Chapter Two
Lucy
Oh fuck.
This is the last thing I ever wanted to happen. Why did I have to tell Sara? Clearly, little old me thought that she would never come face-to-face with him. Why did they have to meet now, of all times?
I have never told Max about my feelings, and I don’t plan to. It would cause uproar in our family if I did. Never mind the embarrassment of his rejecting me in return. Even if the feelings were mutual, which my mind has always suspected they have been, my heart couldn’t handle it. But seeing him now, standing in front of me, sends my heart on a sprint. The lonely muscle is working overtime.
“Girrrl!” Sara drags out as her eyes rake over him. With that one word alone, I know exactly what she’s thinking. I’m sure she understands what I see in him, by his gorgeous looks alone. He is all man, with a cockiness about him that makes him even more attractive.
I’m fucked.
I’m in a world of my own, lost in the turbulent thoughts bouncing around my head, when I feel a hand tug at my elbow. I practically leap away from the sudden touch, my head spinning in the person's direction.
“Are you okay?” Max asks wearily. “You look awfully pale. And that’s saying something considering how pale you are on a normal day.”
I smile, his usual cheeky banter is coming out to play. I instantly feel at ease again. There is something about him that settles me whenever he is close by. Ever since that first day we met, he has always had this effect on me. Why can’t I be a normal human being and just love him as a stepsister should?
Because I’m not normal. I never have been. Yet, Max has always made me feel like I’m enough.
“I’m fine. Just tired after another painfully long day.” I reply, my voice rising higher with each lie that falls past my lips. I hate lying. Especially to him.
“Well, let’s turn that frown upside down.” He grins widely, a twinkle shining in his eyes. He takes the drink I’m carrying out of my hand and sets it on the bar next to Sara. “We’ll be back in five. I’m taking my sis for a spin around that dancefloor.” He says to her as he grabs my hand and pulls me along behind him.
I look over my shoulder to see a very mischievous-looking Sara staring after us. The glance is fleeting as the warmth of Max’s hand preoccupies my attention. The dancefloor is filled with hot, sweaty bodies grinding all over each other. This is not my usual scene, considering I never have the time to go to a place like this. It’s not like I can do a pirouette in here.
Max stops when we’re in the centre of the crowd, pulling my body closer to his. Does he even realise the effect he has on me? What he does to me? His beautiful smile takes over all my senses, zoning out everyone around us. He starts to shake his hips goofily, waving our joined arms between us. A silent command to join in. A bubble of laughter works its way up my throat at his ridiculousness. God, this man has no shame.
“Come on, Sugarplum. Show me what all those years away have taught you.” I don’t think he has ever called me that. Why, when it comes from his lips, does it sound more seductive?
The dancer in me never backs away from a challenge. All of those dreaded heel classes might finally come in use after all. I don’t know if this is some kind of game to him, but if he wants to play with fire, so can I. I smile as determination settles within me. He wants me to dance? I’ll show him how I can dance. Inching closer to him, I begin my very own show. My body moves in time to the beat pulsing around us. I trail my hands over my body, gliding them up into my hair as my knees bend and I lower down closer to the floor before coming back up to meet his gaze.
I’m sure that’s lust I see behind his eyes, but I don’t want to overthink it. He is probably just annoyed that his sister would dance in such a way. Dropping my hands back down, I throw my head back, getting lost in the music. Letting my body move in any way it wants to.
After a few minutes, I risk a glance in Max’s direction. His body is still, but the expression on his face speaks a thousand words. His mouth is clamped shut, his eyes are heavy, and a vein is pulsing in his neck from the tension radiating from him. His gaze locked on my body.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, slightly breathless. The heat behind those eyes is back again.
He seems taken aback at hearing me speak, jolting him lightly, as he corrects his expression. That cheeky smirk of his is back in place, only this time it appears more forced.
“Oh, nothing. I was just watching you dance.” He replies calmly before starting to dance again.
Hmm, strange.
“So…” I try to think of anything to say to break this strange tension. “How come you got lumped with giving me a ride home? Did you miss me too much?”
“I always miss you. The house is boring when you’re not in it. The rest of them are dull as hell.” He laughs. But for the first time, it seems strained.
“Ha. You don’t even live there anymore.” I remark, laughing at his eyeroll. “How has it been living with Tommy?”
“He’s the worst of them all. He is stricter than Mum.” He whines playfully. “You should see how he loads the dishwasher, it is a whole other level of OCD. Controlling bastard.”
“All placed in a perfectly precise order? I can fully imagine it. I can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow.” I tell him.
“Then why do you seem so sad about it?” He cocks his head to the side as he examines me. As if he really wants to know the answer.
But that’s Max. He has always been eager to hear what I have to say.
