Chapter 47
47
MAX
For the past half an hour, my heart had raced so much that I thought it was gonna fly out of my chest.
And I’d used so many serviettes from the bar to wipe the sweat off my forehead I was sure the barman was gonna add it to my tab.
But when Stella spotted me and her face broke into a huge smile, all of the nerves vanished and every atom in my body came alive.
She looked happy to see me.
Thank fuck for that.
First hurdle down, several more to go.
God, she looked beautiful.
Stella was dressed in a long yellow floral dress and she looked like sunshine. All I wanted to do was jump up, pull her into me and kiss her. But I had to wait. Go at her pace.
I’d said to Colton that I wanted to do things properly and I meant it.
‘Max!’ she shouted. ‘What are you… how come you’re here? ’
‘Stell.’ I took her hands in mine. ‘I asked your mum to bring you here because there’s something I need to tell you.’
‘Mum?’ Her head spun around to face her mum. ‘You knew Max would be here?’ She nodded. ‘I… I have so many questions!’
‘Maybe save them until later, love. He’s trying to tell you something!’
‘Yeah, course. Sorry!’ Stella turned back to me.
‘So, I’m not good at expressing myself but I… Even though it’s only been a week since we came back from The Love Hotel, I missed you. So much . Those two weeks together were some of the best in my life. And I want more of it. I want more fun times together. I missed waking up with you. I missed you lying on my chest. I missed snuggling up on the sofa and watching Ted Lasso with you. I missed hearing you laugh, seeing your smile, touching you…’
‘Ooh, hello!’ Heather – Stella’s mum – gasped. ‘Oops. Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Do continue!’
‘I miss everything. I don’t want to be without you, Stella. I love you and I want to be with you. If you’re interested, I’d like us to be together.’
Stella stood there staring at me, her mouth open.
It was obvious she was in shock, but I couldn’t work out whether it was good shock or no fucking way shock.
Seconds passed in silence, but it felt like hours. I knew she’d be surprised to see me, but I was hoping she was still interested.
When I played the songs she’d added on the playlist, which included Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’ it seemed like it, but as the silence stretched, my nerves came back.
‘Well, say something, Stella! Put the poor guy out of his misery!’
‘Yes!’ she shouted, snapping out her trance. ‘Sorry, I was just, I wasn’t expecting you to be here or to say all those things so I just needed a moment to take it all in. To check I wasn’t dreaming. It seems a bit surreal. Being in the Ted Lasso pub with the man I’ve always loved telling me he loves me too and wants to be with me. This is real, right?’
‘Yep.’ I brushed my thumb over her cheek, then paused as I replayed what she’d just said. ‘Wait. Did you just say you’ve always loved me?’
‘I did,’ she said quickly.
‘Well, shit.’ I grinned, my heart inflating like a hot air balloon. ‘I thought I was the only one. The truth is, I never stopped loving you. I don’t know if there was ever a day that I didn’t think of you. Whenever I saw something funny or interesting, I always wanted to tell you about it. Or I’d wonder what you were doing and how you were.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. But I was never brave enough to get in touch. Not after how badly I’d messed things up. I didn’t think I deserved to speak to you again. I thought you deserved someone better.’
‘I wish you’d tried, but it doesn’t matter now. That’s in the past. Let’s just focus on the future.’
‘ Our future. Together .’
‘I like the sound of that,’ she smiled and my heart swelled.
‘Good. Can I kiss you now?’ I grinned.
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
I leant forward and pressed my lips onto hers. My body lit up like a fireworks display.
God, I’d missed the softness of her lips. As our mouths moved against each other, I wrapped my arms around her waist, then trailed my hands down her back.
After sliding my tongue in her mouth, the kiss deepened. Our lips grew hungrier, like it had been years since we’d kissed instead of just days. Stella’s hand grabbed my arse and she pressed her body against me, my rock-hard cock prodding her stomach.
The loud sound of someone clearing their throat snapped us out of our kiss and we pulled away.
I’d completely forgotten we were in a busy pub. When I was kissing Stella, it was like nothing else existed.
‘Sorry,’ Stella apologised to the woman glaring at us.
‘Don’t apologise!’ Heather chirped. ‘This is wonderful! I’m so happy for you both! Are you going to tell her about the other thing?’
‘What other thing?’ Stella frowned.
‘Oh. Oh, yeah!’ I chuckled. ‘I got a bit distracted. So.’ I took Stella’s hands and fixed my gaze on her. ‘Remember how I was just saying that I didn’t want to be without you?’
‘Yeah,’ she nodded.
