Chapter Seven
Lucy
The past few days have been perfect. I woke up in the arms of the man I have always wanted, had sex for the first time, ate food, had more sex, then fell asleep in his arms again. I couldn’t think of a better way to have spent my last days of freedom.
I always thought I would feel sore when I finally did it. Yet, all I feel is a delicious ache, and not just between my legs. Considering how much I put my body through daily, I have used muscles I have never used before.
Sitting in the passenger seat of Max’s car right now, though, is torture.
Neither of us has barely spoken two words to the other.
It is as if we are walking the green mile.
Well, driving it anyway. In another five minutes, we will be back at our family home, where our parents will be waiting for us.
We decided last night that we won’t wait to tell them.
Thinking that the longer we wait, the worse it will be.
Max says he isn’t nervous, but his body language betrays him. The way he is white knuckling the steering wheel right now is the biggest hint at his feelings. I know he doesn’t want to hurt our parents, just as much as I do.
“We’re doing this?” I ask more than state.
“Baby, there is nothing I want more.” He replies confidently.
“Are you sure? I want this too, I want you. I’m just so nervous over how they could take it,” I confess.
Instead of replying to me, he makes a sharp turn, swerving the car, pulling up on the side of the quiet road. He spins his full body towards mine, taking my hand into his.
“Max! What are you doing?” I squeak as I gawk at him.
“Lou, I have never been so sure of anything in my life. Have these past few days not proved how much you mean to me? It has always been you.”
I don’t blink as my eyes bounce between his, taking in the sincerity of his words. His chest is rising and falling deeply, as if he can’t quite catch his breath.
“Lucy, I love you. So much so that nothing they could say would keep me away from you. As long as you will have me, I am yours,” he takes my hand, lifting it to his lips. “Please tell me I’m not alone in this.”
“You’re not alone,” I say as I bat away an escapee tear. “I love you, too, Max. I love you so fucking much, it hurts.”
The smile that transforms his face is magnificent. “You don’t understand how much I have needed to hear those words leave your lips. But Lucy, the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you.”
I undo my seat belt and climb over the centre console to sit in his lap. Grasping his face between my hands. “It’s you. It has always been you,” I say as I take his lips with mine.
It’s not a soft and loving kiss. It’s hard, filled with passion, lust, and fear. Fear of what is to come when we walk through our parents’ door. After a moment, he leans his head against mine whilst we both come back down to earth.
“We’ve got this,” He states, before stealing one last kiss.
“Yes. Let’s go and face the music.”
“They’re here!” Liz shouts from the front steps the second I open the car door. Wow, she must have stood there waiting for us the whole time. “Oh, my girl, come here. I want to see that pretty little face of yours.”
When I am in touching distance, she grabs me and wraps me in the most comforting mum hug possible. Then leans back to study my face.
“Are you eating? You look like you’re not eating. I’ve made your favourite, and I expect you to eat the lot.”
Typical Liz. She still doesn’t realise that I do a ridiculous amount of exercise every day, and have to look like this for my job.
“Yes, I am definitely eating,” I reply with an eyeroll.
“What about me?” Max pipes up. “Where is my hug and offer of food?”
“Pfft, I see you too much. I never get to see our girl. I can’t wait for you to tell me everything that you’ve been up to.”
She pulls me along into the house, where I am guessing my dad is waiting. I glance back over my shoulder to see that Max is close behind. He gives me a knowing smile and a cheeky wink. We’ve got this. Everything will be okay. It has to be.
“Lou-lou!” My dad exclaims as he rushes over to me. “Do you have to keep swanning off to new places? You could always just stay here, forever?” He says with a smile.
“You would love that, wouldn’t you?” I laugh. He would keep me locked in a tower if he could.
“You know it,” he chuckles as he walks us into the main living room. “How is Sara? Did she get back okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. She is happy to be back in her own bed.” I tell him.
After all my worrying about not being able to see her, I think I have spoken to her more now than ever.
She is living vicariously through me and Max, or so she says.
Only a few more days to go until we find out if we get to live together again.
What I would give to get the opportunity to dance professionally in Paris with my best friend.
“I made tea,” Mum calls from the kitchen.
