I know how he feels, but I pretend I don't. "What?"
His jaw clenches. "I don't know... leaving you, I think."
"Max."
"It's been me and you. But now... Forget about it. I'll see you on Friday."
Everything heisn'tsaying resonates with me. I've become so accustomed to his warmth at night, the Max and Cassidy world, and... if I'm completely honest, the daily orgasms. "Why Friday? That's like five days away. What happened to 'most nights'?"
"It's just for this week. I've got some things I have to take care of. Toni's at my gym every Friday. Go with him."
"Okay... So I won't see you at all until then? And I can’t call you?"
He hands me a piece of paper. "My pager number."
My stomach knots up. "Okay."
Max and I stare at each other, longing in both our eyes and maybe something a little extra. I reach for the drawstring on his track pants, wanting to show him with mymouth how I feel about him, but a thud at the passenger window makes me jump. I swivel to see Konnor waiting impatiently on the other side of the glass.
Frick.
I exhale fast, my hands still trembling a little from what I'd been about to do for Max. And in my own backyard!
Timing...
"Get out of the car, Cassidy!" Konnor grumbles.
Before I can make a move, Max has already leapt from his side and circled around to mine. Unlatching my car door, he stands staunchly between Konnor and me.
Max is only a few inches taller than Konnor, but they are both at least a foot taller than me. I bounce from the car and move towards my brother. Standing on my toes, I sling my arms around him, cuddling his neck so tight because I love him so much, even when he looks like he wants to break something. When he doesn’t return my affection, I release him and step back. He's eyeballing Max behind me, his entire body tight with rage.
I swallow and feign ignorance, knowing quite well why his face means business. "Big brother, what?—"
"I tried to call you," he says through a tight jaw, his eyes never leaving Max. I wonder what Max's face looks like right now. He's probably smirking.Menace.
My pulse quickens. "I know. I was in Ba?—"
"I know. I saw the photo."
I squirm a little, imagining Konnor flicking through Facebook and coming across a picture of his little sister with her tongue in Max Butcher's mouth.
My hand meets Konnor's arm. "Are you back for the weekend again?"
Konnor glances at me for a split second. "Go inside. I wanna talk to Max."
I sigh and drop my hand. "No."
He stares at me. "What?"
Max's hand touches my hip. "You don’t get to do that," I say while covering Max's hand with mine.
"Get to do what?" Konnor asks, suddenly trained on our hands. Locked onto them.
"Come home and tell me to go inside," I say softly. "You don’t get to do that."
Max's hand twitches. "I'm heading off now anyway," he says and twists me to face him. I roll my eyes at Max's cocky smirk, but can’t help but smile nonetheless.
"Give me a kiss first, Little One."
