Chapter Twenty-Four
“ H ey, I have a question that has been bugging me.”
Max’s voice broke the comfortable quiet of their living room, the only sound being the film which played in the background.
“What is it?” Sienna asked absentmindedly, eyes scanning the book she was reading. She’d started watching the film but had lost interest not long after it had started, but Max seemed interested, and she wasn’t bothered about them both having to be watching it, more than comfortable to just be in the presence of her best friend. The past couple of weeks had been a blur, Sienna wrapped up in the excitement of her new relationship with Debs, but tonight she had made an effort to spend time with Max. While some evenings together were filled with laughter, just as many were spent with the two of them and their running commentary on one of their many Grey’s Anatomy re-watches, or them both doing separate things but still taking joy in doing them in each other’s presence. So tonight, when she had rapidly become bored by the film chosen, she pulled out the book she had started reading earlier in the week and picked up from where she had marked the page with a folded Post-it from her office.
It was one she had noticed Debs reading in bed a couple of days ago when they were snuggled under the covers on a lazy Sunday morning. Sienna’s favourite place to be was lounging under the duvet, Debs’ naked body pressed against hers, Debs’ arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders as Sienna rested her head on her chest. Debs’ fingers would always idly run through Sienna’s hair as she read quietly, her glasses the only thing she wore, both content in the moment. Sienna had broken the silence to ask what Debs was reading, and she was answered with a small smile and an explanation before she rounded it off with a kiss to her forehead and a quietly uttered, ‘I think you’d enjoy it.’ What Sienna hadn’t expected was for Debs to buy her a copy, the book coming through her letterbox the next day.
“Why do people called Deborah go by Deb and not Bruh?”
Sienna paused, hesitating slightly as she tried to comprehend the question, eyes still fixed on the page, before looking up at Max, who was barely managing to keep a straight face.
“You’re an idiot. That’s literally the dumbest thing you’ve ever said, and the list is long.”
Max practically howled with laughter. “But can you imagine…” They wheezed, clearly hysterical at whatever follow-up they were already speaking in their mind. “Can you imagine during sex! ‘Bruh, Bruh, yes…right there, Bruh.”
They cackled again, rolling over and falling into Sienna next to them as they clutched their sides.
“I’m really glad you’re amusing yourself there, you weirdo.” Sienna couldn’t help but laugh, too amused at the sight of Max doubled over at their own joke. “How long have you been holding onto that one?”
“I saw it online a few days ago,” they replied through a hiccup, “and immediately thought of you.”
Sienna shook her head in exasperation. “You’re an idiot.”
“Yeah, but I’m your idiot.”
“Always.” Sienna ruffled Max’s already messy hair, their fringe flopping into their eyes as she did so.
“So, how are things with Bruh?”
“Please don’t ever call her that.” Sienna rolled her eyes.
“Sex is good, though, right? I mean, I know she’s never been with a woman before, but you cannot be walking around with a grin on your face like the one you have if the sex was crap.”
“I’m not talking about my sex life with you, Max.” Sienna tried to ignore the heat that instantaneously rose through her body at the mere mention of sex with Debs, her eyes re-reading the same sentence over again as her concentration wavered with the thought.
“That good, huh?” Max said with a wiggle of their eyebrows.
“You know,” Sienna said with an exasperated yet playful huff, “not everything is about sex.”
“You wouldn’t have said that before. You’d be all ‘ attraction but not attachment ’. But it’s good. I like this side of you. You” — Max poked Sienna in the ribs, making her squirm — “deserve happiness.”
“And what about you?” Sienna turned her attention to Max since it looked like she wasn’t going to get any more reading done any time soon. “How’s your life? Sex or attachment wise?”
“Pfft. I am the original no-attachment example. And the sex is pretty non-existent, too.”
“What about that cute brunette who was in the shop last week? She seemed interested; I thought you even met her for a drink.”
“She was interested in the sweet, femme Max she met in the shop. When I turned up in a shirt and jeans with no tits, she quickly made her excuses.”
“Oh shit, I’m sorry.”
“And this is why I am much better off with one-night stands and no expectations. No disappointment the morning after when I suddenly present as someone entirely different.”
“But you’re not entirely different. You’re still the same person, however you present.” Sienna shuffled over towards Max, looping an arm around their shoulder and pulling them clumsily into her side.
“I know this. But half these people have a type, and I only fit into that type, like, half the time. So, I have to live vicariously through your amazing sex life. Spill!”
Sienna laughed, pushing Max away again just as quickly as she had pulled them close, reaching for her book again. “Nice try, but no. Now watch your shitty movie.”
“What are you reading anyway?”
“Just something Debs recommended,” Sienna answered quietly, already engrossed in the words of the page.
“No attachment, my arse,” Max muttered, loud enough for her to hear.