AllFreeNovel
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“I have time, I was planning on making it tonight. We have the press conference tomorrow morning, the home run contest, and then Tuesday is a wash. Wednesday, I was thinking I’d do fajitas for dinner. What do you want for Thursday?”
“Why are you planning all of this?” I ask, stepping closer to him and gently angling his ball cap away from his eyes. He settles one hand at my waist and takes the box of pizza crusts from my hand, putting them back on the shelf.
“Because,” he tucks my hair behind my ear, his hand lingering for a charged moment. “I’ve been here before, you haven’t. I want you to enjoy these next few days. I want to make these next few days as easy for you as possible. This isn’t our clubhouse, and while I’m sure they’ve been made aware of your allergy, I know that you don’t always trust food that youcan’t verify. That’s why I’m planning meals. And leftovers. So that you can enjoy being a first-time All-Star.”
“I’m just a coach, Maxwell. Not technically an All-Star.”
“Youarean All-Star, Sutton. Don’t diminish the work that got you here.”
“Thanks, Maxwell.”
“Now, let’s go find the ice cream.”
Our vacation rental has a gorgeous kitchen and dining room that opens onto a massive outdoor patio, and once I’m changed into leggings and one of Max’s tee shirts, he banishes me to the patio and takes over the kitchen. Soon, music pours out into the night, and I join Maxwell in the kitchen just in time to help him top the pizza crust and get it in the oven. After the pizza is in the oven, Max grabs my hand and pulls me close.
We dance to the slow, folk album that Maxwell put on, and as he holds me close, he murmurs in my ear, “I could get used to this.”
“To what?”
“All of this…”
We’re cut off by the sound of the front door opening, and Elise coming in, over the moon after her evening at the museum.
“I’m going back tomorrow if either of you want to come with me. Admission is good for two days and there’s so much more I want to see, and maybe ask some questions. I didn’t have nearly enough time before they closed tonight.”
“We have the press conference tomorrow, Leecey,” Max laughs and pulls his sister in for a hug. “But I’m glad you enjoyed the museum. I’ve got pizza in the oven for dinner. Should be ready soon.”
“Perfect.” Elise’s eyes dance between me and her brother. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“You’re not,” I respond at the same time that Max says, “Go to your room.”
“Maxwell,” I swat his chest and am reminded that I can’t do that if I don’t want to hurt myself. “You can’t send your grown adult sister to her room.”
“It’s fine,” Elise laughs goodnaturedly, “I have some homework to do, anyway. Call me when the pizza’s ready?” Elise has begun working on her masters degree, using her summer break from teaching to work on her coursework. Most nights, when we’re home, she’s at the table or on the back deck working on assignments, and only stopping for meals.
“Will do,” Max nods. “And remember to take some breaks. Set a timer if you need to, and…”
“And drink water,” Elise smirks at her brother. “I know. I love you too, Max.”
“The water,” I whisper, returning to my place in Maxwell’s arms as he backtracks the playlist to the song we were dancing to. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“All these years, it’s been you leaving cases of water in my office. I always thought it was Roger. Or a clubhouse attendant. But it was you.”
“It’s not a big deal…”
“Yes, Max. Itisa big deal.”
“Let’s not talk about that Sutton,” there’s so much emotion in his voice. I want to dig into this, and all of the other things we haven’t talked about yet. All thoseconversations for another time.
“Then let’s talk about the tattoo,” I offer.
“Nope.”
“Your conversations with Sam.”
“Sutton,” Max presses his forehead to mine, my name is a frustrated exhale. “The reason I brought you cases of waterevery year, the reason I got the tattoo, the reason I offered you a place to live…” Max squeezes his eyes shut and holds me closer to his body, “it’s because I’m not good with words. I’m not good with…emotions. Even with years of therapy and working with the mental skills coaches, emotions are still hard for me to process. To talk about.”
