Chapter Forty-Four
Max
I’m sitting outside Maya's hospital room waiting for Tommy. He hasn’t left her side since they got here, not even to eat.
I can’t say I blame him. I’d be a fucking mess if it were my Sugarplum in that bed.
Luckily, Maya seems to be doing well. She woke up a few hours ago, and we’ve all had a chance to see her.
It sounds crazy, but it felt as if it wasn’t true that she was okay until we laid eyes on her.
Lucy and the girls have checked into a hotel nearby to get some rest, and all of us are struggling now after almost two days of no sleep. I just need to speak to my brother alone for a minute before I go to join them. I can’t avoid it any longer.
The door to her room opens slowly as Tommy sneaks out of it, looking up the hall for me. The moment his eyes land on mine, I can see the peace that has settled inside of him. After everything those two have been through, he fucking deserves it.
“You okay? Are you finally going to tell me what’s going on?” He asks, taking a seat next to me on the metal bench.
“Yeah, actually, I’m more than okay. But there is something I need to tell you.” I can’t control the smile at the thought of my girl. I just hope he doesn’t lose his shit when he finally learns the truth.
“Let me guess…” He says, his hand scratching the stubble of his jaw. “Is it to do with you and Lucy? And the fact you’ve been more than step-siblings for the past few months?”
I burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that you couldn’t stop even if you wanted to. The best part is, he laughs along with me.
“Bro, you wear your emotions on your sleeve. I’ve known for fucking ages! I’m more disappointed that you’re only telling me now.”
“So you’ve known? All this time?” The little shit. I bet he has loved watching me pine after her, thinking that I had to keep the bloody thing a secret.
“Yep. Also, your dumb arse forgot that I bought the whole bloody building we live in. I have cameras, you know, even in the lifts. I’ve been sent way more than I needed to from the security lads. You’ve given the staff quite a show.” He laughs again.
How could I forget this? When all the shit started to go down with Maya, Tommy bought the rights to the building. Of course he would have access to CCTV footage.
“You bastard.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe you let me sneak around the full time we’ve been away.”
“I was waiting for you to tell me in your own time. It’s none of my business what you do, or who you do for that matter.”
What the fuck. I can’t wait to tell Lucy this. I might keep out the part about being caught on camera, though. There is one thing I am sure of when it comes to her, and that’s how mortified she would be if she ever found out. Or maybe I should get a copy of the evidence for us to watch together.
“I would have told you sooner, but after how mum and James took the news last time, Lucy was too worried about how you would all take it.”
“Last time? How long has this been going on for?” He asks, cocking a brow.
“Since we were teens. That’s the reason she left and didn’t come back as often. Mum lost her shit, and I mean like full-blown crazy. You know the time when we were kids, and we broke the TV?”
“When we both threw our phones at it when Man United lost the cup?” He asks.
“Yeah, well, times that by one thousand. It was fucking scary, man.”
“Wow. I can’t believe you have kept that to yourself all this time.” He looks genuinely gutted by the news.
Me and Tommy tell each other everything, we always have. But thinking about it now, the one thing we have never spoken about is women. Especially women, we really like.
“Honestly, I was nervous too. I can’t even explain how bad mum reacted.” I say glumly. “That’s kind of another reason I’m here. I need your help.”
“Anything. What is it?”
“Back us up when we go and tell them?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”