation. The whole world knew Blossom had a crush on Axel. Unfortunately, Axel-like Keaton-was a hardcore bachelor.

    Difference was, Keaton didn''t believe in marriage, but he had no shortage of girlfriends.

    Axel? He avoided rtionships altogether. Didn''t even flirt.

    Elysia knew exactly what was going on-Blossom had probably roped Baby into matchmaking. She just waved them off. "Go on, then."

    Tarquin watched Axel with a knowing squint, secretly impressed with Blossom''s tactics. If he''d asked Axel to go pick up Blossom, Axel would''ve t out refused. But with Baby asking? Axel was helpless.

    Elysia, Tarquin, a few other kids, and family friends yton and Pam all piled into the SUV for the ski resort.

    Meanwhile, Axel started up his Jeep, buckled Baby into the back, and headed off to get Blossom.

    They''d barely made it out of the driveway when Baby piped up, "Mr. Axel, call Blossom for me! I want to talk to her."

    Axel hesitated. "...I don''t have her number."

    "Call my mom, then! She''ll give it to you. Mom has Blossom''s number!" Baby insisted.

    Axel paused, then, resigned, unlocked his phone and punched in a string of numbers. He handed the phone over.

    Baby''s eyes widened. "Wait, I thought you didn''t have Blossom''s number?"

    Before Axel could respond, Blossom picked up. "Baby?"

    "Hi Blossom!" Baby chirped.

    "Hey, Baby! Why do you have Mr. Axel''s phone?"

    "We''re together! Mr. Axel is weird," Baby announced.

    "Huh?"

    "He said he didn''t have your number, but he just called you anyway."

    Axel sighed.

    Baby kept going, "Blossom, we''reing to pick you up. Don''t forget to bring me something yummy!"

    Blossom sounded thrilled. "I''ve got it all ready! I''ll wait for you at the preschool entrance."

    "Here, you talk to Mr. Axel!" Baby chirped, shoving the phone into Axel''s hand.

    Axel didn''t say a word-just hung up.

    Buckled in her car seat, Baby stared at Axel. "Mr. Axel, why didn''t you talk to Blossom? That''s kinda rude, y''know."

    Axel struggled to exin. After a long pause, he finally muttered, "I don''t like her, so I don''t want to talk to her."

    Baby''s big eyes went even wider,

    confused "Howe you don''t like Blossom? We all love

    Blossom-she''s so nice! And she really likes you. She even said she wants to be your wife someday."

    Axel''s expression was frosty. "Don''t listen to her nonsense."

    Baby shook her head, all innocence. "It''s not nonsense! Blossom''s super serious. She said she''ll have a bunch of babies with you, and they''ll call me big sis!"

    Axel gripped the steering wheel tighter, eyes fixed on the road ahead, jaw clenched. He had no idea how to answer that, so he just pulled out his secret weapon for keeping kids quiet he found a cartoon on his phone and handed it back to Baby.

    Blossom''s preschool was the fanciest private school in Jindale City, nestled right in the middle of the gatedmunity. It was barely a ten-minute drive from Number One Mansion.

    A few minutester, Axel spotted a familiar silhouette up ahead.

    She was wearing a ck tracksuit and a matching baseball cap—just like Axel''s usual style. Even her sneakers were the same brand and color he always wore. Axel frowned, pulling the Jeep to a stop right next to Blossom.