AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My jaw ticked as I loaded a purple capsule into the Nespresso machine, wishing I hadn’t blown off Maeve’s calls last night. Part of me did it because I was in denial about Max’s unannounced visit, but I also did it to avoid giving her an answer about her brother’s party, which wasn’t fair.
It’s not like I didn’t want to meet her siblings. Of course I did. And I wanted to be there to support her when she broke her big news, too. Or rather, I didn’t want the job to fall to someone else. But I wished she’d take more time over the decision. That said, I’d be damned before I was the guy who held her back. That was the last role I wanted to play in her life.
“I don’t regret being in the band,” I admitted finally. “I regret enabling you to become a despicable human being and how many chances I gave you to get your act together.”
“For what it’s worth, you’re not the only one who regrets the fact that you can’t look me in the fucking eye anymore.”
I glanced over my shoulder at him, and he stared back at me, the truth of his words like a frozen tundra between us.
“I’m here to apologize,” he said. “It’s part of the program I’m in. I have to make amends with the people I’ve hurt.”
I turned around and crossed my arms while the coffee machine churned behind me. “You’re doing the twelve steps?”
“That’s the idea.”
It was hard for me to believe he’d even remember half the stuff he should be sorry for.
“I have a list of things,” he said, pulling a folded piece of lined paper from the back pocket of jeans. “If you’re willing to hear me out.”
Fuck. I reached over and pulled my steaming mug from under the dispenser. “I’m not going to lie, Max. I’m not exactly excited at the prospect of reliving anything that might’ve made your list.”
“It would mean a lot to me,” he said. “I know it’s too little too late, but I really am sorry for the hurt I caused you.”
I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath as I considered my options. “What happens if I hear you out? I suppose I’m expected to forgive you?”
“No,” he said quickly. “I’m well aware you might never trust me again. But if I don’t at least try to apologize for the pain I’ve caused you, I know there’s no chance we can ever be friends again, much less brothers.”
There’s an understatement if ever I heard one, I thought, drawing strength from the warm mug in my hands. “Let me give Otis something to eat, and I’ll be right over,” I said, figuring we could both use a moment to collect ourselves as I gestured towards the couch.
When I finally took a seat across from him, Max cleared his throat and dropped his eyes to the page in front of him, which was shaking lightly in his hands.
It was nice to see him shaking from nerves instead of withdrawal. Maybe he really was trying.
“I’m sorry I swung at you on stage in Sacramento.”
Strong start.
“I’m sorry I fucked that girl Suzie when I knew you liked her.”
“Suzie?” I asked, furrowing my brow.
“The one with the bird tattoo on her hip.”
“That was Molly.”
He squinted at me. “Then who was the one who always wore fishnets?”
“That was Emily.”
“Oh,” he said, his face marred by confusion. “I’m sorry I fucked her, too.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
“I'm sorry I gave myself a songwriting credit for ‘Black Waltz’ and ‘Sweet Sorrow’ when I had nothing to do with writing those.”
“Thanks,” I said. “That was a particularly dick move.”
“I’m sorry about the hotel room in Vegas,” he said. “And the one in Austin, too.”
