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I giggle, squeezing his hand. “I love seeing you like this.”
He pulls my hand to his lips. “And I love seeing you relaxed and happy.”
My phone beeps, notifying me of a text. I pull it from the pocket of my sweatshirt, laughing when I see Darin’s name.
“Let me guess. Darin wants to know if I’m cooking tonight before the Monday night football game?”
Reading it, I laugh. “You know him well. That’s exactly what he’s asking. He said he texted you, but you didn’t answer.”
Max looks over at me. “He did. But I was too busy with you to worry about answering him.”
I blush, thinking about the quickie in the bathroom coffee shop. Max bent me over the sink, shoving our clothes aside and sliding inside me. Then he told me to watch us in the mirror as he fucked me.
God, that was so fucking hot.
“That old lady was pissed when we walked out of the bathroom, adjusting our clothing.” I giggle, my cheeks turning pink, wondering how much she heard.
Max chuckles. “I thought she was going to have a stroke.”
Laughing, I shift in my seat. “We are going to get banned from the coffee shop if we keep having sex in the bathroom.”
“Nah. We’re the best customers they have, coming in at least once a day. That would be a mistake.”
I shake my head, looking at my phone. “Should I tell Darin you are making lasagna and garlic bread tonight?”
“Yes, let the fat bastard know he can come over for dinner.”
I laugh as my fingers move across my phone, responding to Darin. The two of them tease one another all the time. A couple of days ago, Darin said that Max is getting ‘skinny’ from not being able to lift in the gym, and Max told Darin he is getting ‘fat’ since he’s too lazy to go to the gym without Max. That resulted in Darin referring to Max as a ‘skinny asshole’, while Max called Darin a ‘fat bastard.’
“The two of you have the best bromance I’ve ever seen.”
Max moves his eyes from the road, a smile on his face. He studies me for a few minutes, then looks back at the road. “Still nothing from Vanessa?”
“Nope.” Turning my head, sadness fills my heart as I look out the passenger side window. “Dad texted me earlier, asking the same thing.”
“Sorry, love.” Max’s hand wraps around mine reassuringly. “Don’t give up on her. She’ll come to her senses.”
I sigh. “Hopefully. She’s quite stubborn, though.”
Max pulls into a parking spot, cutting the engine. He turns in his seat, facing me. “She will, love. I’m sure it’s not just what happened with you, but her whole fucked up family situation, that is messing with her head. Plus classes. She’s going through a lot.”
I give him a grateful smile. “You always put things in perspective.”
He grins. “It’s what I do.” Releasing my hand, he hops out and heads around the vehicle, opening my door. I take his hand, sliding out of the passenger side. As soon as my feet hit the pavement, he starts making plans.
“Which side of the trail do you want to start with?” He points his finger. “To the left or the right?”
“How about we start with the trail on the right?” As I turn toward it, I suck in a breath as my eyes lock on Vanessa.
Max stares at her for a minute, then at me. “Why don’t we go talk to her?”
I hesitate for a few beats, staring at her. Finally, I nod, nervousness gripping me as I cling to Max’s hand, walking toward her. She is standing still, her arms crossed over her chest, shuffling from foot to foot. As we get closer, I notice her hand trembling.
“I need to apologize to both of you.” Vanessa heaves out a long breath, her gaze going to Max. “I’m sorry for what I said to you. I know you were just defending Irelynn, as you always do. That’s why she loves you so much. You offer her unconditional support and love. And you always have her back, defending her.” Her green eyes move to mine. Tears well in them as her chin quivers, barely holding onto her composure. “I’m so fucking sorry, Irelynn.” She draws in a breath. “I hated what happened to you, and it was shocking for me to hear you defend William. But that doesn’t excuse the way I acted or the things I said to you.”
Tears roll down my face as I release Max’s hand and step closer to her. Unable to form words, I simply open my arms. Vanessa falls into my embrace, and we stand there, crying together.
When I pull back, she’s wiping her eyes. There’s so much sorrow in them as she says, “I’ve missed you so much. And I was so hurt by the shit going on with my family that I… I think I took some of it out on you.” She shakes her head. “I’m such an idiot. You’ve always been my best friend and I…”