That’s when I notice Max hasn’t taken a seat; he’s hovering behind my chair. Like a damn bodyguard. My Dad must have noticed too, as when I look back at him, he’s eyeing Max warily.
“Is everything okay, Son?” He asks with a quirked eyebrow.
“Yeah, everything is perfect, actually. There is just something I’m eager to talk to you and Mum about.” He says with a confidence I don’t feel.
This can only go one of two ways. One, they’ll be extremely delighted that we have found true happiness. Or, two. We upset them with the news. But I don’t think I have ever seen them upset with any of us before. It’s not illegal, it’s not even unheard of, it’s just different.
“Talk to us about what, honey?” Mum asks as she makes her way back into the room with a tray of teacups and a teapot.
Max waits for her to finish pouring out the drinks and sits down before he starts.
“I’m not really sure what the best way to go about this is. So, I am just going to come out with it,” he says, taking a breath before continuing. “I love Lucy.”
“Well, I should think so, too. She is your sister.” I cringe at Liz’s reply. My Dad is silent, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he looks between us. He knows exactly what Max was saying.
“No, Mum,” he leans forward to place a hand on my shoulder. “I am in love with Lucy.”
“An-and… I am in love with him, too.” I add, stuttering over my words.
Time ceases to exist.
Everyone in the room is so silent, you could hear a pin drop.
Neither of them moves; I don’t even think they blink. They’re just staring at us both with wide eyes. Liz’s mouth is open so wide that she could catch flies in there.
It feels like an eternity has passed before Max breaks the silence. “So, we’re together now.” He states as a matter of fact.
“Like hell you are!” She roars in response.
“You end this right now! I am not having this family being made a laughingstock of because you two decided to mess around.” She’s screaming that loud and high-pitched, I’m worried she might burst a blood vessel.
She spins to face Dad, glaring at his still, silent form. “Say something!”
The longer he stares at me, the more I feel myself start to panic. My chest is rising and falling more rapidly with each passing breath. Tears well up in my eyes as he studies me. Not Max, just me.
“Dad. I love him!” I plead with shuddering breaths. “Please, try and see this as…”
“As what? He is your God damned brother! This isn’t normal.” Mum cries hysterically, fanning her face frantically with her hands.
“Try to understand how much we mean to each other. How much we have always been there for each other,” Max adds, his usual humorous demeanour long gone. His jaw is clenched, and the hand on my shoulder grips me tighter.
“Liz.” Dad finally speaks. His tone was kind but firm. He looks between me and Max before continuing. “Look at them. They really want this. We always knew this would happen.” He knew?
“It can’t happen, James! It’s not right!” She is starting to hyperventilate. The more upset she gets, the more my heart breaks.
“I never meant to upset either of you,” I choke out as I try to hold back the tears.
Max kneels in front of me and takes my face between his palms. His eyes bounce between my own, as if he’s searching for something deep in my soul. “We know what we are and what we mean to each other. It’s you and me, remember?”
I try to nod as he holds me, but my face scrunches up instead. My battle to hold back the tears finally failed. I gasp on the sob that makes its way out of my throat. Max pulls me into him so that my forehead is now resting against his.
“I love you.” He whispers the words quickly, as though trying to keep my mind here, with him.
“No!” Mum roars. “Get out of this house! I will not have either of you destroying this family!”
“You are the one destroying it, not us!” Max shouts back, his anger uncontrollable now. “How can you act this way towards us? Do we mean nothing to you? Does our happiness mean nothing to you?”
“Don’t speak to your mother that way.” Dad scolds, rising from his chair to glare at Max before turning back to Mum. “Now, Liz. This is a shock, but we will get used to…”
“No, we will not. It is not happening.” She marches over to the door and flings it wide open. “All three of you, get out! I will not be a part of any of this!” She points at Dad before continuing. “And if you agree with this, this, monstrosity of a situation, you can leave too!”
“Mum!” Max takes a step back. I don’t think I have ever seen her this upset before.
“Liz! Be reasonable here. You haven’t given them a chance to explain.” Dad says with raised hands, as if he is confronting an angry bear.
“All of you. Out!” She screams, before storming out of the room.