28. Maxon
Paige is staring at me with her wide grey eyes like I’d just revealed I was secretly a unicorn.
She is also blushing.
Honestly, this was probably the look I’d had on my own face yesterday when I received her text messages. Asking such trivial things like “how does the air conditioner work?” when I know without a doubt that she never would have voluntarily asked for help with it. It’s almost like she forgets how well I know her…
Tim and Eloise are beginning to instruct the class, telling couples to pair up and I snake my hand down to Paige’s, engulfing her small, delicate fingers in mine before pulling her towards the rest of the class. “Come on.”
She digs her heals in, resisting my tug. “Wait, what?” Panic replaces the wonder that had been in her eyes a second ago. “We’re not signed up.”
I nod. “Yes, we are. I signed us up for it.”
Now, abhorred bewilderment flashes through her eyes.
Wow, she’s really letting all the emotions show today.
“You did what? How did you even know I was going to be here?”
I shrug. “I stopped by the cabin when I got into town. Saw this marked on the fridge calendar. Also, when did we get a fridge calendar?”
The blush creeps back to her cheeks, her eyes dropping to the floor. “I needed something to keep me organized. I can take it down.”
I bend down so that I catch her gaze, shooting her a soft smile. “Don’t. I like it.”
Her face brightens, a smile spreading across her lips and I’d buy her a thousand fridge calendars if that’s what it took to keep that look on her face.
I give her hand another tug. “Come on.”
She still hesitates but lets me drag her along towards the group, and I try to ignore the questioning look that Theo is watching me with. I’ve been so focused on winning Paige over again, proving to her that I wasn’t going to give up on this, proving that I was there to support her and that she didn’t have to do things on her own anymore, I never even considered how I was going to convince her brothers that I’m worth her time.
And I had a strong feeling Aspen wasn’t going to be too happy about my pursuit of his sister.
I run my thumb over Paige’s knuckles, taking comfort in the feeling of her soft skin beneath my fingers.
“Max, I don’t dance.” Paige whispers into my arm and if she was trying to make it not look like there was something between us, she was doing a terrible job.
I can’t help the proud smile that picks at the corner of my mouth. “That’s why we need lessons.” I whisper back, trying to listen as Tim and his wife demonstrate where hands are supposed to be placed while dancing, and a few standard steps.
“I’m not going to be dancing at the wedding Max, I’ll be working.” She continues, but when I glance down at her, her eyes are tracking the instructors’ movements with obvious apprehension.
I roll my eyes. “If you think for a moment, that I’m not going to ask you to dance, then you haven’t been paying attention.”
Crimson colors her cheeks again as she purses her lips to keep from smiling.
Eloise claps her hands, drawing all attention to her. “Alright, now take your partner and we’ll start the music. Just copy those first few steps and we’ll build off that. Tim and I will walk around and critique each couple as we go.”
I turn toward Paige, and she looks up at me with pure panic in her eyes. My expression softens as I guide her hand up to my shoulder, keeping her other hand clasped in mine and tucking it close to us instead of stretched out like the other couples. Settling my free hand at the small of her back, I draw Paige closer, and the realization creeps in on me that we haven’t been this close since we were in the Bennett’s house before I left.
Then there was some kind of distance separating us, some kind of mental barrier that was keeping us apart.
And for some reason, that barrier isn’t here tonight.
An unfamiliar lump forms in my throat and I push down the nervousness that’s suddenly crawling up from the pits of my stomach. When was the last time I was nervous around a girl? But this wasn’t any girl. This was Paige, and for the first time in a long time, she isn’t actively pushing me away. She is letting me guide her movements, she’s not fighting me tooth and nail as I lead the steps the instructors demonstrated. Instead, she’s yielding to it…
And maybe yielding to her feelings too.
Which means I have to make sure I don’t mess things up…
I swallow down my anxiety, trying to force my body to relax instead of the rigidness that’s seized me. It’s only when Paige steps on my foot that some of the tension actually leaves my shoulders though.
“Ouch.” I say around a laugh.
She winces as if my words were equal to her having stomped on my big toe. “Sorry.”
I laugh. “Stop watching your feet. Look at me, let me lead you.”
She does as I say and my heart surges when she turns her grey eyes up towards me and there is no guardedness in their depths. “I like knowing what I’m doing… I kind of have some trust issues.”
I nod once, tension settling between us that has nothing to do with the fact that she just stepped on my foot again. “You can trust me.” I say in a whisper.
And to my surprise, she nods. “I’m starting to figure that out.”
I can’t hide the smile that breaks out across my lips, so instead I just tuck Paige closer to me as I guide her moves around the warehouse floor. Her body is tense at first, but soon settles as she relaxes against me and I hear a faint sigh as she rests her head against my chest.
She only steps on my foot a couple more times before the instructors call for everyone to stop and show the next set of steps. I don’t let go of Paige’s hand as we watch them move gracefully, instead, indulging in the soft contact. Briefly, I cut a glance to Theo and Sadie across the room from us, and dread washes over me as I track his focus to where Paige and my hands are intertwined.
Years of conditioning tell me to release her hand, maybe throw my arm over her shoulder in the brotherly way that I’ve seen Aspen do on a number of times. The kind of action that screams “friends” and nothing more. This time though, I fight the urge, instead running my thumb over Paige’s knuckles again, and again, I’m surprised at the calming feeling that floods my system at the action.
Maybe this will be my new nervous tick: holding Paige. It certainly has a soothing effect.
When we turn back to each other to dance again, Paige has a wide smile on her face. “I have something I need to tell you.”
I arch a brow at her. “What?”
“My mom and gram are coming to the states!” She nearly squeals.
I grin, starting to lead her in another dance. “That’s great!”
She nods. “But now I really need to find a new place to stay. Ma doesn’t know I’ve been staying with you and especially after Fiona-” She stops herself, color draining from her face and I stop moving.
Suddenly we’re the only ones standing still while the rest of the room literally spins around us. My body heats with anticipation as I stare down at Paige, knowing full well whatever Fiona had to say was not something I was going to like. Especially if it was bad enough that it was part of the reason Paige was wanting to move. “What happened with Fiona?” I say slowly, trying to keep my voice calm but even I can hear how it cracks slightly around my stepmother’s name.
She drops her eyes to the floor, biting her lips together as she contemplates what to say and I can practically see the gears turning in her head. “It wasn’t anything…”
“What did she say?” I say, this time more forcefully.
Fear lights up Paige’s eyes before she quickly drops her gaze and I hate it, I’m not sure if it’s fear of Fiona, or what will happen to Fiona if I find out what was said between the two of them. Deep inside me grows cold despite the fiery fury that runs through my veins.
“Was it the same thing that she said before Europe?” I ask.
Paige’s gaze snaps back to me, wide and surprised. “You know about that?” She breathes out.
“Was it the same conversation?” I repeat.
“Max… I…”
“Was. It. The. Same?”
“Not exactly the same…” She says like it’s a breath and her lip quivers quickly as if she’s on the brink of crying.
I palm her cheek, catching her dimmed grey eyes and I’m positive she can see the fury in mine. “I love you Paige, nothing, and no one, is going to change that. Not time apart, not family, not even you telling me to leave you alone. I’m not going anywhere.”
And to my surprise, she nods. “I know.”
“Good.” I say, kissing her cheek quickly. “Now I have to get that through someone else’s head too.” I add before starting towards the door.
“Max, wait!” Paige calls behind me, but this time I ignore her.