Chapter 7
Eve
After the waitressapproached to clear our plates, we didn’t discuss age again, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. As we left the restaurant and drove home, I fought a mental war while carrying on a normal conversation.
My pole friends seemed to think any age difference is no big deal. And honestly, it shouldn’t be. I wouldn’t think twice if a man was that much older than a woman he was dating. So why am I so hung up on the reverse?
Max pulled into Aunt Winnie’s driveway before I had an answer to that question.
“Would you like to take a walk on the beach before heading inside?”
The weather is perfect and the full moon reflecting off the water looks so beautiful, I’d love to take a closer look.
“I’d like that.”
He smiled and stepped out of the truck. I got scolded at the restaurant when I didn’t wait for him to open my door, so I waited for him to do it this time.
I took his hand to steady myself as I stepped down and he held onto it as we made our way across the yard. He let go long enough for me to remove my sandals, but then took it again.
We walked straight toward the water then stopped just shy of the tide. Max directed me in front of him and put his hands on my shoulders. My heart pounded, but I have no idea if it’s because of the breathtaking view in front of me or the sexy man behind me.
He stepped closer until his front skimmed my back and rested his chin on my shoulder. His voice vibrated against my ear when he spoke.
“I had a really great time tonight, Eve.”
The wind kicked up and I shivered. He slid his hands up and down my arms, warming them before pulling me back against him and wrapping his arms around my waist. I nodded in agreement then leaned my head against his shoulder and enjoyed the view of the moonlight shining off the rippling waves.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re older than me. How many couples are exactly the same age?” I assumed that was a rhetorical question so I stayed silent. “We’re both adults. There’s no reason we shouldn’t see each other again. Unless you don’t want to?”
How could I not? From the first time I laid eyes on Max, I had a feeling of déjà vu. Even now, I feel like I know him, even though we’ve only spent a few hours together. That has to be a sign of something, right? I just need to get over myself, take a chance, and explore whatever it is.
I shook my head, then realized he could interpret that two ways.
Shifting my head slightly to look up at him, I said, “I want to.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up into an adorable smile as he turned me in the circle of his arms and pressed his mouth to mine. His kiss was tentative at first, a mere brushing of lips, but it still felt amazing. And that was just the start.
He nibbled at my bottom lip then gently tugged and fully opened his mouth over mine. I dropped my sandals and wrapped my arms around his neck, melting against his chest. I matched his tongue stroke for stroke and our surroundings faded away as all my senses focused on the taste and feel of the man in my arms.
Max tightened his hold, pulling me onto my tiptoes and I groaned as my tight nipples pressed against his hard chest. His mouth was still feasting on mine and with one arm wrapped around my waist holding me in place, he slowly stroked his hand up to cup my breast. Sensation zinged down to my clit when he flicked his thumb against my nipple and I leaned my hips into him, pressing against his erection. He pushed into me once, twice, three times before pulling back slightly to put some space between us. My heels settled onto the sand as Max loosened his hold and slowly ended the kiss.
Max
I carriedthe last sheet of drywall into the house and set it down against the rest of the stack. Pop and I are done building structures at the festival grounds and picked up where we left off on our job list. Today we’re hanging drywall in the two-car garage we built for Mitch Beckett last spring. He didn’t plan on putting up walls, but his wife didn’t like the look of the bare studs. So here we are.
The job should be relatively easy, but it is labor intensive. Which suits me just fine today. It’s been two days since my date with Eve and I still get a semi when I think about that kiss. I don’t remember the last time I got so turned on while still fully clothed. Probably not since I was a horny teenager. Hopefully the physical work will keep my libido under control.
“We’ll start down there,” Pop said, pointing to the back wall.
I picked up the drills and set them on the floor over where we’ll be working, while he filled his toolbelt with screws. When he was done, he picked up a piece of drywall.
“I can do it,” I said.
“So can I.”
He walked past me, grumbling under his breath. Instead of arguing with him, I grabbed a sheet, carried it across the garage, and set it next to his. We did that twice more, then started hanging.
“Your mother called last night,” he said.
Thankfully he had enough screws in so when I flinched, the drywall didn’t fall. He finished securing it to the wall before answering.
“What did she want?”
I set the next sheet into place and waited for him to answer.
“She asked if you’re okay.” He drilled a screw into place. “Said she’s been calling you but you’re not picking up and haven’t called her back. That true?”
“Yeah.”
