Beak Performance (Fangs on Ice #3)

13. Thirteen

Thirteen

Arne

M ax and I left the tent. Once we’d grabbed bottles of alcohol-free beer, we let the crowd pull us along. I loved fairs. The smells and lights had fascinated me since childhood. Sharing this with my raven was even better.

He relaxed with every step we took away from the tent. I’d spent my evenings without him reading everything I could find on autism.

I bet he finds it overwhelming. Poor baby.

I’d come here today with the intention of being his anchor. Help him cope; it was the least I could do as his boyfriend.

Oh my God. I nearly choked on my drink. We hadn’t even discussed what we were. I mean, yeah we’d fooled around…

And it was a life changing experience. I can’t just assume that makes us boyfriends though, can I?

“Hey Cap, wanna ride the Ferris wheel with me?” When I turned, Max was looking at me, all fierce and excited. He hadn’t noticed my inner turmoil. I schooled my features to keep it that way.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

I’ll do anything for you.

“Good. Come on.”

There wasn’t much room for the two of us in that little cabin. Our thighs were practically touching. I put my hand on the bench between us, wanting to be even closer.

“Nervous, Cap?” he asked.

Cheeky.

“Nope, you?”

“Always when you’re near me,” Max admitted.

The Ferris wheel moved, elevating us over the crowd.

Max scanned the area, then laced his fingers through mine. Even though no one below could see, my heart threatened to burst out of my chest.

“Lovely view, right?” Our eyes met, holding onto the other’s for a moment.

“Yeah, lovely,” I affirmed, briefly closing my hand around his. Max bit his lip and smiled ahead, the wind tousling the feathers at his neck.

We held hands right to the end, and I didn’t want to let go.

“Want to see where the others are?” Max asked.

“We should… But I want to buy something for us first.”

I led the way to a stall where they sold brightly coloured sweets, decorated gingerbread hearts, and candy floss.

Is it weird to get him one of those heart things?

I was clueless about what they said.

“Anything you fancy?”

His head snapped around, the dark eyes swirling with shadows. ‘You’ , his eyes said.

I know, Raven.

“I suppose it would be weird to buy two of these hearts,” I muttered.

“Yeah.” Max looked upset. “I never even liked them but… I guess I’ll have one of these bananas dipped in chocolate.”

I got us two bananas and two hearts and asked for a bag. I was so tempted to take his hand and walk around the fair with him, like Ollie and Bo or Nate and Vee, who were just a few metres in front of us. With his arms around the giant chicken man, Nate looked up, completely awestruck.

I heaved a sigh. “This sucks.”

“It does. It’ll be better when...” Max broke off, so I checked what distracted him. He held his phone; its screen kept lighting up.

Fuck, is that his ex again?

I didn’t even have to ask. I knew from the way his shoulders tensed and how his hand gripped the phone. He told the guy never to call him again. Why the fuck wasn’t he listening?

I have to find out why he keeps harassing Max.

“Want me to walk you home, Raven?” I asked him when the guy had hung up.

“Yeah, thanks.”

We walked in silence, hands in pockets to avoid touching.

We arrived at his apartment much sooner than expected. I really didn’t like it. But I couldn’t stay, and I didn’t want to be alone with him. He was still stuck in that mess with his ex.

And I am straight. Well, more or less.

“Do you wanna come apple picking with me tomorrow? We could go on a hike and then to the orchard?” I blurted out. The idea had been brewing in my mind since he’d taken my hand on the Ferris wheel. Apple picking sounded like a cute and romantic date Max might enjoy.

So straight.

“That sounds great, yeah. When?”

“I’ll pick you up at half past two?”

Max nodded, teeth digging into his plush bottom lip again. I longed to pull it free and kiss him again.

“Me, too, Cap, me too,” he muttered. Shit. My thoughts had shown on my face. “I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yes. Don’t forget this. It’s yours.” I held the gingerbread heart out to him.

“Do you know what it says?” Max pursed his lips as he took it from me. “Thank you.”

“No, I don’t.” My German was only good enough to order drinks and do my shopping. I should practice more, but hockey always got in the way.

“It says ‘Fescher Bua’. That’s ‘hot guy’ in English.”

My cheeks heated. I’d asked the guy to surprise me with two of the hearts.

“And the other one?” I asked to gloss over my embarrassment.

The bag crinkled when Max pulled it out.

“Herzerl. The Bavarian version of darling,” he explained.

“So you should have them both,” I told him, making him laugh.

“You take this.” He gave me the one that read ‘hot guy’, picking the other for himself.

My brain went haywire. I thought I was having an aneurysm.

No. You’re just hopelessly in love.

I walked home through the balmy night air and found a message from Max on my phone when I arrived at my place.

Max: I wanted to kiss you so badly

Max: Will have to make it up to you tomorrow

Max: Sweet dreams, Cap x

For a moment, I felt sick to my stomach about what I was doing. I’d taken Max under my wing.

I’m his captain. What the fuck am I doing?

But, my God, I just had to be near him.

He doesn’t want you to stay away.

As always Max was the last thing on my mind before I fell asleep.

I would take care of my raven and relieve him of whatever weight he carried on his shoulders. And that ex of his—that asshole—would learn his lesson.

You don’t mess with what’s mine.