12. Paige
Nine Years Ago
I’m watching out my window as Ma drives away from the Bennett estate toward our small rental in the village. My mind is working overtime as the decorative trees that line the road speed by, chest tight in the silence that’s settled over the car. Usually, Ma and I fill her sedan with chatter about our day, it’s not like it was a dull day for either of us either. But instead of conversation with my Ma, my mind is running away somewhere else.
“You’re rather quiet.” Ma’s voice makes me jump, pulling me from my thoughts and I look towards her and blink. Her hair is dark auburn like mine, but instead of grey, her eyes are a warm brown that matches. No, I got my grey eyes from my father, not that I really remember what his look like nowadays anyway.
“Sorry.” I mutter, glancing down at my hands, then back out the window, then to her, unable to keep my focus on anything longer than a second. “How was work today?”
She arches a thin brow at me as she drives, a smirk playing at the edges of her lips at my feeble attempt at conversation. After an excruciating long moment that felt like she could see straight through me and read exactly what was on my mind, she heaves a sigh and turns back to the road. “It was busy. But that’s how it always goes before they leave for the reunion.” She laughs slightly.
I nod. “Where is it this year? I asked Aspen but he had no idea.”
Ma shakes her head with a breathy laugh. “Of course he didn’t. It’s at their second cousin’s, you remember Aldis, Jan, and Lily from last year right?”
I nod. Who could forget those two girls absolutely living off tormenting their older brother?
“It’s at their place over in Newmarket.”
I stare at her blankly. “I don’t know where that is.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Does school teach you nothing?”
“It doesn’t teach us the towns in a country that we seceded from in 1776.”
Ma snorts. “It’s east of Cambridge, how about that?”
“Better.” I grin, I at least have a vague idea of where that is thanks to the few times we visited my gram in Scotland.
Silence settles over the car again as she pulls into the village. “So, with the Bennetts gone… do you have any plans for the week?”
I gulp. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I’m just wondering if I should be prepared for a very handsome, curly topped, young man to be waiting on my doorstep in the morning?”
I close my eyes, turning back to my window. Of course Ma knew about Max and whatever weird thing happened between the two of us every time the Bennetts leave town, and ever since he kissed me the first time last year (well, not the first time, but the only time that counts) things have just gotten more and more complicated.
A part of me wanted to slap the stupid boy for this indecisive game we’ve been playing. When the Bennetts are gone we are wild and crazy for each other, spending every single second we can together. But as soon as the Bennetts get back, we’re back to him being Aspen’s best friend and me being… just me.
“I’m not judging, I’m just curious. I’d love to have him for dinner one of these nights.” She’s trying to sound casual but something inside my stomach twists into a knot until I’m word vomiting all over the car.
“I have no idea, him and Aspen have hardly spent any time together outside of school, I haven’t seen him in months. Aspen says he got some job at an auto shop which I find really weird because Max doesn’t need to work but that’s where he’s been spending all his free time lately so I have absolutely no idea if I’m even going to see him while the Bennetts are gone and it’s not exactly like him and I ever talk about this stuff when Aspen and Theo are around, I don’t know if they even know that we hang out while they’re gone so I’m just left in this ‘I have no idea’ state which you know I hate and I don’t want to reach out and seem desperate if he’s not interested anymore and doesn’t want to hang out anymore.” I take a deep breath, eyes wide as I watch her reaction, her expression a mirror of my own.
“I see.”
I heave a sigh and place my head in my hands. “I just…”
“Don’t know?” She supplies and I nod as she pulls up to the curb in front of the shop that sits beneath our apartment. “Well,” she continues as she turns the car off and I glance to her. “I think that might answer your question.” She nods towards the sidewalk behind me and I whip my head around.
There, sitting on the step in front of the door that will take us upstairs to our apartment, is Max.
Awkward and shy are not two words that I would have ever used to describe Maxon Grant but as I hop out of the car and he stands from the step, it is those two words that run through my head as he flashes me a quick, unsure smile. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I say back, my heart skipping slightly as he steps closer, meeting me in the middle of the sidewalk. “What are you doing here?”
