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Asshole.
I smirk, folding up my letter, placing it back in the envelope with my gifts, and setting them on my desk. After a quick clean-up, I turn off my computer and pick up my box. Then as I walk to my car, I spot Tony on the way out and nod at him while he guards the gate. “Tony, have a good day. I’m heading off.”
He raises his brow. “You’re going to spend some time with actual people?” he asks, his voice raised slightly at the end.
I smirk, jutting out my hip. “Is thatsosurprising?”
He hesitates as if he doesn’t really want to answer. “Maxxy, we all love you here, but you need to get out more. So yes, it’s surprising that you’re leaving to go spend time with people, but I am glad you are. If anyone deserves a life away from this place, it’s you!”
I weakly smile. “Thanks, Tony, you’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“Have a good evening, Maxxy.”
“You too, Tony,” I tell him and go to my car.
Unlocking my vehicle, I place the box in the trunk and slide into the driver’s seat. I ask my Apple Watch, “Hey, Siri… call Hurricane,” and exhale.
“Calling Hurricane cell,” Siri replies on my watch. It takes a second, then my watch starts ringing Hurricane’s number.
As I drive to the clubhouse, I wait for him to answer, hoping he’ll allow me to intrude on the club’s Christmas Day celebrations. I think for a moment that he’s going to let it ring out when finally, he answers, “Maxxy! Merry fuckin’ Christmas! Fuck, sorry, can you hear me?” he asks as the clear screaming of Imogen, his baby, echoes down the line.
I grimace as I continue to drive. “Is this a bad time? Do you want me to call you back?”
He chuckles, and Immy’s screams become a little less deafening. “Sha’s got her now. You got my undivided attention. What are you doin’ today?Pleasetell me you’re not at The Plantation?”
I look in my rearview to see The Plantation fading in the distance and let out a mocking scoff. “What? Me? No! I do have a life, Hurricane,” I snap a little too aggressively.
He hums down the line. “Uh-huh… so are you callin’ me for business then? Is somethin’ goin’ down?”
Sinking in on myself, the sounds of laughter from everyone at the clubhouse are so enticing, but I’m not a part of the club. Not really. I was kidding myself to think I could just waltz up and join them. “No, nothing like that. Just wanted to wish y’all a Merry Christmas.”
‘N’ would be so disappointed in me.
Hurricane is quiet for a moment, then he huffs down the line. “Are you drivin’, Max?”
I widen my eyes at how he could possibly know that. “I mean… yeah. How did yo—”
“You goin’ somewhere for Christmas lunch? Gonna spend some time with actual people?”
I sink in on myself as I turn toward my house in the opposite direction of the clubhouse. “Just on my way home. Got some epic time scheduled with my sofa and a marathon ofDie Hardmovies planned for the rest of the day.”
Hurricane quickly answers, “You’re gonna spend the rest of Christmas alone?”
“I do most years… I thought you knew that?”
A low growl reverbs from his chest. “You get your pretty ass over hereright now! We haven’t started the main course yet, and if you get ’ere in half an hour, we’ll have a meal for ya… you’re family, Maxxy. You’re not spendin’ another Christmas alone. If I’d known…fuck!”He growls. My eyes begin to well as I swallow a lump in my throat. “Maxxy! Are you drivin’ toward the clubhouse?” he practically yells down the line to gain my attention.
I jolt from the shock, and my body moves before my brain catches up. I hit the brake and spin the steering wheel, skidding the car around in the middle of the lane. Luckily, there aren’t any other vehicles on the road right now. Everyone is already where they should be for their lunch parties. So I change lanes in the opposite direction and take off back toward the clubhouse at high speed. “I’m on my way, Pres… thank you. This means so much to me.”
He sighs down the line. “I shoulda invited you sooner. That’s on me. Think of this as a standin’ invitation, Max. Every holiday, every occasion at the club, you’re invited. You don’t need to ask. You just turn up.”
My heart beats rapidly in my chest, my eyes welling but not overflowing as I keep my shit together. “Thanks, Hurricane. I’ll see you real soon.”
“Jaz, set another plate at the table. We gotta guest comin’,” he yells out, then promptly ends the call.
Smiling to myself, I glance down to see my watch has ended the call, and I reach over, turning up the stereo, hearing “Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes. The popular Christmas song makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, even though they’re singing about snow.
The drive to the clubhouse doesn’t take long, and when I pull up to the gate, Raid opens it with a smile. I stick my head out the window and give a little wave. “Hey, not like you to be on gate duty.”
