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Max reached his bedroom door and pulled the thing open, then stiffened at the sound of familiar laughter. Tad’s friends, down in the foyer. Guess they were heading out. Would make sense; they’d been down in Scott’s gym for a while. Looked like Tuesday night workouts were going to be a regular thing.
“Wonderful,” Max muttered, heading into the hallway. They seriously needed to dial down the happy.
But before he’d even reached the staircase, the knocker rapped, announcing a new arrival. Max tensed immediately. Was it Kai… or Sean? Cold dread welled fast in his gut. His heart sped up. His hands went clammy. Then the sound of the door opening met his ears.
“Kai.” Scott’s voice. “Good to see you, man.”
Even from upstairs, his warm tone sounded conflicted. Like he was happy to see his friend, but wished it was under different circumstances. Because Scott knew, after all, why Kai was there. Max had given him the heads up earlier that day—then ignored Scott’s subsequent attempt to change his mind.
Max took to the steps and met them in the foyer. “Kai. Thanks for coming.”
Kai inclined his head. “My pleasure.” He slid his gaze to Breck—who was eyeing Kai oddly. As if confused why the guy was even there. Logical, seeing as Breck wasn’t privy to jack shit. Had no idea what was about to go down. Which was probably for the best if what Max suspected was true; that there was something going on between Breck and Kai.
Max watched as Kai leveled Breck with a look of his own, one that seemed a little off kilter. Something that wouldn’t typically be that big of a deal, except that Kai never exuded anything but pure confidence. Guess he hadn’t expected to see Breck there, and wasn’t exactly sure how to navigate the situation. Maybe he didn’t want Breck knowing about this arrangement. Maybe Sean was to be his little secret.
Which, if that were the case, really ruffled Max’s feathers. Sean deserved to be held up on a pedestal in the light, and if Kai couldn’t do that, then he didn’t deserve him, either.
He clenched his jaw irritably and lifted his chin to Tad and his friends, a greeting they assuredly were accustomed to by now. They returned the gesture with their usual smiles. Scott merely watched Max with pensive eyes. He wanted Max to do this thing about as much as Max wanted to, but for entirely different reasons. Max didn’t want to put his heart through more anguish. Scott, however, and for some fucked up reason, wanted the source of that anguish to stay intact. Whose side was he fucking on?
He exhaled and averted his gaze from his friend. Scott’s intentions were in the right place, Max knew this. Thing was, Scott just didn’t understand. Couldn’t grasp the importance of this severance. Because, ultimately, it wasn’t just for the good of Max’s sanity, but for the good of Sean’s sanity, too. He needed an out. An exit route from Max’s hell. Max would only bring him misery and regret.
Max motioned Kai toward the basement door. “C’mon. I’ll show you around while we wait for—”
Knock—knock—knock—
Max stopped in mid-sentence and looked at the door. His stomach turned over. His heart started to hammer. Sean had arrived.
Goddamn it.
Scott cut him a look that said, “Well? You gonna answer it?”
But Max couldn’t get his feet to fucking move. Like the things were cemented in the hardwood floor. Like the bottom half of his body had turned to stone.
Tad glanced his way, then so did his friends. Max swallowed and tried to move again.
Kai eyed him. “Is that Sean?”
Max gave a tiny nod. “Yeah… Uh… Lemme grab that real quick.”
“I got it,” Scott murmured, clearly sensing Max needed the assist. He pulled open the door. Forced a smile. “Sean. S’up.”
“Not too much.”
Max heard him before he saw him, his voice like a blade in his chest. He sucked in sharply. Scott opened the door wider. Max met Sean’s gaze and nearly fucking lost it.
Oh, God. Sean hadn’t even made it through the door, and already Max was teetering on the edge.
He shuttered his stare. “Come on in, Sean,” he muttered. “Let’s get you and Kai squared away.”
Ned and Jay swapped curious looks. Scott and Tad swapped unhappy ones. Breck, however, just looked leery and confused. The way his golden gaze kept cutting between Kai and Sean, his brain clearly trying to understand. Kai shifted his weight. Hooked his thumbs through his belt loops.
Sean stepped inside and feigned a smile at the gathering, then exchanged tentative looks with Kai. “Hey.”
“Hello, Sean.” Kai tipped his chin. “Nice to see you again.”
Sean’s smile turned more genuine. Max scowled. That smile was his.
Not anymore, you fucking loser.
“Oh, hey. I know you,” Jay piped in, face brightening. “You’re the dude who was dancing with Max at the bar.”