He runs a hand across the back of his neck. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”
My heart soars, and I have to fight myself in order to not grin like an idiot. “I thought you’d be at work…” I say and try not to sound bitter about the fact that I’ve hardly seen him since Christmas.
“Maxon! It’s good to see you.” Ma says as she climbs from her side of the car, grabbing her bag from the backseat of her sedan. “Paige says you got a job at an auto shop?”
“Yes ma’am.” Max nods, stepping to my side and taking my hand in his and I can feel the new callouses that he’s gotten over the last few months. “I like making my own money.” He says, and guilt washes over me. I should have known that his job had something to do with his inheritance and the way his dad dangles it over his head to make him do what he wants. I glance down at our joined hands and take notice of the discoloration of his from the grease and oil he’s been working with.
“So, I don’t suppose we’ll see very much of you this week then?” Ma asks and I absolutely love her for it.
I don’t have to sound desperate if my ma is the one asking.
I fight off the urge to hug her right here and now but I’m too shocked to move when Max answers. “I actually got the week off. So, I’ll be around.”
He steals a glance at me and I know I’m staring at him open mouthed.
“Ah, I see.” Ma says with that sly, knowing, smile of hers. “Well, don’t keep her out too late, alright?”
Max nods. “She’s in good hands.” He gives my hand a soft squeeze and I realize I’m just as big a pile of mush for this boy as I’ve always been.
Ma makes a humming noise before stepping around Max and going on inside. As soon as she’s gone, I turn on him sharply. “Are you really off all week?”
He grins. “Yup. I’m all yours.” He gives my hand a tug. “C’mon, I want to show you something.”
I follow him along downtown until we come to the entrance to an alleyway that leads us behind the storefronts. “Where are you taking me?” I question the deeper we go.
“I have a surprise for you.” He says and we come out on the other side of the building.
I arch a brow at him. “For me?” He nods as he pulls me to a stop in front of an old yellow Volkswagen Beetle and I cut a glance at him. “What is this?” I ask.
He motions to it. “It’s the Paige-mobile.”
I glance between him and the car, my mouth hanging open again. “Wait… what?”
His smile only widens. “I found it at the shop I’ve been working at. That’s why I haven’t been around much, I’ve been working all the OT I could get to pay for it.” His smile turns shy once more and he shoves his hands into his pocket. “I got it for you.”
“You’re giving me a car?” I gawk, my attention snapping between him and the beetle.
He beams at me. “I’d give you the world if I could.”
Present
I wince when my car makes a high-pitched screeching noise as I pull into the Grant’s estate. Maxon’s leaning against his bike, his head cocked to the side as I climb from the car that he’d given me so many years ago, his gaze traveling the vehicle. “I’m surprised she still runs.” He says, kicking the donut that’s my back passenger tire.
I pull my suitcase from the back hatch. “It’s a labor of love, that’s for sure.”
He gives a slight chuckle, nodding slightly before his attention snaps to me and my bags. “That’s all you brought?”
“I’m not staying long. This’ll do.” I say. I purposefully did not bring all my things because of the fact that I do not plan on staying here any longer than a couple of weeks. I’ll only be at the estate to sleep, otherwise I’ll spend as much time as I can at the office.
He makes a grunting noise and runs a hand through the few curls in his otherwise short hair. “Fair enough.” He says and I can tell he’s restraining himself from fighting with me. I drop my shoulders, I suppose I could at least try to do the same… he hasn’t told the Bennetts that I’ve been bumming it in my office. He’s also not trying to give me charity anymore. He’s just trying to make sure that I’m safe.
Ma would probably say I’m being too hard on him if she knew what was going on, but I haven’t even told her about getting kicked out of my place. She has enough on her plate dealing with Gram…
“Come on, this way.” He nods in the opposite way of the main, colonial style mansion that sits to our right atop a small hill, towering over the courtyard where we are parked. Its pristine white siding stands out against the bright blue sky today, black trim outlining the windows and doors behind the three story pillars that rival those at the White House. The Grants have been on the estate since nearly the founding of the state, so much so that their house is practically a historical marker at this point.
