24. Paige
All attention snaps to Maxon at his words, different expressions of shocked surprise on each person’s face. But Max is looking at me and I can nearly feel my heart stuttering to a concerning stop.
“What if I dated Paige?” Max repeats, but his eyes are still locked on mine, as if suggesting it in third person to me would make it easier for me to wrap my head around. “You’ve known me since we were kids, I know all the things you hate and can’t stand.” He says and I’m only vaguely aware of everyone staring at us as he continues. ”I know what foods you’re allergic to and which ones you say you’re allergic to just because you don’t like them. I know you basically live off Dr. Pepper and coffee flavored sugar and cream. I’ll always get you the things you can’t reach. I admire how important your work is to you so I won’t be offended when you cancel on dates because you have some balloon arch to make. And likewise, you already know all my undesirable traits, you know I have a tendency to self-destruct. Not to mention already well aware of my issues with my dad and step-mom. I think we could be a pretty great match.”
I stare at him with wide eyes and an open mouth as he pours this all out in front of everyone. This is completely different and new territory for him, actually vocalizing his feelings and how he thought we would be good together.
And dang me for thinking we’d be good together too… for the last eight years I’ve been comparing every single guy I’ve dated to him. Comparing them to his sense of humor, to his kindness, to the way he knows me, to his absurd sense of adventure and eagerness for life that he can’t hardly stay in one spot.
“So, what do you say Pages?” He says and there’s a spark of wicked mischief in his brown eyes as he slides out of his seat onto one knee next to me. “Will you date me?”
There’s a moment of silence before a bark of laughter from across the table and everyone’s attention quickly snaps from Max and me to Aspen, who’s laughing at some kind of joke we all apparently missed.
“Sorry Maxon,” Aspen says with a wide grin. “But don’t you think she’s a little out of your league?”
Max lets out a laugh, nodding and climbing back into his seat. “Probably.” He says with a smirk, then shrugs. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
The rest of the table laughs but I’m still reeling from the last few minutes and not just what Max had said, but what Aspen had said as well.
Out of Maxon’s league?
Me?
I gulp, staring down at my food, something in my chest feels like it’s bursting. I’m not sure if it’s from the way Max had been watching me while he was down on one knee and the feelings that it sparked, the fact that he’d just laid his heart out in front of everyone… or the fact that Aspen thought I was too good for Max. And going off the atmosphere of the table, he wasn’t the only one that thought that.
Iwas too good for Maxon Grant?
I was out of his league?
I keep replaying the words over and over in my head, as if repeating them would make the concept make more sense.
I love the Bennetts, I’ve always seen them as my family, but they were like the golden children in the family that you couldn’t really relate to. Even though, time and time again they’ve done everything to make me feel comfortable, I am still left with the feeling like I have to act a certain way just to fit into their world because I inherently don’t belong. And now, I sit here next to a man that fits into their world like a fish in water, and they’re telling him that I am out of his league.
“So how long do you think you’ll be in town Maxon?” Theo asks around a mouthful of lasagna, drawing me from my thoughts.
“Well, I have to finish up a few things in the office here but I’m heading back to LA at the end of the week.” Max says cooly but my attention snaps to him.
“You’re going back to LA?”
Maxon nods. “Yeah, for a few weeks at least, I have to deal with that issue with Honey and then there’s… other stuff…” He shoots a grin over at Katie who has gone completely pale at the mention of him leaving. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back in time for the wedding.” He takes a large bite of food then and I know it’s only so he doesn’t have to answer any more questions.
Something inside me cracks slightly, I knew he was incapable of staying put, I knew he traveled and only stayed in Buffalo for a couple of weeks at a time, Aspen had said it himself that Max having stayed for a month here is a long time for him. But, I don’t know, I guess after having stayed with him I thought he might stay in the area until I was out of his cabin, that maybe he’d stick around with me, or… I mentally shake myself out of those thoughts. This is how Maxon is, he’s incapable of being a constant, of being there for other people. He’s kind and has a massive heart, but he doesn’t stick around long enough for those who love him to feel like they can rely on him.
And I was stupid enough to fall for it all over again.
“Did you ever get that thing for Paige figured out?” Aspen asks and my heart stops. “With her landlord?”
My body stiffens and beneath the table Maxon’s hand lands on my knee, giving it a slight squeeze to calm me down.
“For the most part, yeah.”
“What happened with Paige’s landlord?” Mrs. Bennett asks and my heart goes from not beating anymore to hammering against my chest so hard I’m sure the entire table can hear it.
I grip Max’s hand on my knee, squeezing all my anxiety into him. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.” I say tightly.
Aspen huffs. “Her landlord was pocketing Paige’s rent money and Paige got a foreclosure notice on her front door.”
Mrs. Bennett gasps. “What? That’s absurd, did you get your money back?”
“Her deposit, yeah.” Maxon supplies and I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Did you get out of that place? Where have you been staying?”
I gulp back my panic, I knew this was coming, I should never have thought I could get away with the Bennett’s never finding out about my staying with Maxon. Or just avoiding their help in general. I couldn’t handle this disaster on my own and now it was coming back and biting me in the butt. “I…”
Katie screams and we all look to her as she’s fully engrossed in her phone, she jumps from her seat still squealing and looks around the table. “My sister is having her baby!”