Page 36 of In Your Wake

“Damn it, Maxine,” he says, jolting me from my groin-analysis. “You need to stop this shit.”

I swallow hard, then tilt my head back and look up at him hovering over me. “Could you please stop speaking to me as if I’m a child?”

“Then stop acting like one.” He huffs out a long breath, taking the seat next to me. “Why are you doing everything you can to keep me away?”

“You’ve done that perfectly well all by yourself.”

“So, that’s what this is about? You’re mad because I left?”

“If you want to simplify things… Sure, let’s go with that.”

“I don’t want to simplify anything. Lord knows nothing is ever simple with a girl like you.”

“Then what do you want from me?”

“I want you to tell me what’s going on. To let me in like you—”

“Like I used to?” I interrupt, finally meeting his eyes. For a fleeting second, I see the old Mitch in his gaze; the guy with the soulful expression and big old heart. “I don’t get why this is so hard for you to understand. You left. And you’re fucking right I’m still mad about it. Why wouldn’t I be? But having you here now, acting like nothing ever happened. You haven’t even acknowledged how you—”

I’m interrupted by the metallic sound of people walking up the staircase. It’s Spencer and Bethany, but they’re too preoccupied with each other to notice us sitting in the shadows, and they disappear down the small hallway toward the offices.

“Forget it.” I stand, but Mitch takes my hand, tugging. I’m sure it’s nothing more than a slight pull, but somehow the force of it lands me in his lap.

He releases my hand, but then glides it across the small of my back, along my exposed skin where my shirt has lifted. Now I’m positive I wasn’t hallucinating, and saw the outline of his erection because it’s pressed firmly against my ass.

As if our brains are operating in low-battery mode, we freeze. I remain seated while he gazes into my eyes. I’m sure his mind is as overwhelmed as mine, but then his eyes travel over my face to land on my lips.

“Gotta say, I’m surprised you’re still too chicken shit to speak your mind,” he says. A smile plays on his lips, but a sinister edge sharpens his words.

I wiggle, then realize my mistake. I slam my hands against his chest and shove away from him, hopping off his lap. “You know what, Mitch? I guess I am.”

Mitch

I stiffen the moment Maxine’s perfect ass lands on my lap, but in truth, I’ve been semi-hard ever since I bumped into her on the street. There’s just something about a challenge, about snarky banter that always gets me going. Even when she’s driving me crazy, my blood pressure spikes.

Especially when she’s driving me crazy.

Taking a huge lungful of air, I try to ignore how happy I’d be if she rocked her hips. How, if I let myself picture it, I can imagine her naked, seated as she is, riding me until the sun comes up.

Fuck, it’s been too long since I’ve been laid.

Her blue eyes blaze as she pushes away, reminiscent of that camping trip all those years ago. Cursing under her breath, she storms off, and I let her because trying to get the truth out of Maxine Nolan is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.

Still, a small smile creeps across my face when she sways her hips and my eyes lock onto her cute little ass, which is tucked perfectly in those boot-cut jeans.

For a few minutes, I enjoy the solitude of this dark hideout. One day, customers will get to come up here, but for tonight, it’s all mine and off-limits. Well, aside from Spencer and Bethany who’re down the hall probably christening Spencer’s office.

Maxine and I will eventually need to deal with this shit between us, but I’m also so not fucking interested. The whole point of this trip to Oakwhite was to open the brewery and spend what are likely my dad’s last days with him. I never intended to stay longer than a few weeks at most.

But now my time here has spiraled into this massive shitty thing, one I’m not prepared to deal with. Hell, at this point dealing with my dying father might be easier than dealing with my stubborn former best friend.

I move to the railing, and let out a long breath, looking down below. There’s something so peaceful and calming about this moment. The lights, the sounds, my favorite Rolling Stones song, Wild Horses—it all releases some of the tension. Maxine used to love this song, too.

I search the crowd, wondering if she’s listening to it like I am. Wondering if she knows who crafted this playlist and what inspired it.

The entire town seems to have shown up tonight. I recognize some faces, ones I haven’t seen in years. But I also see people who have been part of my life for so long, people who never resented me for leaving and who understood my reasons. They never blamed me for staying away.

Is this what home feels like? A place where no matter how long you’ve been gone, everyone will welcome you with arms wide open?