Page 28 of Max

Liked it?

I freaking loved it.

“I do,” I confirmed the understatement.

“Then, yes, I want you to move in here.”

“But I thought you’re going to restore it, then sell it?”

“I changed my mind,” he shrugged.

“And will you be moving out?” I tackled the more significant issue.

Sweet Mary, please, let him say no.

I knew it was fast. Hell, it moved at the speed of light. It sounded way beyond crazy, even in my head. We didn’t even have our first kiss. Yet, there it was. It was undeniable. I loved the man fidgeting in front of me. I couldn’t picture my life without him in it. In a span of a few days, he became my everything.

He looked away and mumbled, “If you want me too.”

I didn’t get a chance to say that I didn’t want him to move out. That I wanted him to stay with me forever.

“Welcome to the family, sis,” Chace hollered, standing by the door. “I would come and give you a huge hug, but I understand seeing me and finding out who I am is a shock... a big one. I also know that the idea of me needs to shift in your head, so I’ll give you time. However long you need, Skylar, you have it. I just hope, one day, you will be able to see me for who I really am.”

After he was done talking, he turned on his way to get out.

“Wait,” I said and walked to him.

Out of reflex, I slowed down on my way to him, gauging his reaction. It was weird. He was still Vinny in my mind. But when I recalled his break down not even half an hour ago, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Sorry, he had to live with what he saw. Chace watched my every move vividly. And when I stood in front of him, he swallowed and braced. I got up on my toes, leaned in and hugged him. I also turned my head and whispered.

“Thank you.”

He stood still as a statue; his hands loose by his sides.

“Thank you for looking out for me. Thank you for keeping me safe as much as you could. I know now that you did. And I’m sorry, Chace,” I stuttered a little saying his name. “I’m sorry you had to see all that you did. I’m sorry you had to live through it. But I promise you, whatever happens, you will always have me. To listen to you, to drink with you, whatever you need. I’ll always be your friend. Because you were one to me, even if I didn’t know it at the time.”

“Fuck,” Chace breathed in the skin of my neck, his arms finally going around me.

We stood like that for some time before he brought his head up, looked at Max, and aimed at him.

“You really are a lucky son of a bitch.”

“I told you,” Max said. “And be careful, that’s your mother you’re talking about, you bastard.”

Chace shook his head, smiled at me, and winked.

“Give him hell. See you at the game,” and then he was out, the door closing behind him.

I couldn’t sleep. I was in a room that I woke up in before, the one I found out was Rory’s. She claimed it and decorated it even though she never once slept in it. Max explained she had a room of her own in each of the brother's houses for when Jason was on away games. He mentioned she had a traumatic experience a few months back, something about a man attacking her, and she didn’t feel safe being alone anymore. I understood her fear. The reason she didn’t have a chance of sleeping in it was that he moved so much since he lived in the houses he restored, she made it as she wanted it a few days before I came along and Jason was on the offseason. It was a beautiful room, tranquil. The bed was big, the mattress divine. Still, I couldn’t settle. I kept tossing and turning, and no matter what position I tried, sleep evaded me. After Chace left, Melanie wasn’t far behind. We said quiet goodbyes, with me promising I would check in daily, and then she was off.

I didn’t know what to do next.

But Max did.

He came towards me and took me in his arms. We stood there, by his front door, holding each other, while he stroked my back. We didn’t speak. But in that silence, anything that mattered was said. It was uneventful. It went without saying, but from that moment on, Max and I started to live together. It would be weird if that were the only thing strange about us. Not to mention, we still didn’t share our first kiss. I wanted to kiss him so badly. I almost even begged him to kiss me. I didn’t. I asked where I would sleep. He was indecisive, and I could tell the war was raging in him. In the end, he led me to the door of this room. I was devastated. And now, I couldn’t sleep.

“Ugh,” I grunted, punching the same pillow for the twelfth time.

It was no use. I plopped back on my back and sighed. I had no other choice. I took my phone, scrolled down my phonebook, and found what I was looking for. I pressed to edit the contact and deleted a name I was addicted to for the last ten years, and I typed up Max’s name instead. Then, I went to my messages and sent my plea to him. It wasn’t even a full minute before he came to stand by the bed. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I saw a tattoo.