Ugly(149)
“Snowflake,” he whispers as he draws his eyebrows together.
“It’s taken me a long time. But now I know I am worthy of love, and I’m in love with you.” Max is quiet for a scary, long moment.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear,” he says.
“That I love you?”
He shakes his head. “No snowflake, to hear you say you’re worthy.”
I stare into his hungry, loving eyes and break down.
The ice cream sundae ended up being the most delicious thing I’d ever eaten. Not because it was sweet and gooey. Not because it had an abundance of strawberries and strawberry sauce. But because I shared it with the man I love.
We’re heading home now, forgoing dinner at some restaurant and opting for take-out instead. My cell phone rings, and I take it out of my bag.
“Girl, you sitting down?” Shayne says before I even have a chance to say hello.
“Max and I are on our way home, so yes ma’am, I’m sitting down.”
“Put me on speaker, I want to tell you both something.”
“Hang on,” I say and turn to Max. “Shayne wants me to put her on speaker, she wants to tell us something.” Max nods his okay. “You’re on speaker, Shayne,” I say and hold the phone between Max and myself.
“You know the trip to Disneyland you got Liam and me for Christmas?”
“I do,” I answer.
“You know how Liam and I had the best. Time. EVER?” she yells.
“Yep, I do. You kept sending me pictures of all the rides you were on. And even one with you trying to feel up Prince Charming.”
Max laughs and so do I.
“Hell yeah, girl. That man was F.I.N.E.”
“I’m right here, you know,” I hear Liam grumble in the background.
“Be quiet you,” she says to Liam playfully. “Anyway, you know how Liam and I had a heap of crazy-ass monkey sex?”
I slap my hand to my forehead and shake my head. “Yes, I do recall the messages telling me how many times you and Liam were having sex.” Max laughs again.
“Seems one of those times worked.”
It takes me a split second, less than a split second to know what she’s saying. Suddenly, without my control I start screaming. Shayne starts screaming, and Max pulls over to the side of the road.
“Oh my God,” I say through the hysterical crying and screaming. “Congratulations.”
“Congratulations, Shayne. And to you too, Liam,” Max says as he grabs the phone before I drop it from all the excitement.
“So, anyway. Barbecue, our house, next Sunday,” Shayne manages to say once she’s stopped screaming. “You’re going to be the best auntie in the world, Lily.”
“We’ll be there,” Max responds on behalf of us both.
Then the realization hits me. I’m going to be an auntie. Not to my brother’s child, but to my best friend’s child. “Yeah, we’ll be there,” I say, mustering as much happiness I can.
“Bye, guys,” Shayne says and hangs up.
“Are you okay?” Max asks as he puts the phone down between us. I smile and nod, then my nod turns into a shake. “What is it?”
“I’m so happy for them to have a baby. Really I am. But she said I’m going to be an aunt. How can I be? I’m…”
Max moves so he’s cupping my face in his hands, his thumbs tenderly stroking my cheeks. “You’ll be the best aunt in the world to that child. You know why?” I shake my head. “Because you were chosen.” I feel my lips twist up in a slight smile. “And one day, you may even want to give their little son or daughter, a cousin to play with.” I rapidly blink at Max.
“I’m worthy,” I finally sigh.
“Yes, you are.” He leans over and kisses me.
We stay entangled for what seems like hours, but I know it’s not. “I’m hungry,” I finally say.
“Let me take my snowflake home and feed her.”
When we get home, we head to my apartment, where Max orders dinner for us.
We sit cuddled together on the sofa, not really watching TV, not really talking, just enjoying our own company. Dinner arrives and we eat while still watching TV. “I have to go in to work on Monday and tell Peter and Dale I resign.”
“They’ll be happy.”
I flash a look over to Max, and he starts laughing as he’s eating his spaghetti. His laugh turns into a choking fit, and I pat him on the back to help. “That was the funniest look you’ve ever given me,” he says after he sips on his soda. “But I meant, they’ll be happy you’re doing something you love.”
“I know what you meant. I was just playing.”