Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Maximillian
“Did you know whiskey cures wedding-planning-induced insanity?” I mutter, savoring the burn as it slides down my throat. The amber liquid warms my chest, a shield against the madness Liam’s describing.
It’s supposed to be a guys’ night, which doesn’t happen often since two out of the four amigos defected from our lifestyle. Liam got engaged to my little sister, and Ethan got married. Along with them and Caleb, we have been inseparable for as long as I can remember. Neighbors, best friends . . . even brothers-in-arms. Well, that’s just Cal, Ethan, and me who, at eighteen, enlisted together, went through the grueling training, and became SEALs.
Liam went as far as moving to San Diego and chose a different path. He’s our business guy. Once we retired, we set up a high intelligence security company. We obviously have a different dynamic now, but are still best friends. Usually, when Liam and Caleb are in town, we come to the bar to hang out and have fun. Today, even my brother Jacob joined us since Mom made him come to visit.
Before when we got together, we really partied. Now it’s so different. My soon-to-be brother-in-law is in the middle of another tale about the joys of wedding planning. His usually cheerful demeanor is pinched as he recounts how our mothers are driving him to the brink of madness, and my little sister is contemplating a name change and international relocation to escape their combined enthusiasm—or what I like to call madness.
“And it’s not even the wedding. That’s just the friends and family celebration for those who won’t join us in Fiji for the ceremony,” Liam grunts, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
In my personal opinion, he should elope. There’s no way he can keep his mom, my mom, and his bride happy. But I’ll just keep my mouth shut, smile and support him with whatever he needs. That’s what friends are for, right? Unless my sister asks for that new name and transportation to another country—I’ll get her out and keep him away if that’s what she wishes. After all, she’s my little sister and I would do anything for her.
Ethan leans forward. “Is your grandmother going to Fiji?” he asks before taking a sip of his beer.
“Yeah, she’s in remission, thank fuck.” Liam’s shoulders sag with visible relief. “Now I just have to make sure my bride doesn’t run away,” he adds with a wry chuckle.
“Sounds like pure bliss, man. Arguing over centerpieces and appetizers, what more could a guy ask for?”
“Mostly I’m hoping that your dad doesn’t hire a hit man to finish me,” he half-jokes.
Dad isn’t happy that his little girl is about to get married, but I don’t think it’s as bad as Lee claims. If anything, we all agree that Liam is a great person and can’t think of anyone better for her.
“Let’s just hope I survive the wedding and Audrey’s big family,” Liam says overwhelmed.
I slap him on the back playfully, perhaps a bit harder than necessary. “Welcome to the McCallister family—we’re a fucking mess.”
Liam glares at me. “Your sister is amazing and perfect, the rest of you . . .” he sighs. “I’ll deal with the rest of you because I adore my woman.”
“I wouldn’t do all that shit for anyone. Never,” I assure him.
Ethan pipes up from across the table. “Just wait ’til it’s your turn, Max. We’ll see who’s laughing then.”
Liam nods, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Yep, because your mother will be ready with all those color swatches, flowers, and cake samples before a girl agrees to go out on a first date with you.”
I fake a violent shiver. “Fat chance.” I drain the rest of my drink and slam the empty glass down with unnecessary force. “This train is running express to Bachelor Town. No stops for rings or joint checking accounts.”
Liam shakes his head, an amused grin spreading across his face. “Keep telling yourself that, bud. Sooner or later, the right girl’s gonna derail those grand plans of yours.”
I signal the bartender for another round, my throat suddenly dry. The idea of settling down, of being tied to one person forever? It’s about as appealing as a root canal. Who wants to give up their freedom, their independence?
Not this guy.
Once I tried to go steady, but it wasn’t worth the hassle. She ended up running away with her coach, or was it a co-worker? I don’t remember much about my situation with Angela . . . or was it Angelina? She wasn’t exactly my girlfriend, but we were together for some time. It was long ago, and I swear I wouldn’t repeat that mistake—ever.
I’ve seen too many of my friends trade in their lifestyles for . . . what? Matching towels and a house in the ‘burbs? It’s like they’ve been body-snatched, replaced by some alternate-universe version of themselves. A version that thinks couples’ yoga on a Saturday morning is an acceptable substitute for nursing a hangover and watching college football.
Personally, I’ll stick to my life, my whiskey, and the revolving door of one-night stands. It’s worked out pretty well for me so far.
I raise my fresh drink in a mock toast, ignoring the tiny voice in the back of my mind wondering if I’m missing out on something. “To the death of your social lives, boys. It’s been a good run.”
Ethan rolls his eyes, but there’s no heat behind it. His expression softens, and he leans forward, elbows on the table. “Mock all you want, Max, but loving someone—having that person who sees the best and worst of you and chooses you every single day—is amazing.”
“Hear, hear,” Liam lifts his glass in a toast, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “To the dreamers and the fools. May we all find our person, or at least have fun trying.” He clinks his glass against Ethan’s.
I scoff, taking a swig of my whiskey. The burn in my throat matches the defensive fire in my chest. “I’m not built for the whole ’til death do us part’ thing, but I’ll have fun trying.” I pause, glancing at the blonde walking by our table. “Lots of fun.”
Caleb, who’s been quietly nursing his beer, pipes up. His eyes are distant, haunted. “I agree, getting married sucks.”
