Max took a step in the direction Connor was prodding him, but thenstopped and turned to face him. “Zoe fell and hurt herself last night. We hadto go over to the hospital. I haven’t slept much and I’ve been at work all dayand Ash and Declan are cool, but I needed the hours, and I just… it’shard.”
Without thinking, Connor reached out and pulled Max into a hug. Hesqueezed tight, holding him as close as he could.
He could hear Max’s heart pounding in his chest, which made himwant to cry as well. Max didn’t deserve this, he shouldn’t have had to gothrough it at all. He was a good man, strong and kind and unfailingly sweet,and things should have gone his way more often than they did.
As Connor held him, his racing heart started to slow. One beatafter another, with just a little more space between each one until they feltmore or less normal.
Connor breathed a sigh of relief, loosening his grip on Max andstepping back to look up at him. “You need a cup of tea,” he said.
Max nodded silently.
“Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll get you one,” Connormurmured, reaching out to squeeze Max’s shoulder before backing away.
He listened to Max settling on the couch as he searched for thechamomile tea he knew he’d bought a while back and then never opened.
If Max was here, then Zoe was okay. He wouldn’t have come if shewasn’t. That was one less thing to worry about.
Max, though… he wasn’t okay, but maybe Connor could help, there.Sometimes crying was the best thing you could do when you weren’t okay.
Seeing Max upset made Connor’s stomach hurt. Max was so sweet, andso kind, and he absolutely didn’t deserve the things life had thrown at him.
Connor tapped on the counter while he waited for the water toboil, anxious to get back to Max. Max needed him, or he wouldn’t have comehere, and he wanted to be there for him.
He washonoredthat Max had chosen him to cry in front of.Maybe that was stupid, but it meant a lot.
When the water was finally hot enough, Connor poured a generousmug of tea for Max, loading it with two teaspoons of sugar. Sugar would makeMax feel better, even if the tea didn’t.
Max was sitting hunched over on the couch, his face in his hands,still sniffing softly. Connor set the tea down in front of him and grabbed abox of tissues to put beside it.
He sat down gingerly, not wanting to disturb Max as he settlednext to him.
“Drink up,” Connor said. “It’s warm and soothing.”
Max took the mug of tea as instructed, breathing the scent indeeply. He laughed suddenly, making Connor jump at the suddenness of the sound.
Laughter was good, though.
Well.
Probably good, possibly a sign that Max was feeling even worsethan Connor thought.
“This is the stuff mom makes Zoe drink to help her sleep,” Maxsaid.
“Oh.” Connor swallowed, immediately feeling guilty for remindingMax of why he was so upset in the first place.
“She hates it,” Max added. “I get it. It smells like grass.”
“Chamomile is pretty close to being grass,” Connor said. “Butit’s… okay. It’s mild and sweet. Mostly floral. And it really does help.”
Max sat back on the couch, holding the mug close to his chest.“You trying to knock me out, here?”
Connor shook his head. “No, but if sleep would help, you can haveyour pick of the bed or the couch,” he said.
“Thanks.” Max sipped his tea, making a face at first, but thenlicking his lips and taking a second sip. “And thank you for not… freaking out,or whatever. I try not to let anyone see me cry because it seems like it’sworse for them than me.”
“I’m a wedding planner,” Connor said. “I’m used to people crying.Usually over less serious things, but…”
“I knew I could trust you,” Max said softly, sipping his teaagain. It was bound to be scalding his mouth, but he was only taking thetiniest of sips. More for comfort than anything.
