Chapter 7
Max
“So, she’s like really hot then?” My best friend Andy asks me with a quirked eyebrow. It’s exaggerated by the twin barbells pierced through his skin even with them half covered by his too-long, jet black hair.
I sip my beer. Hot doesn’t do Charlie justice. She’s cute, funny … just absolutely incredible. From the moment I saw her, I’ve felt this pull towards her. She’s an enigma. But I've been trying to describe her for the better part of ten minutes now, and Andy and Ben are just not getting it.
“No ... well yeah. She’s hot. It’s just way more than that dude,” I gesture in front of me vaguely without really making a point.
“She must be if she’s got Max flustered,” Ben quips. His sly grin is hidden by dark, scruffy beard.
“I’m not flustered,” I snap.
I am flustered. I have never been flustered by a chick before. This is freaking annoying.
“And she said no to going out with you?” Andy smirks.
“She didn’t say no. She didn’t answer.”
“Sounds like a no to me,” Ben adds. They start laughing.
“Both of you are pissing me off,” I mutter before checking my phone again. I have been debating since Charlie left the rink today on whether I should text her.
“Just text her, ya big wimp. Worst case scenario she says no, and then you can let me have my shot,” Andy teases, bumping me in the ribs playfully with his elbow.
“Dude, you don’t even know what she looks like,” Ben says to Andy.
“She’s got Max acting like a fool, so she must be hot. Plus, only here temporarily? That's my kind of relationship.”
Andy is my best friend, but he is also an unashamed slut.
I’m pretty sure he has fucked every single girl remotely close to our age in this town by now.
Probably a few that were old enough to be our mothers too.
I think it has something to do with the fact that he’s almost completely covered in tattoos and gives off the bad boy vibe while actually being one of the nicest and most charismatic people I have ever met.
Andy’s gonna make a girl really happy some day if he ever decides to settle down.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah okay bro. If I can’t get her to say yes, I doubt you will be able to. But you have my blessing.”
Something I love about my boys is between the three of us, we’ve never had a fight over a woman.
And we’ve even dated some of the same girls.
Not at the same time, but Andy has told us time and time again that he would happily share a chick with us if we could find a girl who would be into something like that.
I’d probably be into it for the right girl.
Andy and I had a three way once and it was a lot of fun, but Ben has never given us any indication that he would be into something like that.
He’s always been the most conservative of us and can’t say that I blame him after everything that has happened.
Almost like he was reading my thoughts, Andy’s eyes light up as he declares, “maybe she’s the poly girl we’re looking for!”
I shake my head. “I dunno dude. She’s just got out of some weird relationship with her boss and seems a little shy.”
“The shy ones are usually the freakiest,” Andy insists. He would know better than any of us.
“I think you guys are getting ahead of yourselves,” Ben chimes in. “Andy, she hasn’t even met you yet and Max couldn’t even get her to come for drinks.”
“As if you guys are coming the first time that I take her out,” I interrupt.
Andy snorts. “Yeah, in a town with one bar, and two date-worthy restaurants you are going to be able to avoid us.”
I glare over at Andy as Ben says, “leave me out of this.”
“Okay let’s make a deal then. You text her, right fucking now, and if she says yes then I will stay out of it. But if she says no, I’m coming down to the rink tomorrow to shoot my shot.”
Andy holds his hand out to shake on it, but I smack it away playfully and grab my phone.
Max: Hey so about my question earlier ...
I watch the texting bubble pop up and disappear a few times which makes me smile. Andy and Ben have started bickering about our next fishing trip and I decide to stay out of it considering we have a couple weeks before the ice is even solid enough for us to stand on.
Charlie: I’m not sure that’s a good idea ...
Max: I think it’s a great idea. You’re just overthinking it.
Her response is almost immediate.
Charlie: Or are YOU underthinking it?
Max: Maybe ... meet me in the middle? Just as friends.
Charlie: That’s always how it starts, isn’t it?
Max: Starts what? ; )
Charlie: Don’t make me say it Maximus.
Max: Well now you owe me for calling me Maximus. Seriously, drinks after work tomorrow? I will also feed you and take you dancing if you’re feeling up for it.
Before she responds, I quickly add:
Max: I know you could use a night out.
The conversation bubble flickers on my screen again and I smirk.
“Any luck bro?” Andy smirks at me in that way that makes me want to punch him right in the face … lovingly, of course.
“She’s thinking about it,” I answer while showing him my screen.
“Awe, she’s trying to figure out how to tell you to fuck off.” Andy laughs.
Charlie: You’re not wrong. Okay fine. But just as friends! Colleagues! Nothing more.
“Suck it bitch! She said yes!” I shout triumphantly at Andy while typing out my reply.
Max: Just friends. I plomise.
Charlie: Was that typo on purpose?
It most definitely was.