“Yep, and the still is still stilling,” he replies, dumping me and Wes's belongings on the sofa, then draining the beer in one go. “I’m going to make a fucking fortune off that stuff. Augmentis triple X.”
Theo climbs into one of the armchairs, sitting cross-legged and daintily sipping on her beer. “Do you think it’s a good idea to give over-brewed, untested drugs to your customers?” she asks.
Tee-Tee isn’t exactly scolding Max, but I can tell she’s disapproving.
Max looks wounded. “Sparkles! I’m no dummy. I’ve set up a test for potency and purity. That’s where I’ve been all afternoon. Maximus Larsen is a clean supplier, sweetcheeks. These kids are lucky they have me.”
Looking a little bemused, Theo nods. “I guess so, but still…”
“But still,” I chortle. “Still, ha-ha.”
I think it’s funny, but Max is boring and serious.
“Look, princess, before I was doing this, there was a senior making Augmentis, and he cut every corner in the book. That shit put a couple of kids into psych wards. My stuff is designed to enhance gameplay. Sure, it can be abused, but I’m careful about who I sell to. I’m not a monster, little princess, I’m a broke Kormovian, trying to keep my fees paid.”
Theo looks sad, and I’m a little pissed at Max for making that happen.
“Larsen,” I growl.
Tee-Tee shakes her head at me. “No, Donovan, he’s right. It’s all very complex. I’m glad you take all those precautions, Maximus. I don’t like the idea of you selling Augmentis, but I understand better now. Sorry.”
“Aww, Sparkles, ain't nothing to stew about. Talking of stew, I’m fucking ravenous. Anyone else? I’ll call for food.”
I mostly have nothing but getting Theo alone and naked on my mind—the need to hold her, claim her never ceases—but now fucking Max mentions food, I realize I’m starving.
“I could eat,” I tell him. “But order something that can be here quick. What about you, Tee?”
“I’m easy,” she says, then blushes as Max wiggles his eyebrows at her. “Oh, stop it.” Tee throws a cushion at him, but it misses by a mile.
Max is already on the house phone, calling the dining staff. “Thai for five, stat.”
Thai, yum.
“So,” Max says, “what are we going to do while we wait for food?” He arches his fingers, cracking the knuckles. “Feel free to continue what you were doing. I’m happy to watch.” Another cushion is flung at Max. “You’ve really gotta work on your aim, Sparkles. Not very divine goddess of you.”
He laughs, Theo laughs, and I start cracking up as well. The next second, Wes flings open his door. “For fucks sake,” he hisses.
“Wes,” Theo’s voice cracks, the lightness instantly drained. “Please, Wes. Can we sit together for a little bit? Maybe we can talk, and something will jog your memory?”
“Hard pass,” he growls.
A solitary tear runs down Theo’s face as Wes stalks into the kitchen area, pulling himself a beer from the fridge. I have absolutely no idea what to do in this situation.
I’m saved from having to choose between punching Wes and hugging him by a loud knock on the door. “Yes?” I snap, swinging it open.
“You’re fucking back!” Johnny Duville leans against the frame, eyes glittering. “You fucking came back.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I go to close the door again, but Johnny puts a foot in the way. “What?”
“First game of the season on Sunday, are you match-ready?”
Fateball? Never going to turn that down. “Sure.” Movement catches the corner of my vision, and I see Max flattening himself against the wall.
He puts a finger up to his lips. I stifle a chuckle.
“The team is meeting with Coach Feniks in five for a strategy review,” DuVille says. “It’s compulsory, you can’t play if you don’t go.”
“That is a problem,” I tell him, “because I have no intention of going to your meeting, and every intention of playing.” I try to shut the door again, but DuVille's foot stays solid.
