Chapter 35 Max
THIRTY-FIVE
MAX
I wake up to sunlight and warmth surrounding me. I open one eye and find Hunter’s arm draped across my body, his tattooed hand resting on my stomach. I smile and spin in his hold, not surprised to find him awake.
His hair is messy. There’s a drop of blood on his neck, right below his ear, and he’s looking down at me, a dozen questions on the tip of his tongue.
“Good morning.” I yawn and stretch my arms, glancing out the window. “What time is it?”
“Seven.”
“Thank god I’m off from school today. If not, I would’ve been late.”
“I would’ve woken you up. How did you sleep?” he asks, his fingers working out a knot in my hair. “Any nightmares?”
“No. I felt safe with you next to me.”
“I’m glad.” Hunter gives me a lazy grin. “Skyler will be here soon. What are we thinking for breakfast? Pancakes or waffles?”
“Pancakes, obviously.” I pause, a wave of emotion hitting me as I think about where I was twelve hours ago. How different the outcome could’ve been if Hunter hadn’t been at the right place at the right time. “Can we talk about what happened?”
“What do you want to talk about?” He sits up and the sheets pool around his waist. “If you think you owe me details about last night, you don’t, Max. The last thing I want to do is make you relive all of that, and I—”
“I know I don’t, and the last thing I want to do is remember…” I shudder, doing my best to wipe the thought of Connor’s hands on me from my memory. “I want to talk about you. About us.”
“Is this about the tracking device I put on your car?”
“No.” My lips twitch. “Not yet. We’re going to argue about that in a minute.”
“I’m looking forward to it, angel.”
“You… you killed someone for me,” I whisper, and Hunter nods.
“And I’d do it again.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Nothing worth repeating.” Hunter hesitates.
“He told me his dad abused him, and that’s why he acted violently against women.
It made me wonder if that’s how my brain is supposed to be programmed too.
If because my father was a piece of fucking trash, I’m destined to do the same.
Am I going to wake up one day and have the urge to hit someone? ”
“No. No, Hunter. You two are nothing alike.” I crawl into his lap, relieved when his arms fold around me.
“When I came to yesterday and saw Connor, I felt… It was paralyzing fear, Hunter. I believed I was going to die. I believed he was going to hurt me. The moment I saw you… I’ve never experienced joyful relief like that.
The weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders, and you were my savior.
Never, not for one second, have I ever felt like you would harm me.
Your soul is so good, and that’s why I like you so much. ”
“I’d hurt myself before I ever hurt you.” He rests his chin on my shoulder and touches my cheek. “But I need you to do me a favor, Max.”
“What is it?”
“If you see me exhibiting any signs that scare you, I need you to tell me. Okay? I don’t want to turn out like that.
Not with anyone, but especially not with you.
I know a lot of what we’re feeling for each other is physical attraction, but I’m almost done with Fright Nights.
When I have hours every night to sit around and have long dinner conversations with a glass of wine, I want to learn everything about you.
I want to know your favorite color and your biggest dreams. You don’t need me as your savior, Max, but I want to be by your side, holding your hand, for as long as you’ll let me. ”
His words hold weight, and after what I went through, their magnitude is not lost on me.
This is a man I want to keep around. Someone who will be there to help, but will also let me try to handle things on my own.
Our lives and personalities are different.
Down the road, I know we’re going to argue about something stupid, but that excites me.
I’m giddy thinking about what I could get him for Christmas.
Having him around to celebrate my birthday in May and learning when his is.
I never knew what my dream partner looked like, but with Hunter in front of me, I know it’s him, and my heart could burst with excitement about what’s to come.
I throw my arms around his neck, hugging him tight.
I kiss him, and he kisses me back, but it’s not the sensual kind I’m used to with him.
It’s a promise. Tender. A glimpse into what our lives could look like down the road, and it’s everything I want it to be and more.
I don’t care if it’s too fast or if I don’t know enough about him yet.
People always say when you know, you know, and with him, I’m certain.
“Yes,” I whisper against his mouth. “That’s what I want too.”
The doorbell rings, and my phone buzzes. Hunter runs his hand up my spine, squeezing my shoulder. “Skyler is here,” he says. “You two take the living room, and I’ll get breakfast going.”
“Okay.” I kiss him one more time because I can, laughing when his fingers press into my ribs. “What did you do with Connor?”
“Nothing yet. That’s this afternoon’s project. I’m going to be scrubbing the floor for fucking hours, but it’s worth it.” Hunter helps me climb off of him and grabs a sweatshirt to pull on. “It’s not your problem to worry about, and I’ll let you know when I’m finished.”
“Okay.” I smile and stand, heading for the door. “Hey, Hunter?”
“Yeah, angel?”
“I like my pancakes with a lot of syrup. Just… because you want to know everything about me.”
His grin is slow, magnificent. “Coming right up, baby.”
