“But… what is he going to do?” Aaron looks as perplexed as me because I don’t have a fucking clue. All I know is I have a monster of a headache starting and need to get out of the sun.
“Fuck knows.” I throw up my hand. “I’ll be in the office if you need me.” I march past them and feel three pairs of eyes watching my retreat.
I shut the door to the office and sit down with my feet on the desk, turning on the fan and hoping to get some relief. I close my eyes and that helps a bit until I hear the door open and close as someone comes in. My guess is Beth, and when I peer out of one eye, I see I’m right.
“You okay?” she asks and perches on the edge of the desk, reaching out to take my hand. With a heavy sigh, I sit up and look at her.
“What the fuck am I going to do?” I drop my defenses and let her see how worried I am. “We can’t lose this place. How could he be so stupid?”
“I don’t know, Storm, but we’ll figure something out.”
I nod distractedly because I know what’s got me all bent out of shape, and he’s standing out there going over Kyle’s Camaro with Aaron.
“What’s up with you and Max? Aaron said you were holding hands this morning and making goo-goo eyes at each other and then you come back and it’s like you want to knee him in the balls. Again.”
That gets a smile out of me; it was generally how I always felt around Max.
“Did you know my dad asked the hospital to call him? After the crash, they called him and he saw my dad in the ER.”
“That was good of him. No?”
“Well… I suppose it was but he never told me.”
“And that’s a problem why exactly?”
“How can I trust him if he keeps things from me.”
Beth arches an eyebrow. “Did you just listen to yourself? That is what you’re bothered about. So, he didn’t tell you that he went to the hospital. It’s not his fault your dad was up there in the first place. He was just trying to do something good, and you’re giving him shit for not telling you. Honestly, Leigh, you need to give yourself a good shake. Max Morgan is head over heels for you and I know you feel the same way. Don’t ruin whatever is going on between you because of something so stupid.”
“But…”
“But nothing. You’re just looking for excuses. Get over yourself and trust him. I want you to get out there and make up with him.” She points her finger in the Max’s direction, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Beth so mad.
“Fine. I will, but first, I have to do something.” I push up from the desk, still keeping an eye on the other two. “Cover for me.” I move past the desk, but Beth stops me.
“No way, I’m coming with you. You’ve got that look in your eye.”
“What look?”
“I’ve seen that look. You’re up to something, and I’m guessing you don’t want them to know.” She jerks her head in the direction of Max and Aaron. “So I’m coming, too.”
“Okay but don’t say a word,” I warn her before walking out of the office.
We haven’t gone two steps when Beth calls out from behind me. “We’re going to get sandwiches for lunch. Want us to pick something up for you?” I groan and whirl around to glare at her, and she flashes me an innocent smile.
“Yeah, that could be good.” Aaron rubs his stomach. Trust him to be hungry. “Tuna mayo for me.”
“Yeah, I could eat.” Max nods in agreement. “Surprise me.” And he looks at me. When his eyes collide with mine, I forget that I’m supposed to be mad at him and return his breathtakingly gorgeous smile. It takes him by surprise, and he gives me an odd look. Damn, I’ve set an alarm bell ringing; he was obviously still expecting me to be mad and not smile at him like I’d won the lotto.
“Won’t be long,” I call and hurry Beth outside before Max can work out that I’m up to something. We reach Beth’s car as Max stands in the doorway looking at us, squinting through the sun. Hurriedly, I jump in and pull on my seat belt while she takes her sweet time and Max starts to walk toward us.
“Drive.” My voice is almost a shriek and head jerks up in time to see Max break into a jog. She turns the ignition and floors the car out of the lot, sending gravel flying as her wheels spin. Max breaks into a flat-out run and Beth squeals, as she turns hard on the steering wheel and onto the main street.
“That was close.” She breathes heavily and eases her foot off the gas and gives me a quick look. “Where are we going anyway?”
“Tom Anderson’s lot.”