Page 57 of In Your Wake

“You absolutely could have.”

“I guess it’s like you said, I was too much of a coward to.”

I wince, knowing how much she dislikes people challenging her courage and remembering the insult I threw her way.

Abruptly, my hands are on her hips and I grip her hard, as if my life depends on it. What I need is for her to listen. To hear me. “Dammit, Max. You were never a coward. You’re one of the bravest people I know.”

I release a slow breath to calm down, ignoring how my body seems to respond to her round hips beneath my palms, to the subtle challenge burning in her eyes. I’m desperate to pretend like the urge to take her in this tiny bathroom and make myself feel better isn’t permeating my every thought.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” I ask.

She pauses and looks terrified, but I’m not sure if it’s because I’m still holding her, or if it’s regret for bringing up this subject. I let her go, dropping my hands to my lap, and she takes a small step back.

“Lying to you—hurting you—remains one of my biggest regrets,” she explains, squeezing the facecloth. “Doesn’t change the fact that you’re the one who left.”

“Put yourself in my shoes. Would you get over it? If I’d kept something like that from you, would you have forgiven me?”

“No, probably not.” She smiles sadly and we both release a long exhale, as if coming to a mutual understanding.

“I guess we both have our crosses to bear.”

“Yep.” She turns to the sink, rinsing the facecloth. “We’re all done here.”

I stand up, tugging off the towel around my neck, and am startled when I see my reflection in the mirror.

“Christ,” I say, rubbing my jaw as if not recognizing the man staring back.

“Don’t like what you see?”

“I look so… different.”

“Funny, you look the same to me,” she says, and there’s no missing her meaning.

She leaves the room, but I stay behind, wondering what’s next for us and I’m seized by a desperate urge to flee. To forget my promise to my father about the inn and all the weight it carries. To leave behind the crushing legacy and the regrets that cling to me like a shroud.

How are we going to make this work?

I splash some water on my face, rinsing off the foam Max missed, and snapping myself out of my mood. Fuck what fear is making me want to do. This inn is my responsibility as much as it’s hers. And I wasn’t lying—I do need this.

Determined to convince her to stow her shit, I step out, but she’s nowhere to be found.

12

The Beginning of the End

Mitch

The low whistling sound and the wind whipping at the tent walls says tonight’s going to be a cold one.

Fall is still a month away, but summer is winding down early, which is why I hate camping this late in the season, when the evenings get so cold and unpredictable. But I agreed to come along for Max because I love how she comes alive when we’re out in nature.

It doesn’t hurt that we’re sharing a sleeping bag, too. I shimmy it up to my chin and tug my beanie down. Next to me, Maxine shivers. Instinctively, I turn and wrap an arm around her, pulling her closer, tucking her against me. There’s been a lot more affection between us lately. Lots of touching and hugging. I’ve tried not to overthink it, but when she presses her ass against my crotch, I slam my eyes shut and can’t stop from getting hard. I just hope she’s too asleep to notice.

Frozen still, fearing that the slightest movement might make her roll away from my arms, I take shallow breaths.

Being in love with your best friend truly is the shittiest thing.

The wind picks up, and the whistling gets louder, and when she wiggles, my erection grows harder.