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I start, “Max, I don’t know. I don’t think I can.”
His face falls. “Why not? I’d pay you, of course. And because it would be after hours, I’d pay bonus rates.” His eyes plead with me. “She needs help, Lena.”
But I’m already shaking my head. “I’m too close to the situation. It would be a conflict of interest. I know you. Our families are all twisted together. I see Ceecee as more than just a client.”
He raises his arms to say what’s the problem? “That’s great! You’d be awesome!”
I bit my lip. I hate this so much. “I’m sorry, Max. I have to decline.” The sincerity in my voice must alert him to the fact I mean it. His shoulders slump and he looks down at the counter. I tell him, “There are other trainers at the center. We’ll find another—”
He looks into my eyes and cuts me off with, “You’re the first person I’ve seen her react to in a positive way in over a year.” Neither of us looks away. It’s becoming awkward, quickly. He straightens with a nod. “You’re right. We’ll find someone. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I never wanted to force you into anything. I’m just worried about my girl.”
I stand. “I know.” I feel he needs something right now, something I can provide. Moving slowly, I walk around the counter towards him. He looks down at me questionably. Swallowing hard, I step closer, wrapping my arms around his waist. He doesn’t wait to respond; his arms wrap around my shoulders, holding me tight. I breathe him in and mumble, “You’re a good dad, Max. I’m sorry I can’t help.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Thanks, cupcake.” He releases his hold on me. My hold on him lingers a second longer before I let him go. He smiles down at me. “Let’s get back. Dinners probably gone by now.”
We leave his house and head back across the street.
After we eat our weight in BBQ ribs, Tina takes the little ones for a bath while Ash and I glare holes into each other’s heads. Before I snap at him again, I take it upon myself to clear the dishes and load the dishwasher. Mimi helps. We get the job done in less than five minutes and make our way back to the living area to find everyone has moved over to the three three-seater sofas surrounding the TV in a U-shape. The only two seats free are the ones next to Nik and Max. I have a feeling Nik will want to sit with his wife, so I seat myself next to Max.
Nik puts on a DVD, and soon Tina joins us, baby monitor in hand. She tells us, “Okay, the kids are sleeping and Ceecee is playing her Gameboy.”
Max chuckles. “Her 3DS, babe.”
Tina sighs. “Whatever.”
Ash looks over at me and utters, “Pass the popcorn, Lena.”
But I lean back into the sofa. “Get it yourself.”
Nat looks between us before laughing uncertainly. “What’s going on, you two?”
We stare, and glare, and glower, and stare some more before I lose my shit. It all comes out with a bang. “He attacked my boss!”
Ash sits taller and returns, “Yeah, well, the guy was feeling her up in the parking lot in his car.”
All the guys growl, the women gasp in shock, and Nat yells happily, clapping, “Oh yeah, baby!”
“It was just a hug!” I quickly explain.
Tina asks giddily with a smile, “He hugged you?” while Max asks in disbelief, “He hugged you?”
A whole explosion of conversation breaks out, and while this is happening, I quickly realize I’m done. I slip out the back door onto the patio. Silence is bliss.
The back sliding door opens and I close my eyes with a sigh. I feel someone standing by my side. Nik rests his arms on the balcony and mutters, “I gotta admit, Lena. I don’t like that. Doesn’t sound good.”
I’m officially exasperated. “It was just a hug, Niki. I like him. He’s my friend.” I add quietly through the thickness in my throat, “Sometimes you just need a hug, you know?”
Without a word, Nik leaves. I turn back to the yard, taking in the stillness. The door slides open again. Arms wrap around my middle, pulling my back into their front. I know that scent. “What are you doing?”
Max responds a hushed, “I don’t know. Nik came inside and said you needed a hug. I figured, I can do that.” Ridiculously sweet Max.
I turn and wrap my arms around his middle, burying my nose into his throat. I mumble, “Stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
I whisper, “Winning me over.”
Chapter Seventeen
