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He seems happy to see me though, but I still think I might be kidding myself, maybe my crush is only ever gonna be just that. It’s too easy to read into things when the other person hasn’t actually said anything.
But what would I know? I’ve never so much as kissed a boy, let alone snagged a real man.
And that’s what Max is a real man. A little moan escapes me as I stand, my mouth gaping as his back is turned, taking off his sweater, leaving him standing half naked in our living room.
His whole back is a maze of muscle, flexing and popping with each tiny movement. His huge arms like perfectly sculpted tree trunks and like the rest of him, bulging in all the right places.
“Honey… it’s rude to stare… how ‘bout getting ready?” My dad whispers in my ear suddenly, making me blush as well as jump but thankfully Max doesn’t notice.
Sitting at the kitchen table, noticing it’s still dark out, Max and I sip strong coffee, listening to dad list off things before he goes back upstairs to take a shower.
“You showering?” I ask Max, cringing internally as soon as I say it. But he chuckles softly.
“I dunno. It’s up to your dad, we’re on a pretty tight schedule,” he jokes and I smile for the first time, relaxing in his company finally.
“He’s pretty wound up,” I observe.
“Yeah… If I know Mark, he’s been up all night and about due to flake, right when we need to get going,” Max tells me, and I remember that he’s known my dad his whole life, not just mine.
“All packed?” Max asks, changing the subject and draining his coffee. Like my dad, he seems tense as well, like we all just want this part to be over so we can…
Well. I have no idea what Max has in mind, but I’ll feel a hell of a lot better once we’re alone.
I think.
“I’m ready,” I tell him, trying to add a sexy note to my voice, which croaks but instead of being embarrassed, I laugh with Max.
“Well. I’m glad you’re ready,” Max says, getting serious, his own voice growing deep. He’s about to tell me something, when we both hear the whirlwind of dad rushing down the stairs, reminding us both the car to the airport will be here any minute.
“We’ll be there before you know it,” Max says, my fingers brushing his as I take his coffee cup, sending a shiver through me as he gives me a little wink.
That isn’t my imagination.
“Honey! Haven’t you showered yet? Max? What’re you doin’ buddy, we gotta move.”
Dad’s voice is getting higher and he’s more wound up than ever. I can tell he’s nervous about more then just his business trip or letting me travel without him, even with a chaperone.
Both Max and I can tell at a glance, in the way dad’s studying us both that he’s having second thoughts about the whole thing, but it’s too late.
We really are going and like he says, we have to get moving if we’re going to be on time.
Chapter Four
Max
“I forgot what a pain in the ass you are when you get stressed,” I remind Mark, who flushes with momentary anger, then embarrassment.
Charlene has her ear buds in, so I know she’s not listening, her dark sunglasses show me her eyes are closed every time the sun beams through the smoky lenses as the private car whisks us silently towards the airport.
“And I meant what I said about looking out for Charlene,” Mark counters, putting on his boss face for my benefit, as if he’s only just picking up where he left off with his huge list of do’s and don’ts.
He picks up on my reaction, which is a mixture of guilt, but mostly defiance.
Charlene is already mine, she was as soon as she graduated.
I just need to claim her properly.
“I’ll look out for her Mark, you know I will,” I growl, feeling my jaw tighten. The memories of the past between us bubbling up.
“I know you’ll look out for yourself, Mark. You always have…” I add cuttingly with a dry smile.
At first he pretends not to listen, but then seeing Charlene can’t hear us he rolls his eyes and leans in close, his voice hoarse with tension.
“I only did what you wouldn’t do, Max. I took something that was in plain sight, opportunity… don’t judge me for it all these years later. I thought we were well past that.”
I sit back, smiling as I digest his words.
Taking something that’s in plain sight… an opportunity…
I can’t wait to remind Mark of those words, and soon.
“I am past it Mark. I left the company after you stole my ideas and called them your own, remember?”
I went on to set up my own company, a rival to the one Mark now practically runs, but it was never as big. Always looked like I was the one trying to copy him, when in reality it was Mark who took my ideas and ran with them.
