"You want to use me and you think I'm weak, so you can get me for cheap. Do you think you're the only one that wants me? I can have my pick and you're nowhere near the top." It was both a blatant lie and painfully true. "You're in this mess because you pissed the wrong guy off. You want me to risk my own neck for a broken iPod and your worn out ass? That's the issue, Axel. You should have tried me when I couldn't afford to have standards."

Hartley wished the words wouldn't hurt to say. But at least he had gotten better at hiding his heart. If Axel knew how much he just wanted to hold him and keep him safe from everything, he'd never do anything but use him again.