“Wait, we’re not going to the house?” I question and he just laughs, taking my bag from me.
“I’m not that mean, Paige.” He winks back at me as he leads us further from the main house. “I’ve been staying in one of the cottages.”
The tension in my shoulders that has been there since this morning immediately dissipates with relief. “Really?” I say as I follow him down a path I’ve never been on before.
“You didn’t really believe that I’ve been staying with the happy couple, did you?” His tone is dripping with sarcasm and my heart aches for him slightly. I always knew him and his step-mother didn’t get along that well, and he and his dad have always had a… rough relationship. But I suppose we’ve avoided each other for so long I don’t really know where he stands with either of them anymore.
I watch him ahead of me, his shoulders wide and tense like he’s maybe carrying something far heavier than just my bag. “How are they doing?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Same problems, different day.” He brushes my question off and I can’t help but think back to the way we used to talk, how I was a soundboard for him and his issues with his dad. Maxon has never liked talking about it though, only having confided in me on a rare occasion while the Bennetts were gone.
It’s not that he kept things from Aspen, he always knew there were issues between Maxon and his dad, but the entire Bennett family tend to be “fixers” wanting to help their friends through their problems. And with this, Maxon didn’t need someone fixing it, he already had enough people meddling in his life, he just needed someone to listen to him.
I don’t push the topic though, instead following him until he stops and I step up alongside him, my eyes landing on the small log cabin that’s tucked against a backdrop of trees. Its green metal roof and door against the dark lumber reminds me of a Lincoln Log house that I used to build when I was a kid and I can’t help but grin at it. The large front porch has a swing and rocking chairs set up in front of a pair of large windows that have a soft, warm glow leaking out from the inside of the cabin.
“It’s like from a fairy tale.” I say unable to mask the awe in my voice.
“Thanks, it’s come a long way the past couple years.” He says, a smile playing on his lips like a tease. “It was an old groundskeeper’s house that was basically abandoned. I’ve added on and updated. It didn’t have electricity when I started.” He chuckles. “Or indoor plumbing.”
“Lovely.” I say and follow once again as we cover the distance to the front door. “It has indoor plumbing now. Right?” I joke.
“Well, yeah, the toilet is inside the outhouse.” He replies without missing a beat as he steps inside the cabin.
I stay on the porch. “I really hope you’re joking.”
The smile that teased its appearance before is now on full display as he laughs. “I guess you’ll find out.”
I huff a sigh before stepping into the cabin and am immediately in awe at my surroundings. The kitchen overlooks the living and dining room in an open floor plan with a large wood-burning stove shoved in the corner of the living room. Off the kitchen is a hallway to what I can only assume is the bedrooms and I’m relieved to glimpse an indoor bathroom. Max quickly takes my bag to the spare bedroom where I drop off my pillow along with it.
“There are spare blankets in here.” He steps toward the closet and pulls out some knit blankets that just by looking at them make me want to curl up into them. “You still get cold in the night?” He asks as he sets the blankets on the bed alongside my bag.
I nearly laugh. “Do you need air to breathe?”
He nods, glancing around. “I can get you a portable heater for in here if you want. It still gets kind of chilly at night and the only heat is the stove in the living room. It keeps it warm enough for me but you-”
I hold up a hand to stop him. “I’ll be fine.” I laugh, trying to play off his concern.
He runs a hand along the back of his neck, a sheepish smile spreading across his lips for a moment. “Sorry, I’m not used to this whole ‘host’ thing.”
I nod in understanding. “You’re good. Is it okay if I take a shower?” I ask, motioning towards the bathroom we passed on the way to my room.
He nods quickly. “Yeah, there are clean towels hanging up in there you can use.”
I nod and follow behind him as he leads the way, quickly showing me how the shower works before leaving. “Hey, Max?” I say as he’s about to step out.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For, all of this…”
That smile touches his lips again and he nods. “No problem, Pages.”
And when I’m done in the bathroom and get back to my room, there’s a small heater sitting in the corner.