Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lucy
Last night was more than I could have ever imagined. Dating Max is an actual dream come true, not that I’m surprised. I knew he’d be smooth with all his charm, but it was even better than I could have imagined. For him to even offer to watch my favourite ballet was the ultimate green flag for me.
And then when we got back to my hotel… God, it was the most intense orgasm I have ever had.
Not that there’s much to go by, as the only ones I’ve had have been from him or myself, but still.
I fucking loved it. Who would have thought I’d be the girl who likes to take it up the arse?
Not me, that’s for sure. Now I can’t wait until we do.
The beep from the coffee machine jolts me out of my thoughts. I’ve said it before, but this hotel room is fricking awesome. It even has a full barista-style machine in here. Now that I have two coffees in hand, I head back into the bedroom to wake Max.
Shockingly enough, I didn’t need to, as he sat up with that gorgeous smile on his face, ready to greet me. How, after all these years, does this man still make me swoon? I’m a puddle on the floor every time he so much as looks at me.
“Morning, my little Sugarplum. How did you sleep?” He asks as I crawl back into bed with him, handing him the cup.
“Like a baby. I don’t even remember falling asleep. Someone kept me up all night.” I tease.
“I know you loved it, so it was worth the lack of sleep.” He says with a cocky smirk. “Do you have any plans for the next few days?”
“Actually, I was planning on coming home. There is only so much of this city I can handle.” And the fact that I am on my arse broke. At least if I go home, Liz will keep me fed while I figure things out.
“Sounds good to me. We’ll head back after breakfast?” He asks.
“Yeah, sounds good to me.”
I stare at my now empty mug, knowing we need to have a chat about what happens next. It’s not like we can go home and pretend nothing is happening, or even that it is. I need to know where we go from here.
“I can almost hear your thoughts, you’re thinking so hard,” Max says, shocking me out of my thoughts. “What’s got you so tied up in knots?”
“Well, you, actually.” I attempt to joke, but with my plummeting mood, it doesn’t quite reach my face.
“Ahh.” He replies, taking my empty mug and putting it down on the side table. “Do you mean, us?”
“Yeah. I don’t know how we're going to do this.” I tell him.
He turns our bodies, so we’re sitting facing each other.
“Do you love me?” He asks, as if that is the simplest thing in the world.
“Yes, more than anything.” I narrow my eyes, not sure where he’s going with this.
“Do you want to be with me?” I can tell he’s holding his breath after that one, his gaze burning into mine.
“Of course I do, but,”
“But, nothing. I love you, Lucy. I want to be with you, too. It’s that simple. Haven’t the last few years proven that we don’t cope well without the other?” He says hastily. “No one needs to know.”
No one needs to know.
Would that work?
Are we keeping our relationship a secret from everyone?
Is it worth giving up on everything we have because I’m scared of hurting others?
What’s the worst that could happen? Everyone finds out eventually, and then all hell breaks loose?
It’s not like our relationships could get much worse.
Other than Liz. She would be a fucking nightmare to deal with.
If it wasn’t for her, though, I really think my dad would have come around to the idea.
“My biggest worry is Fallon and Tommy finding out,” I tell him. “I know your mum will hit the roof, again. But I think Dad would get used to us.”
“The way I have felt over the years since you’ve been gone, I couldn’t give a less of a shit what any of them think. As long as I have you.”
I climb onto his lap, wrapping my legs around his waist, and take his face in my hands.
“I wish I weren’t so worried about what they might think. But Max, I physically can’t be without you any longer.”
He kisses me softly, pulling my body flush to his.
“For now, we will keep it between you and me. As long as I have you, I don’t care about anything else.”
We’re almost back at Bewdley when I get a message from Riley.
Riley – Tonight. 6 pm. Teasers. The bar opens at 7 pm, so you have a chance to meet the team before it opens.
My palms start to sweat as I read the message again. I never told him I was going to go for it. Or that I was coming home. I thought I’d have more time to think about it. Do I go? I feel like I have to now.
Riley – I can see you’ve read the message, Lucy. It’s only to see what you think of the place. Ask for Suzy.
How I have only met this man a handful of times, and he already knows me so well, I’ll never know.
Lucy – Okay. I’ll be there. But I’m not promising anything.
Riley – Listen, it's easy cash, and I’m down a dancer. You’ve got this.
“Is everything okay?” Max asks from the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, just a job offer. They’ve asked me to pop by tonight.” I’m not lying per se.
“I didn’t realise you’ve been looking for work. Where’s the job?” He asks, seemingly genuinely intrigued.
Keep it cool. You’re not lying. You’re just avoiding the truth.
“Just a small bar in Worcester. I’m going to go and check it out tonight.”
“Sounds cool. I wish I could come with you, but tonight’s the night we’re planning to get Maya and Tommy back together in the same room.” He smiles.
All of their friends have come together to make a plan to get them to meet again tonight. Since her accident, she has been struggling with her memory and still doesn’t quite know who Tommy is.
“I hope it works. I can’t stand to see him like this for much longer.”
“Yeah, me too,” he replies sullenly, “he just needs that one chance to see her.”
“If I’m done at the bar handy, I’ll come and meet up with you all,” I tell him, threading my fingers through his on the gear stick.
In only a few more minutes, I won’t be able to touch him like this. And I have no idea when we will next get the opportunity. Just the simple things like holding his hand, leaning into his side, or even looking at him the wrong way could blow this whole thing up.
I’m just not ready for that to happen. Not yet.