Page 101 of Maximus

“Everything okay?” Eva asked when she stopped at my side.

Without thought my arm went around her waist and I tucked her close.

“Yeah, babe, everything’s great.”

At least, I hoped it was.

Chapter 29

Something was different.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but Max was off.

Throughout dinner, he talked to his friends, he even made it a point to include Liam and Elijah. By the end of the meal, Eli was actually talking and smiling. Anaya was great with the boys, too, not that I thought she wouldn’t be nice to them, but they seemed at ease with her. Which seriously put my mind at ease about her going to Alaska with us tomorrow. Thankfully, no one mentioned the trip. I had to find a way to put a positive spin on it for the boys and that would be difficult.

By the time Anaya and Kyle were ready to go, the boys were nonstop yawning. They fist-bumped Kyle, and much to my shock and amazement, they hugged Anaya.

Max walked his friends out, leaving me alone with the boys.

It’s now or never.

“Before you guys go to bed, I need to tell you something.” I waited until they looked up from the puzzle they’d gone back to and I had their attention. “Tomorrow, we’re going to go on a trip.”

In a bizarre turn, Elijah smiled and looked totally excited to be going somewhere while it was Liam who frowned. Normally, Eli would be leery, he was the shy and quiet one who didn’t like change. But Liam, even after what happened to him, seemed to roll with the program.

“Where are we going?”

“Alaska.” Liam’s scowl deepened and he looked like he was getting ready to cry. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Are we coming back here?”

“Of course we are. Tomorrow, we’ll fly up there and then we’re coming straight back here.”

“Why are we going?”

“I have a… there’s someone I need to meet with.”

Shit. I was making a total mess of this, and now Elijah looked like he was getting ready to freak out.

“Is Max coming with us?” Eli probed.

His question broke my heart yet simultaneously filled me with joy. I hated that my boy sounded so unsure, but his eyes held hope—he wanted Max with us. More progress.

“Yeah, honey, he’s coming. So is Anaya.”

The front door opened and I lost the boys’ attention as they watched Max enter the room.

“We’re going to Alaska,” Liam announced. The accusatory tone took both Max and me by surprise. “And you’re going.”

“Yeah, little man, we’re going to Alaska. Your mom has a meeting so we’re all going with her.”

“Why is Anaya going?” Liam continued to push.

Before I could explain, Max jumped in.

“Because I’m going to sit in the meeting with your mom and the two of you can’t be left alone so Anaya’s gonna come so she can watch you.”

“We don’t need a babysitter,” Liam snapped.