He shrugged and continued working. I thought he’d say more about their conversation, but as we finished hanging the drywall, he was either quiet or spoke about work.
I looked around the garage, happy with our progress. Aside from a few special cuts, the drywall is hung. When we come back from lunch, one of us will take care of those while the other starts taping the seams.
We normally bring something to eat on site, but we’re working right down the block from Whitman”s Cafe so decided to eat there instead. It’s a win-win as far as I’m concerned. We’ll have a delicious lunch and Pop will actually have to take a real break.
The cafe is crowded this time of day, but we found a table for two near the back. After placing our orders, Pop headed to the bathroom to clean up and when he returned, I did the same. As I washed my hands, I chuckled at my reflection. My dark hair is sprinkled with drywall dust, giving it a salt and pepper look. I dampened a paper towel and ran it over my hair to clear out the worst of it then headed back out to the table.
“So why aren’t you answering your mother?” Pop asked once I got settled.
“You know she only calls me when she wants something.” I took a drink of water then shook my head. “Last time she was badgering me to do that reunion show.”
“You should at least answer to see what she wants.”
“It will only aggravate me.”
I don’t know why Pop is essentially sticking up for her. She never calls him either. But I didn’t say that. There’s no reason to point out what is a touchy subject.
Theoretically I suppose I love my mother, I just don’t like her very much. She’s the quintessential stage mom and once I removed that element from our relationship, we no longer had one.
“Well, she sounded worried.”
I snorted.
“She probably has a deadline for whatever she wants me to sign up for. If she just wanted to reconnect, she’d leave a message stating that.”
Our food arrived and the conversation was paused while we dug in. Thinking about my mother always raises my blood pressure, which is why I try to avoid it. Usually it’s easy. It’s an out of sight, out of mind kind of thing.
I’ve been living in Seaside working as a handyman for twelve years. I feel so far removed from my life before that, sometimes I can’t believe it actually happened. Unfortunately, there’s proof of that time showing daily in reruns.
“I’m not getting any younger, you know,” Pop said. “I just don’t want you to be alone when I’m gone. Your mother is the only family you have.”
I popped the last bite of burger into my mouth and chewed as I pondered his words.
“First of all, I don’t want to talk or think about a time when you’re not here. And second, my mother has let it be known that she only wants one kind of relationship with me and that’s not one I’m interested in.”
“There has to be a middle ground for the two of you.”
“Pop, she wouldn’t take my calls for five years after I moved here. Five years. And she only called me then because she wanted me to do an interview for one of those stupid where-are-they-now shows.” I shook my head. “As if I want people to know where I am now.”
“She’s getting older too. Maybe she’s changed her priorities.”
If that was the case, she’d work on her relationship with Pop too, and that hasn’t happened.
“I doubt it.” I took a drink. “For years I wished Tally Corbin was the kind of mother who made me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and tucked me in to bed. Instead, she ran me from one audition to another and negotiated contracts.”
Our relationship worked until I decided I didn’t want to act anymore, which was right around the time I turned eighteen. I was overweight and pre-diabetic, but was reprimanded when I made some lifestyle changes to lose weight. In Chase and Corbin, I played the chubby, unpopular geek. The role of handsome ladies’ man belonged to my co-star, Chase Collins.
“I didn’t think it was all bad. If I did, I would’ve stepped in.”
“It wasn’t until I got older and wanted some control,” I said. “But I’m grateful for the experience and the fact that Mom always protected me. You know the nightmare lives some child actors had. So it could have been worse.”
I’m also grateful for the fact that while my real name is Maxwell Kendrick Corbin, I acted under the name Corbin Kendrick. Obviously that could be discovered with an internet search, but Max Corbin is a common enough name that I haven’t had issues with fans knocking on my door. I suppose I have my mother to thank for that, too. Even though I’m not willing to do interviews anymore, she could certainly do them and tell the world what I’m up to these days.
Pop fought me for the bill and he paid, then we walked back to the Beckett garage.
“I’ll start taping,” he said. “You can fill in the rest of the drywall.”
As I got to work, our lunchtime conversation ran through my head. Even though I feel far removed from Chase and Corbin, it’s very much a part of my life. I haven’t mentioned it to the women I spent time with because most of them were transient. Even though we’ve only had one date, I already know Eve is different. So I suppose I should tell her.
It actually works in my favor that she’s a little older than me. She’s probably never even seen the show.