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“I work out way too much for you to be able to haul me around like this,” I muttered, completely offended.
“It’s my job to do what you need.”
I stilled, my entire body practically on lockdown as I stared at him. “What?” I whispered.
He ignored the question. The fucking vibes filling this bathroom. He did it so effectively that confusion clouded my brain.
And then my boxer-covered ass hit the uncovered toilet. I shouted and started to spring up. Max slapped a hand on my shoulder, keeping me down.
“Everything okay?” Jamie’s voice popped in the doorway, and then he made a sound. “Bro, you have to takeoffthe boxers before you go,” he lamented.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
“Out,” Max bit out, but it was without his usual sting, and I knew somewhere inside, he was laughing too.
Jamie hesitated. “Wes?”
Max stiffened, his body rotating toward the door.
Reaching up, I caught his side with my hand, making him pause. “We’re good,” I told Jamie. “Needed somewhere to sit to put on my pants,” I explained, holding up my throbbing ankle.
“Right. Bro, you might wanna burn those boxers later.” Jamie left, and I dropped my hand from Max’s waist.
Sighing, I held the pants out to him. “Will you help me?”
He knelt in front of me, and a knot formed in my throat. Even the top of his head was beautiful, his inky hair glossy under the light. I forced my eyes away. I needed some distance from him. I needed to shove these overwhelming feelings back down.
Max worked quickly and quietly, pulling the pants over my feet, gentle around my wrapped ankle.
“Max?” I asked.
“What?”
“What’s the deal with you and Jamie?” His hands paused just briefly before continuing. “Ryan too,” I added.
He made a sound. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
That brought his head up. Shifting closer, he covered my knees with his palms, one of his thumbs absently brushing the underside. I did my best to suppress the shiver, hoping like hell he didn’t notice the way goose bumps rippled across my skin.
“I’m not lying to you. We’re all on edge because of what happened.”
I tried to swallow but didn’t quite make it, so I forced it down again. “Did something happen before the accident?”
Max sighed and stood, his body towering over me. “Come on,” he said, cupping my elbows and pulling me up. “You’re cold.”
I didn’t argue. I didn’t want to explain that the goose bumps weren’t from being cold.
He started to reach for the pants, and I smacked his arm away, wobbling a little on one foot as I reached for them myself. Max held on to me while I tugged them up, pulling the hem of my shirt over the waistband.
When I was done, there was the briefest pause, and in the quiet, I heard him exhale. He pulled away, reaching for the stupid crutches I’d been given, holding them out for me.
I gave them a dirty look.
“Would you rather I carry you?”
I took the crutches, jamming them under my arms. “Get my bag,” I told him and started out of the room.
