He wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but… he didn’t hate it, andit was definitely working out for him right now. Besides, hedidwant tobe Connor’s friend, and that was all Connor had asked for.
“I think we could win this,” he added after a pause. “Connor’sgood at what he does. The woman from the magazine liked us. People are on ourside. And even if we don’t win… at least we tried?”
“Okay.” His mom nodded, biting her lip. “Okay,” she repeated. “Well,I trust you, so if you trust this… Connor person, he’s okay with me. You shouldbring him over for dinner some night.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Max said, fully intending to ignore that until thecompetition was over, at least. His mom didn’t need the stress of cooking foran extra person, or tidying up the house for a guest, and she wouldn’t have letMax do it instead.
He’d find other ways to thank Connor for all of this.
“You know you can come to me with things like this, right?” sheasked. “I’m… I know you’re trying to protect me, and Zoe, but… I’m not gonnafall apart, and she’s not, either. We’re both stronger than you think.”
Max shook his head. “I’m not doing this because I think you’reweak. You’rebothstronger than me, and I know that. That’s why I’mtrying so hard to hold up my end.”
His mom gave him a soft look, sighing heavily. “You’re a good boy,Max, and I wish you didn’t feel like you needed to put your life on hold forus.”
“I’m twenty-three,” Max said, smiling wryly. “I’ve got a lot oflife ahead of me. I can spare a few years.”
“When did you get so wise?” his mom asked, smiling wryly.
Max glanced at the stairs automatically. “When I had to,” hemurmured in response, not wanting to make his mother feel any worse about anyof this.
They were all trying their hardest. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.
“Your dad would be so proud of you,” she responded. “You’reexactly like he was when we met.”
Max bit his lip. He missed his dad all the time, but he hatedthinking about how different things would be if he was still around. Thethought left him with an uncomfortable knot in his stomach, one that wouldn’tshift for a while.
“Thanks.” Max looked down at his feet, taking a few deep breathsto get himself under control. “I, uh… have I got time for a shower before dinner’sready?”
“If you’re quick,” his mom said.
“I’m always quick.” Max smiled at her, pushing aside the lingeringsadness, determined to make the most of the rare family night.
He turned to head for the stairs, already imagining how good a hotshower would feel on tired muscles.
“Hey, Max,” his mom called after him.
“Yeah?” Max called back.
“You know it’d be okay if youweregay, right?” she asked.
“I know, mom,” Max responded.
He did know. He knew his mom would support him anyway, and he alsoknew that they had bigger things to worry about than whether or not he likeddick.
Besides, hedidn’t, so it didn’t matter.
One wet dream about Connor didn’t make him gay, and no one everhad to know about that. It was just the first time he’d been kissed in a while.
He’d get over it.
Chapter Thirteen
Connor beamed as he opened the door to Max, his heart flutteringin his chest while he stepped back to let the other man inside.
His stupid little crush wasdefinitelynot going awayanytime soon, and he was just starting to make peace with that. He could enjoyMax’s company, he could enjoy having a crush on him, even if it was never goinganywhere.
At least, that was what he was telling himself. He was used to notgetting what he wanted, so why should this be any different?
