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Cayson looked approvingly at Max and then back at me. “Well, what kind of pie would you like? Anything you want.”
Max shrugged and looked at me. “I like black olives, mushrooms, and lots of cheese. What about you?”
“That sounds good to me.” I looked over at Cayson. “Throw a few slices of pepperoni on half and we’ll be good.”
“Sure thing.” He reached for a ball of dough and held it up with a brow raised in my direction.
I knew what he was getting at and gave him an imperceptible nod.
“Max, you want a ball of dough to play with while you wait?”
His eyes lit up and he nodded. “Yeah, cool. Thanks!”
For the next twenty minutes, Cayson and I caught up while Max played with the dough like slime, and then practiced tossing it in the air and trying to catch it with his fingertips. He wasn’t exactly a natural with the dough, but it kept him entertained until Cayson slid a piping-hot pie in front of us.
“Mangia!”
And we did. We finished the pizza and then dug into tiramisu that Cayson’s mom delivered fresh every morning. By the time we got up to leave, we were both moaning in pain and ready to walk the long way back to my place.
It was the best afternoon ever.
20
MAX
Living with James was a bit of an adjustment. I couldn’t hide my messes or procrastinate on chores like I did in my apartment. In fact, within the first few days of living in his house, I had new rules about picking up after myself and not going to bed with dirty dishes left out.
But I actually loved the rules he gave me because they helped me stay organized. I never got overwhelmed by what needed to be done because things never piled up. And when I did get lazy one night and left an ice cream bowl and empty juice box on the coffee table before going to bed, I finally learned what it meant to be punished.
James had worked late that night, so I was already asleep when he slipped into bed. He didn’t mention anything at all, cuddling me against his chest and whispering sweet words to lull me back to sleep like he always did.
But when the alarm went off at six, a full hour earlier than I usually got up, I knew something was up. “Why are we getting up so early?”
James didn’t reach for my dick like he did most mornings but just slipped out of bed instead. “Get dressed, Max.”
“Max?” He never called me by my name. My heart immediately started pounding as I sat up. “What’s wrong?”
“Just get dressed.” When he saw the fear on my face, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Good morning, sunshine. Now please get dressed and meet me in the living room.”
I knew something was up, but I did as I was told and slowly walked out to the living room. One of the dining chairs that we almost never used was pushed into the far corner, facing the wall. I turned to James, confused. “What’s happening?”
He pointed to my mess on the table and gave me a pointed look.
Shit. I knew instantly what he was mad about. “Oh, sorry. I was tired, but I’ll clean up now.” I reached for the bowl, but James held out his hand to stop me.
“That’s not the rule, Max. The rule is that you clean up immediately after yourself. And if you don’t, there are consequences.”
“Consequences?” I looked at the chair in the corner and back to him.
“Yes, you’ll sit in the corner for fifteen minutes. No talking. No moving. Just thinking about why we have rules and why you chose to break it.”
“It was just?—”
James held up his hand. “No more talking. Please take a seat and don’t move until the timer goes off.”
Sitting in the corner wasn’t a big deal, but something about the fact that he was disappointed in me just broke my heart. I shuffled to the chair and sat down, immediately feeling my eyes well with tears. I wanted to apologize and beg for forgiveness, but I also wanted to prove that I could follow rules.
If he wanted me to sit quietly for fifteen minutes, I could do that. I would do that.
