He lifts his head, and the moment I see the look on his face, I give in. Fuck this shit. They can hate me all they want. But there is no way in hell I’m leaving my man in this much pain.
I rush over to him, throwing my arms around his shoulders and pulling him in close. One of his arms wraps around my waist, and the other threads through my hair.
“Baby, I don’t know what to do. I feel so fucking useless here. I need to be helping in some way. I hate that I’m not there for Tommy right now.” His voice sounds so pained, I can hear his tears fighting their way out.
“I know, but there isn’t much any of us can do right now. They have the best people looking for her, and we will be here to pick up the pieces when he brings her home to us.” I tell him, rubbing the back of his neck in calming circles.
We stand like this for a minute. It’s the first time I have been able to touch him since Gracie barged in on us. Fuck, that feels like a lifetime ago.
“Erm, can one of you explain what’s going on?” Fallon asks.
I would normally have dove out of his arms, but right now, I have run out of fucks to give.
He is mine, and I am his.
I turn my head, but don’t release him from my hold. Fallon looks like I’ve slapped her across the face. Her eyebrows are almost in her hairline, and her mouth is open so wide her jaw has got to hurt. I fumble for the best way to word what it is I want to say, but Max beats me to it.
“Lucy and I are a couple. We have been for a while. She is the love of my life, as am I hers.” He states boldly. “You live with it or live without us.”
Whoa. He definitely didn’t want to sugarcoat it. Honestly, though, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Ilook up at his face. The same one that usually holds the most beautiful smile, but right now it’s stern. Ready to fight her if he must.
“Well, that’s one way to hard launch it.” Blair mumbles under her breath, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips.
Gracie, on the other hand, is looking at us dreamily, her head tilted to the side as she gazes at us both.
The room is silent as we wait for Fallon to reply.
“Is this true, Lucy?” She finally asks, her eyes bouncing between us like a ping pong ball.
“Yes,” I say with confidence. “Max is my everything. He always has been, and I won’t be made to stay away from him again.” A hint of anger lingered inside of me.
From the way Liz acted last time, I’m ready for World War III to begin. We’re in too deep now, and no one will keep him from me. Not again.
“Okay then.” She says.
“Okay?” I ask, my brows furrowing.
“Yep. I won’t stand in the way. The pair of you are made for each other. I can’t believe I never saw it sooner!” A trace of happiness lingers behind her eyes. “Too much shit has happened recently. It’s about time something good came about.”
Well, I never expected that. Max squeezes me into his side, making me look up at him.
“See, I told you everything would be fine.” He says, before leaning in to kiss me.
It’s the softest of kisses that lasts mere seconds, but that’s enough to make Fallon gasp.
“Hey, I might be okay with this, but it’s going to take me a minute to get used to it.” She laughs, wiping at her eyes. “Iam happy for you both, but my mind is kind of up my arse right now.” She admits.
“I know.” I agree. “But Fallon, thank you for not losing your shit.”
“I love you both, and I get it. You’re both weirdos; it was written in the stars.”
“I have something to confess!” Gracie cries out, grabbing at her chest. “I’ve known for like a full day, and I would never have said anything without their permission, but bloody hell, it’s been eating me alive!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Don’t start with those bloody chakras now, Gracie. I can’t cope with that on top of everything else.”
“But you know how secrets mess with my chakras, Blair!” She complains.
“I can't deal.” Blair lowers her head as she shakes it from side to side. “Lord, give me strength.”
Max’s phone starts to ring, breaking up their bickering.
“Jenson… Thank fuck… Okay… Now?... Amazing, we’re on our way!”
The girls are sitting on the edge of their seats, staring at Max, as I hold his hand, squeezing tight as I try to eavesdrop on the conversation.
“They’ve found her and are on their way to a hospital now.” He cheers, rushing off to put his shoes on. All of us are following along behind.
“Is she okay?” Fallon asks, hopping from foot to foot as she does her own shoes.
“Well, no, but she will be.”
