“I’ve got eight proofreading jobs lined up, and I’m constantly getting more requests. And don’t forget, I got that raise at work when they made me Peter’s personal assistant. I can’t afford it yet, because I’m literally starting my life from scratch, but I’m hoping by March I should be able to buy a couple of pieces of furniture.”
“Who needs furniture?” Liam asks as he comes in, followed by Max carrying a couple of bags each.
“Lily is going to move out.”
“What? No. She can’t.” Liam turns to me. “You can’t.”
I open my mouth to say something, but Shayne goes to Liam, touches his arm and says softly, “It’s time.”
Liam looks to me, then to Shayne, then back to me. But Max interrupts and says, “Is that a wise move?”
“I’ll move into a building that’s safe.”
“Hmmm,” he mumbles, puts the bags down, and walks out of the kitchen.
I look to Shayne, who lifts her shoulders and Liam says, “Go talk to him.”
Walking out, I go to find Max standing in the family room with his back to me. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Can we go somewhere to talk please?”
“Sure, we can go to my room.” I lead him to my bedroom and once inside, I close the door. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m worried, Lily. You’ve only just left your husband…”
“Nearly two months ago,” I interrupt him to say.
“I understand, but you don’t know what he may do. I’d just feel better if you stayed here with Shayne and Liam. At least I’d know you always have someone near in case anything happens.”
I sit on my bed, and just stare at him. “I can’t not do things because I’m afraid of Trent. Because if being afraid stops me, I’ll never leave this room.”
“I understand, really I do. But I think it’s too early for you to move out on your own.”
“I’m ready to heal, Max. To find out what I like about myself. And I can’t do that if I always have someone hanging around me. I’m not saying I don’t want Shayne, Liam or even you in my life, I’m just saying I need to figure things out for myself. I’ll be thirty before I know it and I won’t have any life experience, outside of being under someone else’s control.”
Max sits beside me and huffs. He runs his hand over his chin, then through his hair all while not looking at me. “Then I have a solution to this, where you can have your independence and freedom, and I know you’ll be safe and I won’t worry.”
“What’s that?” God, please don’t suggest I move in with you, because that’s the same as staying here.
“I own an apartment building. It’s in the best part of town, it’s totally secure, and all the apartments have their own alarm systems. You can rent one of those from me, and in exchange, you’ll have your own place and I’ll know you’re safe.”
“You own an apartment building?”
“I own several.” The look on my face must scream, ‘What the hell?’ because he chuckles at me. “I never told you what my biological father did before he passed away.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“He owned the third largest advertising firm in America.”
“He did?”
“Yes, and when he passed away, he left me everything. Including the advertising firm, which is now the second largest in America. He also left me several, six to be exact, apartment complexes scattered through America, one of which is here.”
“You never told me.” Wow. “Did you not tell me because you think I may have come after your money?” I ask.
“I need to watch who I tell, because unfortunately, there are plenty of people ready to swoop in and ask for money. But no, that’s not the reason. I never said anything, because it never really came up. And I knew you’d never be my friend just because of my money.”’
“You’re so normal though. You don’t even drive a fancy car.”
Max roars out a huge belly laugh and he throws his head back while he clutches his chest. “Normal.”
“Wait, why aren’t you working at the advertising company?”
“Dad had me working there for a few years, but I was never comfortable. My stutter made it difficult for people to understand me, and they made fun of me. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t bother me, but I prefer the easy life. I don’t need to walk out of there stressed and have people make fun of me. I took on the job at the hospital, because it really makes me happy when I drop food off to someone, and they look at me with such thanks. They may say it; they may not. But when I’m ‘Max the food guy,’ I’m satisfied and happy. It also gives me a chance to see who needs help and I give it to them.”