27. Paige
Paige Knox: How do you work the air conditioner?
Maxon Grant: you push the button that says “ON”
Paige Knox: Oh. Okay. Thank you.
I slam my phone on the couch, listening to the steady whir from the air conditioner that I figured out how to turn on two days ago. I drum my fingers against my thigh for a moment before picking the cellphone back up, biting my lip and looking at our texts for a moment before typing again.
Paige Knox: So how’s LA treating you? Haven’t seen any tabloids lately.
Maxon Grant: Trying to lay low.
I wait a moment, hoping he’ll say more but the longer it takes the more my hopes sink. Why was I so desperate to hear from him? Had a single month together really sent me flying back to being that girl in high school that waited by the phone for his messages?
I glance at the cell in my hand.
Yes, apparently it had.
But he was pulling away, even a blind person could see that. Maybe now that he was back in LA he realized how silly he’d been when he was here… chasing after a girl who wasn’t giving him the time of day. Who had repeatedly turned him down time and time again. Called him ridiculous for confessing his feelings… and walked away when he was begging her to tell him to stay.
I slam the closest pillow to my face and scream in frustration so loudly that I almost don’t hear my phone ping again.
Maxon Grant: LA is okay. Buffalo is better.
I can’t fend off the smile that springs to my face after reading his message. A tight feeling clamps around my heart as I hug the throw pillow to me, trying desperately not to read too many meanings into that message.
Paige Knox: I don’t know. LA kinda sounds nice. Busy. Your place is so empty.
Maxon Grant: you know if you move into your own place, it’ll be even more empty.
Paige Knox: Yeah, well, it doesn’t look like I’m going to be moving anytime soon. There are no places available.
Maxon Grant: oh well…
I roll my eyes, so obviously he’s not too upset with me. Or trying to pull away too much, which causes an odd relief to blossom in my chest, easing away the tight feeling that had been there a moment ago.
Paige Knox: Any plans for this weekend?
Maxon Grant: Yeah. I’m going to keep busy.
Paige Knox: That’ll be nice.
The conversation is struggling and I know it, pretty soon he’ll stop responding or just send some kind of thumbs up emoji that will end the conversation entirely if I don’t want to look desperate. And I do not want to look desperate. I let out a sigh, fighting the urge to scream into the pillow again. When was the last time I had this kind of rollercoaster of emotions about a boy?
The answer is high school, and it was the same boy.
Maxon Grant: you know… you can just say that you miss me.
My mouth drops open at my phone, and I steal a glance around the room as if some shadow figure is going to appear and read the messages over my shoulder. Miss him? That cocky son of a gun?
Paige Knox: Excuse me? I’m just trying to make polite conversation.
Maxon Grant: LOL
Maxon Grant: I miss you too
I sink deeper into the couch, so that now my propped-up knees are higher than my head, this time not even fighting the stupid grin that forces its way onto my lips. The familiar butterflies that Maxon Grant has always stirred in my stomach spring to life, taking flight and making me feel weightless for a moment.
I fall asleep with his messages still running through my head, because he was right. I do miss him…
And what’s even better, he misses me too.
So much that the next day when I wake up I have multiple messages from him. A couple are silly memes he sent, another was teasing me about falling asleep on the couch, finally though, the last one was him saying he was headed to bed but would call me at some point today. A very simple text that has all kinds of electric feelings shooting through me at the idea of actually hearing the deep timbre of his voice.
So much that when my phone rings while I’m in the car, I don’t even hesitate to answer it. “Hello?” I say and even I can hear the grin in my voice.
“Oh Paige!” It’s my mom’s voice, not Maxon’s on the other end, and it takes me a minute to process her words. “It’s finally happening! I got the call this evening, we’re coming home!”
I blink at the road as I drive, pulling into the parking lot. “Ma, slow down, what are you talking about?”
“Gram and I got a call from Prairie Oaks, the home there in Buffalo, the really nice one that was such a long shot. They said that they have an opening for her!”
Parking, I stare at the steering wheel in front of me as her words sink in. “Really?” I say and the word sounds strangled on my lips.
“Really! We’re coming home sweetie!” She nearly squeals into my ear but I don’t care. Relief floods through me as my Ma and I freak out together, talking over plans and everything that needs to get done before they arrive. Gram hasn’t lived in the states for years now, having moved to Scotland after Ma and my dad got married. Luckily, she kept her dual-citizenship which will make moving her back so much easier. Not to mention that her memories are mostly centered around her time living here, so it will be better for her as well. Other than a few important details.
The most important thing being an apartment for Ma.
“There are no places available. But I’ll find one for you, don’t worry.” I say with a firm nod.
