An Ounce of Hope(101)

Max inhaled through his nose, his large shoulders lifting. Grace noticed he did this when he was trying to rein in his temper. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "You're unbelievable," he muttered toward his shoes.

"I am?" Grace countered loudly. "You're the one who slammed the door in my face."

Max's head snapped up, surprise flickering over his features before he quickly schooled them. "Look, I came here to say what I needed to say and then I'm out of here, all right?"

Grace crossed her arms over her chest, still kneeling in the center of her bed. "Fine."

He pointed toward the floor between them, rainwater falling to the carpet. "I know I'm an asshole, okay, and I know us sleeping together was never going to be straightforward. I get that. But, whatever. I decided I'd be exclusive to you because that's what you deserved." His voice dropped in volume. "I know I never asked for you to do the same because, one, I didn't expect you'd be flashing your shit to anyone else and two, it ain't got nothing to do with me." His rising anger caused his Brooklyn twang to grow stronger. "But I didn't expect you to treat me like a fucking fool. I ain't one and I don't deserve that."




 

 

"Max." Grace breathed deeply in an effort to calm herself. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

He stepped back, looking toward his feet. "I saw you, Grace." He lifted his head and for the first time, Grace detected hurt. "I saw you with him." He licked his lips and glanced toward the ceiling, pressing his lips together. "I saw you laughing . . . he touched you and you were both in here- Look, whatever, it's fine." He ran his hands through his wet hair and mumbled something toward the wall. "I would have rather you just told me before fucking around with that prick."

Grace regarded him carefully as all the pieces started to fall into place. There was only one person she knew who got Max as riled as this, one person he referred to with such aggression.

"You saw me with Caleb."

He coughed a noise that was no doubt a curse, despite the wounded glint she caught in his gaze. "Bingo."

Grace unfolded her arms, her body heavy with fatigue and disappointment. "You saw me with Caleb," she repeated. "And you think what? That I slept with him?" He didn't answer except to cock an eyebrow, the challenge clear. Her heart squeezed. She dropped her chin to her chest and tried to gather herself. "You know what, Max? You're right." She looked back at him. "You are an asshole."

Max's head moved back as though he'd been slapped. "Say what, now?"

Grace shook her head and drew back the sheet so she could climb under. "Please lock the door when you leave."

"Are you kidding me?" His voice lifted at the end, causing Grace to turn.

"No. I'm not," she replied, calm and monotone.

Max scowled with his arms out wide. "And that's it. No denial, no explanation, nothing?"

Grace shook her head slowly. The only denial she could see was his. "You saw what you wanted to see, Max, nothing more. I could spend the next hour explaining what was actually happening, and why, but it wouldn't matter."

"Why wouldn't it matter?" he snapped.

Grace's heart thumped at the fire in his eyes. He was too stubborn to realize what he was feeling, too blind to see what was right in front of him, but it wasn't the time to try to show him. As much as it pained Grace, she knew he'd have to come to the realization on his own. "Would it matter to you, Max?"

"Yes!"

"Why?" She spoke so softly and he was silent for so long, Grace wondered whether he'd heard her.

The moment was broken when thunder cracked above them, making the lights dim. Rain pummeled the roof, getting harder and more aggressive as the seconds passed. Max stared at Grace, still without voice, though, she noted, the warm brown tones of his eyes had started to creep back and the softness that she loved so much about his face smoothed the angry lines that had creased it. 

Relieved, she nodded toward him. "Get undressed and get in here."

He blinked, his eyebrows meeting above his nose. "What?"

"You're soaked and it's like the apocalypse out there. You're not driving and you sure as hell aren't walking, so get in here until it passes." She didn't wait for him to reply and continued getting under the thin sheet, her back to him. He didn't move. Grace squeezed her eyes shut. "Max. Please."

"I shouldn't."

"I know." She took a deep breath. "But I don't want you to go."

There was another stretch of quiet before the unmistakable rustle of clothes being removed could be heard. He padded around her room, placing his clothes on the radiator and his wallet and keys on the nightstand next to her, and eventually crawled into bed.