‘Well, remember I’ve gotta go away on business for a couple of months?’ Stella nodded again and my heart thudded. ‘I was kinda wondering if you’d like to come with me? The thought of being away from you for that long kills me. I’ll pay for your flight and take care of all the expen…’
‘I’d love to!’ She threw her arms around me. From how tightly she was squeezing me, I could tell she was happy, which was a relief. My shoulders loosened. ‘But when? I thought you had to leave soon?’
‘Yeah. Flight leaves in four hours.’
‘I didn’t realise you were leaving today! I want to come, but I’d need to arrange cover for work. And find my passport which has disappeared so I couldn’t do all that before check-in. And don’t I need a visa or some official paperwork to travel too?’
‘It’s all taken care of,’ I said calmly. ‘Your mum’s been really helpful. Between her and my secretary, Rita, they got everything prepared. ’
Stella’s mouth opened to speak, then closed again. I could hear the cogs in her brain turning at a million miles an hour.
‘And I haven’t packed. I don’t have any clothes or toiletries!’
‘Your mum packed a suitcase with the essentials. But if you need anything else, we can buy it there.’
‘Oh my God,’ Stella laughed. ‘I don’t know what to say. Thanks! Wait. Is that why I couldn’t find my passport the other day, or my mascara and lipstick?’
‘That’s right,’ Heather nodded. ‘I packed all your favourites. Not your Waterfall Turbo 3,000 though. Didn’t think you’d need it with Max around!’
‘Mum!’ Stella burst out laughing. I did too. She was lucky to have a mum who was so cool.
‘There’s some new thongs in there too. Max said you’d lost the others,’ she winked.
I may have lied about them getting lost . I couldn’t exactly tell Heather that I’d ripped them off her daughter because I couldn’t wait to bury myself inside her.
‘Thanks, Mum,’ Stella smiled. ‘How did you even get the suitcase to Max?’
‘He collected it this morning.’
‘That’s why I heard the door?’ Stella asked and her mum nodded. ‘Wow! You two are good. Devious, but dangerously good!’
‘I thought seeing as it’s for a great cause, you wouldn’t mind. I couldn’t bear to see you moping around the house any more.’
At least I wasn’t the only one who’d been moping. I expected Stella to brush it off, but she didn’t.
‘It’s true.’ She wrapped her arm around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder. ‘I was really sad without you.’
‘Me too. I’m sorry it took so long to get in touch. I wanted to call you sooner, but I needed to organise everything first. And I felt really bad about not replying to your text yesterday, but I knew if I did, I’d say something to spoil the surprise.’
‘All is forgiven!’ Stella kissed me softly on the lips.
‘Thank God,’ I said. ‘There’s just one more thing I need to ask you.’
‘What’s that?’ Stella said.
‘Your mum mentioned you’ve been busy setting up your own design business. And I wondered if you’d consider taking on a new client? As you know, we’ve got a new range coming out and we’re looking for someone amazing to create our branding and marketing materials. I sent your sketches to my team and they loved them. Obviously you’ll need to send us a quote and everything, but we’d like you to start as soon as possible. Maybe you could work on it whilst we’re away. What do you think?’
‘I’d love to!’ Stella jumped up and down on the spot before throwing her arms around my neck. ‘Thank you. I won’t let you down!’
‘You’re welcome. And I know. You’re so talented and now more people will get the chance to see that.’
Stella flashed the smile that I loved so much.
‘Awww, you two.’ Heather hugged us, tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘I’m so glad you’re together. I always thought you were made for each other. Right.’ She broke away. ‘I’ve done enough third-wheeling for today. I’ll leave you lovebirds to it. Hope you have the best time together. Message me when you land and send pictures!’
‘Will do,’ Stella said. ‘And Mum…’ Stella moved her arms from my neck, grabbed her mum and gave her another big hug. ‘Thanks so much for everything. Without you, I’d never have gone to The Love Hotel, I wouldn’t have been reunited with Max again and I wouldn’t be going to America and Australia! Still can’t believe it! ’
‘You’re welcome, darling. Take care of yourself and your lovely man.’ Heather kissed Stella on the cheek. ‘Love you.’ She waved then left the pub.
‘So.’ I took Stella’s hand and led her to two seats that had just become vacant. ‘Fancy grabbing a quick bite and a drink here, then having a little wander around Ted Lasso’s town before we head to the airport?’
‘Sounds perfect!’
‘Oh, and I’ve downloaded the final season on my iPad so we can watch it together on the plane too.’
‘Amazing!’
‘I’m so damn happy. Y’know, I always thought you were the one that got away. But now I know you’ll always be the one . I love you, Stella Matthews.’
‘I love you too, Max Moore.’
As our lips touched and we kissed again, I was so glad we’d been given a second chance to be together.
And I knew that the second time around was going to be even better than the first.