AllFreeNovel
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I adore this song. It’s beautiful melody, the soft acoustics, a little piano loop. It’s the perfect lullaby.
I brush the tears from my eyes as I turn around. And there he is. One arm hanging on the door frame, leaning slightly, looking at me with those huge hazel eyes.
“Max,” I whisper as he walks towards me, he envelopes me in his arms. I cling to him, covered in tears I breathe him in. He smells so good, his arms completely covering my body. Protecting me.
“Hey, Angel,” he whispers into my hair and with my eyes closed I’m silent, because this is the moment I need. The one I want. Me and him, like this. A team. Forever. “You look amazing today, Ali.”
“Thanks,” I mumble as I slowly pull back from his arms but lace our fingers together, so we’re still connected. “I feel like shit, so at least I look okay.”
“What’s wrong? Are you sick? Can I do anything?” he asks, his voice full of concern.
“Nothing abnormal. A little morning sickness the last couple of days but I blame that on all this anyway,” I tell him, waving my free hand in the air. He smiles but with a guilty look in his eyes as he thinks he’s caused me to be in pain. He takes my hand that I’m waving about and with both of our hands touches our little bump and closes his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Max?” I ask. I have to get it straight out, I’ve never liked bullshit or fucking about and I can’t afford to let my emotions get the better of me right now. “I thought we were going to be a team. I’m not saying I don’t want you to do it. I’m not saying I do or don’t think it’s the right move for you, but I’m saying I thought we were on even pegging in this. But maybe I got that wrong. It’s still hail to the king, isn’t it?”
“Angel, please. I don’t even know why I didn’t tell you. I don’t even want to do it. I’m not going to go through with it. I need my band, my boys, my family. It’s never going to work without them.”
“But, Max, it isn’t about that. it’s about why you didn’t discuss it?” My voice sounds like a plea.
“Ali, I really don’t know. I suppose I saw it as my only option. The only way to provide for you, for you and the baby. Preston said—”
I cut him off. “Preston? Preston and the label know about the baby?”
“Not yet. I— He just talked like I’d only ever climb up again on my own.”
“Preston Miller is full of shit. He’s the hardest, most conniving slime ball in the game. You’re not the first man to be sucked in by him. He prays on the weak, Max. You’re not a weak man but he viewed your insecurities as a weakness. He is only in it for himself, for the label. He’d have never been on your side.”
“I know. I know I feel so stupid for believing him,” he says, and I know from the way his voice strains he’s talking the complete truth.
“Did you sign anything?” I ask him, the question’s been bugging me for the last week since this blew up.
He shakes his head. “No. Nothing yet. He said he was going to set up a couple of meetings to finalise the details but nothing yet.”
“Okay. Well, he’ll drive a fucking hard bargain especially if he thinks he’s got you. He will literally throw the book at you but if you have only verbally agreed then nothing is legally binding for you. Not yet as you say,” I tell him, letting out a breath and I notice he does too. His face softens, like what I just said might have taken the imaginary noose from around his neck.
“But I don’t want it. I don’t want his deal, his music. I don’t want any of it,” he insists.
“What do you want, Max?” My voice is tiny. A lot less determined than it was a second ago.
“You. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. You’re sharp, hard, yet so goddamn soft in the middle. You’re everything, Ali,” he says as he tips my chin so I’m staring straight into those soft hazel eyes.
“Max, I…” I don’t know what to say. I want to love him. I want to let him love me. But there’s just so much we need to get right… and I just don’t know.
“I’m bad. Badness and sadness and everything in between all wrapped in a sad smile, a half decent voice, and a pair of skinny black jeans. I’m not a good person, I’ve done bad things. I’ve done stupid reckless things and also, I’ve had them happen to me. And none of that is a good combination for a person. Of a friend or a son or a boyfriend or even a lover. I made crazy choices; I don’t think things through, but I do care. I caresomuch. I know I get it wrong. And I probably always will, but Angel, something about the way you look at me, the way you smile at me sometimes. The way we are. It’s like you’re the antidote to the poison that’s laced through my veins. Something about you. You’re like medicine to my tortured and tormented soul. You’re good for me. And I want to be good for you. To be your person. Like you’re mine.”
I love this side of Max. His heart on his sleeve. Open, wide, and vulnerable for me to see. Though my eyes are blurry from the tears I notice tears in his own eyes.
“Max.” I smile at him, the hint of a smile covers his mouth. “Max, this room, it’s absolutely amazing.”
“Well, I had a lot of help.” He smiles.
“Wait… You actually created this room yourself?” I ask, a little taken back.
“Yeah, Finch and Bobby helped with the furniture and the painting. They helped a lot. My sister picked everything from the flooring to the curtains. I wanted to do something, Angel, to show you that I want you. I want this baby to be happy, to be protected, and to have the whole damn world. I don’t want to miss a minute of it. I love her so goddamn much already my chest hurts, I know I’ve got work to do, I’m a far cry from perfect. I’m not even on my way to being good. But I want this. You and me, more than the world, the moon, and all of its stars. Our family. You, me, and that gorgeous baby bubbling away in your belly. I can do it. I can be better. For her and for you and for me. For our family,” his voice wobbles at the end.
“Max.” My hand finds his cheek, my heart begs me to let him in again but my head screams that I shouldn’t. “I’m just not sure our story can ever work. Our worlds, can they really intertwine properly?”
“We can rewrite our story. Do you know how many drafts authors go through before a paperback is released into the world?”