She makes a dismissive noise. “Oh, I’m not worried at all. I’ll just stay with you. I don’t mind sleeping on the couch for a little while.”
I gulp, panic gripping ahold of me as I try to think of a reason for her not to stay with me in my non-existent apartment. She senses my hesitance though, as if the entire Atlantic Ocean didn’t exist and she was instead sitting right next to me, reading every emotion on my face. “Paige? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say, but even I know that I responded too quickly and too loudly. “Don’t worry about it. Of course you can stay with me. I wasn’t even thinking.” I lie and guilt creeps into me, but I shove it down into the deep recesses of my soul. “Oh, I can’t wait to see you guys!”
She makes a dissatisfied humming noise. “You’re an awful liar Paige.”
I laugh. “So I’ve been told.” I spot Theo and Sadie pulling into the parking lot. “Hey, I’ve got to go. Love you, and I’ll talk to you soon.” I say and she barely gets out her own goodbye before I hang up and step out of my car.
The building we are parked in front of looks like it was once a warehouse of some sort that closed in the 90s. However, in more recent years it was bought, and the new owners had the inside redone to be a modern industrial style space for hosting larger special events.
Special events like the group dance lesson I’ve signed Theo and Sadie up for.
My pseudo-brother looks half miserable as his redheaded fiancée drags him behind her and into the building. “Paige! You’re here.” Sadie grins and I nod.
“Yeah, I wasn’t going to miss watching Theo take dance lessons.” I nearly snort when Theo throws his hands in the air in mock offense. Sadie shares a smirk with me before slipping in through the front doors and into the large industrial building. Exposed brick and ductwork adorn the inside, giving the space a rustic and cozy atmosphere that a lot of people gravitate to. I’m going to have to catalogue this place in my head for future events… A large sandwich board sign sits with an arrow directing us to one of the rooms with the dance class in it and I follow as Sadie and Theo lead the way.
There are already about a half a dozen couples in the room waiting for the group dance class, and Theo moans the second we step into the room. Sadie nudges him with her elbow. “If you want me to be your date, we’re doing this.”
Theo glances at me. “Want a date for the wedding?”
I snort. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Yeah, besides, I think you’ll have to fight Maxon for that.” Sadie laughs and Theo grows stiff next to me.
I stare at her open mouthed for a second before snapping it shut again. “Wait, what?”
She shoots me a “you’re not serious” look, before cutting a glance to Theo. “I’m just teasing. We definitely did not all talk about it after you and Maxon left with Katie and Aspen the other night.” She says none-too convincingly before nudging Theo again. “Besides, a little public display of affection isn’t so scary, right?”
He narrows his eyes at her before shaking his head slightly and I bite my lips together to keep from smiling. He may act like he hates it, but the two of them are really cute together.
Cute like a cactus and one of those birds determined to make it their home.
Theo is the cactus obviously.
“I think I’m just going to sit over there.” I say, indicating a spot where a table and chairs are set up. Mostly, the table is covered in purses and bags, but an empty chair is good enough for me to watch my brother make a complete fool of himself tonight.
“You’re not going to dance?” Sadie asks before I can make my escape.
I shake my head. “No, this is a couple’s class, I really only came to-” I stop because every word has just fallen from my mind.
Words have no more meaning. Nothing makes sense…
Because next to the instructors that just walked into the room, chatting away like he’s supposed to be here, is someone I thought was on the other side of the country entirely.
“Maxon?” Theo supplies because, like I said, all words have fallen from my head as I stare at Max and the instructors with an open mouth.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Maxon nods a greeting with a wide smile, like this is any other Friday night.
“Good.” Theo says with a slight chuckle. “I didn’t think you’d be back for a couple more weeks.”
Maxon shrugs. “I’m just here for the weekend. Flying back Sunday night.”
Theo nods in understanding, although he casts a questioning look at Maxon before Sadie starts pulling him away, towards where the instructors have gone and are now talking to the group. Leaving Maxon and I alone, me still staring at him open mouthed.
A smile picks up at the corner of his lips, leaning down quickly to whisper in my ear. “You know, you make it really hard not to kiss you with you drawing so much attention to your mouth.”
My jaw snaps shut and I smack him in the side. “What are you doing here?” I whisper hiss, although all the butterflies inside me have officially vacated my stomach and are now fluttering around my chest in a frenzy.
He shrugs, the smirk softening on his lips and looking temptingly kissable. “I missed you.”
The crashing realization hits me that at some point, without even knowing it, I stopped pushing Maxon away and he’s managed to work his way right back into my heart where he belongs…
Maybe I’m the cactus.