Page 271 of Sorrow & Strangers

“Max is female inept, and even he knows how you fucked up,” I say, my lips twitching. Max glares at me, and I blow him a kiss. It makes him soften, but he still flips me off.

“Okay, Rafe. Remember how we went over what to say to Annabeth? Do you remember why we discussed it for almost two hours?” Max says, focusing back on Rafe.

“Because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings more.”

Max nods. “Right. You might not have felt the same connection to her as you do with Mira, but you still dated her for a few months, so there are still feelings at play. Even if they were one-sided.”

I blink at Max, completely perplexed. This can’t be the same guy who freaked out when I bought him a succulent.

“So . . .” he says slowly, trying to get through to Rafe. “There are still feelings to consider that are not yours or Mira’s.”

“So I should be more careful?” Rafe asks with a confused frown.

Max throws him an exasperated look and scrubs his hand over his face. “Just give it time before you fuck her roommate again.”

I blink at Max again, still in a state of shock.

Max feels my eyes on him and looks at me. “What?”

I shake my head.

“She’s surprised that you give good girl advice when you’re a moron with her.”

Max rolls his eyes. “I give good advice. Following it is another matter.”

“Whatever, I’m going to warm up,” I say, flipping them both off before going to the treadmill. They head to the sparring room, and I push myself. The various grunts and crashes coming from the room are just background noise.

A little over an hour later, Rafe emerges from the room, and like always, he has a glow about him. The security Max gives him is everything, and it has contributed so much to Rafe’s growth and progress. For that alone, I will forever be thankful to Max.

“Your turn, Sum,” Rafe says, heading to the weights. I nod and turn off the treadmill, wiping my face as I join Max in the sparring room. He casually tosses me my sai, and I catch them, getting into position quickly.

Max swings for me, and when I trap his broadsword between my sai, I meet his gaze.

“Are you really surprised I give good advice?” he asks, and I push him back before I answer.

“About females? Very.”

Max rolls his eyes. “You know, I’m actually a smart guy. I mean, not you smart, but I do okay.”

I lunge at him, but he blocks me. “I didn’t say you weren’t smart, but about females?”

“Ouch,” Max says, slamming his sword into me, forcing me back a step.

I disengage one of my sai and pull it back to slam it against his sword, but he pulls it free of my other sai and blocks again, and then we settle into the silence of sparring. Max alternates physical blows and magical ones, and after another hour, he calls it. I lean against the wall, catching my breath.

“You’re almost back to your strength level from last year.”

I nod, taking a drink of my protein shake. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should,” Max says, watching me as I push off the wall and return my sai to the wall. “Rafe is going to continue to pursue Mira, you know? Like an idiot.”

“I know.”

“He’s going to get cursed.”

“I know,” I repeat, sighing heavily.

“Stupid.”