“Oh my god, Max.” Skyler wipes a tear away from her cheek and looks me up and down. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there right away to help and—”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done.” I take her hand in mine. “And you’re here now. That’s what matters.”
“I can’t believe he roofied you. What was his plan? To keep you locked away for the rest of your life?”
“He wanted to kill Hunter, and, in turn, kill me. I don’t know if he would’ve gone through with it, and I’ll never find out. Hunter…” I swallow. “Connor is no longer going to be an issue.”
“He was using a fake name because of his arrest records? The fucking asshole. I swear to god men are pieces of shit. Someone needs to design an app for women that creates a database of men and their personal history. Have they been in jail? Are they divorced? Are they still married even though they claim they are separated? Men hurt us just because we exist, and it’s not fucking fair. ”
“I wish I had a way to tell the women from his past he got what he deserved.” I bring my knees to my chest and sigh. “They can go to sleep tonight knowing their demons are gone.”
“And yours too.” Skyler sniffs and fights back tears. “You’re so strong, Max.”
“I didn’t feel strong in that moment. I felt so weak, even when I tried to fight back. I knew what he was capable of. I knew what was coming, and I just… I accepted it, you know? Through disassociation. But Hunter found me and I… now I’m here.”
“Ladies. I hate to interrupt, but the food is almost ready,” Leo says, gesturing to the kitchen. “If you’d like to join us. Or, if you’d prefer a man-free space, I can deliver your plates here.”
Skyler assesses Leo. “Who are you?”
“Leo Reynolds, at your service,” he answers.
“Do we like him?” she whispers, leaning in, and I giggle.
“Yes. We do. He’s safe to be around. We’ll eat with you all, Leo,” I say, tugging Sky to her feet. “This is Skyler, by the way.”
“Pleasure to meet you. There’s OJ on the table and the world’s biggest bottle of syrup for Max, an apparent sugar lover.” Leo points to the placemats and glasses. “Coffee too, if anyone needs it.”
“Yes please.” Skyler takes a mug and I settle in a chair. “Do you need help, Hunter?”
“Nope. We’re almost ready. You two relax.” There’s an apron tied around his waist, and he flips a pancake with an easy flick of his wrist. His phone lights up on the counter and when his eyes bounce over to it, he groans. “Shit.”
“What?” My spine straightens. “Is it the police?”
“No. It’s Janey.”
“Who is Janey?” I ask.
“Our best friend and haunted house supervisor. She pretends like we aren’t friends during Fright Nights season, but we all know Hunter and I are her favorites,” Leo says with a grin. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s so badass, and she’s constantly putting Hunter in his place.”
“Is she?” I laugh. “I have a feeling I’m going to love her.”
“You gonna answer it, Hunt?”
“If I don’t, she’s going to keep calling.” He groans and taps the screen, putting the call on speakerphone. “Hey, J. What’s up?”
“What’s up? What’s up? What’s up is both you and Leo cut out of work early last night, and now I hear you’re not going to be there tonight?
It’s October 29th, Hunter. One of the biggest nights of the year.
We’re down two actors, and I just found out I have a whole fucking hockey team from DC booked for VIP tours that are going to slow our line down multiple times this evening. I need you there.”
“I’m sorry. I really am, but I need another night at home.
” Hunter runs his hand through his hair.
“You know I care about Fright Nights, but I care about this situation more. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important to me.
Please, J. This is…” He flips another pancake, and I watch his shoulders curl in. “This is up there with Mom.”
The silence on the other end of the line is broken by a heavy sigh, and Janey must know about his past.
“It’s that serious?” she asks.
“Yes,” Hunter says without a second thought. “It’s that serious.”
“Okay. I can give you the night off only if you swear on our friendship you’ll be there tomorrow.”
“I will. I’ll be early. I’ll stay late. I will scare the shit out of people like I’ve never scared before. I’ll give the best Halloween performance Adventure Oasis has ever seen.”
“Fine, but I need Leo tonight. I can’t cover for both of your asses.”
“He’ll be there. Thank you, Janey. Really. You’re the best.”
“I know I am.”
They exchange a round of goodbyes, and Hunter’s shoulders sag with relief. He doles out the food onto plates, adding slices of bacon to accompany the pancakes. He takes the seat next to me and touches my knee under the table with a smile.
“You don’t need to skip work for me,” I say.
“I know I don’t, but I want to. When I tell Janey what happened, she’ll understand.”
“Does she know about your… side hustle?”
“You’re making it sound like I belong to a pyramid scheme, angel.” Hunter douses his pancakes in syrup and nods. “But, yes. She knows about my side hustle. She also knows how protective I am of the people I care about, so it won’t come as a surprise.”
“Wait. Do I need to pay you for killing Connor?” I ask, keeping my voice low. “You normally get compensated for that kind of thing, right?”
“Yeah, but your money is no good here.” He smiles at me. “Instead, how about dinner on November 1st?”
“I think my calendar is free.” My smile matches his, and butterflies swarm in my stomach. “It’s a date.”