An Ounce of Hope(92)

Grace looked at him, aghast. "What the hell was I say- Are you joking?"

He shook his head. "It was gibberish, mainly. Then it was about how awesome you think I am, how you can't live without me-" He laughed when Grace swatted weakly at him. It was almost the truth, though he'd never tell her. She'd slurred a few times as she snuggled into him about how much he meant to her, and how pretty he was. The former made parts of Max twitch in discomfort but the latter made him chuckle and shush her until she was snoring softly. Then the next bout of fidgeting and fighting with the covers would start.

Grace smiled, appeased, the worry fading from her eyes before she frowned. "Wait. What day is it? I have to work."

"Monday. I've been here since Sunday morning, when you didn't show for our run. And don't worry, I called Holly."

She exhaled, relieved. "Thank you. Shouldn't you be at work?"

Max shook his head. "Uncle Vince said I could play hooky, to make sure you were still breathing and shit. Besides, he owes me."

"He does?"

Max took a deep breath and licked his lips. "Josh and I with a few of the other guys are helping him on a job in Philly. A friend of his got behind schedule on a build and . . . we'll be staying there to get it done faster. It should take about a week, maybe ten days."

Grace blinked, her teeth worrying her bottom lip a little. "Oh."

Max wasn't sure why he'd felt guilty when his uncle had asked for his help and he'd said yes and why now, when he told Grace, he felt it again. "Yeah, we go on Thursday morning bright and early." He tried to smile. "Hey, just think of all the peace and quiet you'll get while I'm away."

Grace breathed a small laugh but it fell flat between them, settling with a heavy silence that covered them both like a blanket. Max fidgeted at her side, the need to say something fighting with the urge he had to hug her. Her next question relieved him of doing either.

"How did you get in here?" 

Shit. Max had been hoping that somehow that question would have passed her by. "Your hide-a-key."

Grace frowned. "But only my brother and Ruby know about that."

Max shifted nervously. "Yeah, about that, look, don't be mad at her, okay?"

"At who? Ruby?"

He nodded. "I don't want you to freak out, but I got worried when you didn't show or answer your phone and I didn't know if you were back from DC, because you hadn't called, so I came over. I didn't know if something had happened, because it looked like you were home, but you didn't come to the door. So I phoned Ruby and she told me where it was so I could get in and check on you." He paused and swallowed. "Sorry."

Grace smirked. "You're cute when you ramble."

"Am not."

"Are so." She waved a hand, stopping him from arguing further. "Why would I have freaked out?"

Max shrugged. "Strange man in your house without permission. I mean, I didn't want to assume you'd be okay with me doing that but I was-"

"Worried?"

Max narrowed his eyes at her smile and huffed. "Yeah. But I wish I hadn't bothered. I don't think I'll ever get the whiff of vomit off me."

Grace giggled and snorted incredulously as she said, "Strange man."

Max shook his head. She was definitely feeling better. "Whatever. I'm going to make some coffee." He threw his legs off the bed and thumped to the floor.

"Max?"

He stopped at the doorway and turned.

"Thank you for helping me. Really."

Max dipped his chin, her sincerity and wide, innocent eyes yanking the grumpiness from him and replacing it with something warmer, something that would allow Grace to get away with just about anything. It was so good to see her.

"You're welcome." He exhaled and threw a thumb over his shoulder. "You want something?"

"Penicillin," Grace muttered.

"What?"

"I'm allergic to penicillin. You know? Just in case this happens again."

Max snorted. "Christ. I hope not. But thanks. That's good to know."

"Any time, Rambler."

"Shut up." Max turned and headed out of the room. "Vomit Face."





By Wednesday, Grace was feeling her normal self again. Max had been an angel, all but bending over backward to make sure she had everything she wanted or needed to make her better. He'd stayed until she'd fallen asleep on Monday night after making her toast and tea for lunch, leaving her to snooze while he watched TV and even running her a bath when Grace complained that she could no longer cope with her own gross, sweaty smell. The only negative was that Max had ignored her unsubtle requests for him to join her in the lavender bubbles. He'd grumbled about her being the death of him and left her to soak.