Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
SAbrINA
Looking over at my phone, I see the screen flash MAX before it goes dark again. With an exaggerated groan, I press my head back into the sofa cushions and silently curse. This man is going to annoy me to death.
Whose bright idea was it to give him my number?
Ever since our little heart-to-heart, come-to-Jesus moment last week, he’s been reaching out at least once a day. At first, it was just a quick hello , how’s it going type of check-in. Like a sucker, I thought it was a nice gesture and texted back. We were friendly again, trying to be civil adults and build a working relationship. Responding was the normal thing to do.
That unleashed the texting beast.
Now, I get texts from him constantly throughout the day. Videos and voice memos too. Every time I open one of my social apps, I look for messages from him. He’s constantly on my mind, and it’s a weird feeling.
And damn, I wish I could ignore the messages. I wish I could just send him an emoji in acknowledgment and that be it, but the son of a bitch is using his knowledge of me against me. He knows which topics I can’t resist.
Wiping the salty crumbs of the chips I was eating on my leggings, I reach for my cell. I click into his text, and my eyes widen at the image he’s sent.
Oh my God, that thing has to be at least a foot long, glistening and dripping with juice as Max’s hand holds it firm. It’s almost too big for his hand to clutch securely.
That is one big wiener.
MAX: Cheat day snack. Why are the best hot dogs in Winnipeg?
SAbrINA: A foot-long hot dog is a snack to you! Oh, to have your metabolism.
SAbrINA: And I have no idea why they’re the best. They just are. Maybe it has something to do with the cold?
MAX: Definitely not the cold. Nothing compares to Calgary cold.
That is accurate. Last time I was in Calgary reporting on a Juniors game, I swear I almost lost a toe. It was so cold.
MAX: My metabolism is on point, but I’ll pay for this indulgence in the gym tomorrow. The team trainer is eyeing me right now and not impressed with my protein snack choice.
SAbrINA: You scored two goals last night and clinched the game with your last assist. I think the trainer can cool it on his judgy eyes.
MAX: Aww, you watched, Bean? You truly are obsessed with your best friend.
There is absolutely no way I’m going to tell him that I watched the Toronto Nighthawks game last night because of him. Watching sports is part of my job. Only I know that my eyes followed him like a hawk, and I found myself watching him instead of the action of the game. That is a secret I’ll die to protect.
SAbrINA: It’s my job, idiot. I have to watch hockey games in order to report on them.
After I press Send, I instantly want to take it back. I’m in between reporting jobs right now. He knows this and has every right to catch me in my lie.
But he doesn’t.
MAX: Sure, let’s go with that and that you didn’t watch because you’re amazed by my talent. Now that we’re BFFs again, you can admit these things to me. I get it.
SAbrINA: We are definitely not BFFs - you’re delulu. We just started talking again. If anything, we’re friendly-ish.
MAX: According to my records, we’ve talked every day for the past week, AND you’ve watched all my games. We’re totally BFFs.
How in the goddamn hell does he know I watched all his games this week? The man is a frickin’ warlock. Even with that thought in my head, I find myself grinning like an idiot at the screen. He is such a dumbass.
SAbrINA: Whatever, crazy.
I don’t really have a good defense against his comment, so I leave it at that. My lips purse in thought. Do I tell him what an awesome game it was? Or would that just feed his ego even more and lead him to believe…whatever he wants to believe about our friendship?
My fingers begin typing, but I pause when I see his next message pop up.
MAX: Boarding our flight now, Bean. See you in two days.
I delete my half-written message. Dodged that bullet.
As I read over his message again, it hits me that the filming of his documentary series starts in two days. The preparation and planning for the series are all done, both on my end and production’s, but time has honestly flown by. Nerves and excitement swirl in my belly at the thought.
I am ready.
Ready for this new path in my career. Ready for something new and different.
But if I’m really being honest with myself, I’m also ready to get to know Max in a new light.
And that is terrifying.