We all go silent because his marriage is like the big gorilla in the room. Though, we don’t know his story well enough—married young to the girl he met at eighteen, only for it all to fall apart. Sometimes when he’s drunk, he talks about how he feels sorry she left. Other times, he hints that maybe it was him who had pushed her away. He’s never shared the full truth, but the weight of it hangs heavy in the air whenever it comes up. I can’t help but wonder if there’s more to love than either of us has figured out yet.
“The great thing about having a little sister getting married is that we don’t need to worry about finding ‘the one’ and being happy.” Jacob, my younger brother, shoots me a knowing look, his lips quirked in a half-smile. “Mom’s getting her wedding and someday, she’ll get the grandkids.”
“Exactly,” I agree, perhaps a bit too quickly.
“Great, I’m going to have to drag my wife’s spinster brothers around for the rest of their natural lives,” Liam jokes, rolling his eyes dramatically.
“We’ll be happy old maids and ask you to take us to all the places,” Jacob threatens him.
“You jest, but it’s true. You have to invite them everywhere—because they’re alone.” Ethan presses his lips and sighs, his shoulders slumping slightly.
“What, are you in charge of Cleo now?” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.
Cleo, Lily’s older sister, was engaged to Dominic, Ethan’s older brother until she realized the guy is an asshole and left him. At least, that’s how she tells the story.
He shrugs, a rueful smile playing on his lips. “Not sure, but ever since Zoe broke up with Tom ‘the Tool’, she has been visiting us almost every day. I don’t mind, but sometimes I want to get home and fuck my bride, but the sister is there.” He groans.
“She’ going to be a bridesmaid in our wedding,” Liam adds.
I feel my jaw tighten at the mention of her name. Zoe. The one woman who has managed to get under my skin and challenge me in ways no one else has since we met. I had to prove to her that my company wasn’t just some cockamamie scam. She is so good at litigating that at some point I was wondering if what we’re doing was legit.
“Why would she be going to your wedding? No offense, but isn’t it just for close friends?”
“She is,” Liam corrects me. “Why do you think I came to Boston—other than to check on my father’s bookstore? Aud, Lil, and Zo are having a girls’ weekend.”
I frown. I thought my sister had come to discuss some of the wedding details with Mom and Mrs. Cohen, or maybe . . . Okay, I really didn’t pay much attention when I went to visit my parents earlier in the week. The moment Mom says wedding I tune her out because it can get too exhausting. All I heard was that Liam and Audrey were coming to town over the weekend, and I organized a few things for us, like going skydiving and then sailing tomorrow.
“Isn’t Zoe the hottie you had a crush on while Ethan was on his road trip?” Caleb arches an eyebrow, looking at me suspiciously.
“A crush?” I sputter, feeling heat creep up my neck. My fingers tighten around my glass.
“Yeah, you were texting all times of the day with her,” Cal insists, a knowing grin spreading across his face. “She even came to the office to make sure that we were real, and I offered her a job—she’s great at interrogation. This guy was almost peeing his pants while she was prodding him for information.”
“Why didn’t I know about that?” Ethan narrows his gaze.
“He’s making shit up,” I say reassuringly, because if there’s something I learned during training is not to give up my secrets. “You’re aware that we worked together while you were trying to make things happen for Lily.”
Ethan smiles like an idiot and nods, as if that makes total sense. In truth, Zoe is . . . not up for discussion.
“If I go and check on your phone records, what will I find?” Caleb continues, and doesn’t stop for me to say a word. “Zoe’s number and the hours of conversation and millions of texts. I could even retrieve the data and see how many heart emojis you sent.”
He starts making kissing sounds and hugging himself. “Zoe, my love.”
“We were just helping Ethan and Lily with the road trip,” I correct him, my voice pitched slightly higher than usual.
Jacob scoffs. “You keep telling yourself that, big brother.” He looks around and smirks. “He was all in until he learned about Tom.”
“Those are all lies,” I say weakly because maybe, maybe there was something happening there .
“Zoe Harper has your balls. But sure, we’ll let you live in denial,” Caleb says.
I shake my head, trying to dislodge thoughts of Zoe and her stupid, perfect boyfriend from my mind. My jaw clenches involuntarily. I’m not going to let some girl—no matter how beautiful and intriguing—derail my carefully cultivated bachelor lifestyle. The familiar weight of denial settles in my chest, heavy and uncomfortable.
I raise my glass, forcing a grin that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. My voice comes out a bit too loud, too forced. “To Liam and his impending ball and chain. May your last few weeks of freedom be filled with booze and bad decisions.”
Liam laughs and shakes his head. “The only bad decision I plan to make this weekend is hanging out with my loser friends.” He points at Caleb, Jacob, and me, his finger wagging accusingly. “The rest is really not my scene anymore.”
I join in the laughter, but it feels hollow in my throat. My fingers tap a restless rhythm against my glass as I can’t shake the nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s like an itch I can’t scratch, a whisper that maybe, just maybe, there’s something more out there. Something I’m missing out on.
I down the rest of my whiskey in one gulp, relishing the burn as it slides down my throat. I hope the fiery sensation will chase away these unwelcome thoughts. I’m Maximillian McCallister—eternal bachelor, married to my job and my freedom. I don’t need anything or anyone else.
But even as I signal the bartender for another round, my chest feels oddly tight. The guys’ laughter fades into background noise as I stare into my empty glass, wondering why it suddenly feels like I’m trying to convince myself more than anyone else. Because all I want to do is head out and figure out what happened with Zoe.
Did she really leave the Tool?