Page 93 of Except You

This is getting out of hand, and yet I have no intention of stopping.

“Before the food and drinks arrive, I think you have something you’d like to say to Max. Right, Coop?”

“Do I?”

I roll my eyes, and he grins at me cheekily.

“Fine.” He turns his gaze to Max. “Beau tells me I have bad karma heading my way for how I acted the other night. But I think I deserve whatever that karma may be because I’m worried for my friend and I’m just looking out for him. I want Beau to be happy but apparently, you make him happy, so…”

I scowl at my best friend. This wasn’t the apology I was looking for and he knows it. Coop glances over at me and sighs.

“What I meant to say is, I’m sorry for starting shit. It was absolutely my intention because I worry you’re going to hurt him, but I need to trust Beau to make his own decisions, good or not.”

I sigh and then punch him lightly in the shoulder.

“That’s the best you could do? Really?”

He shrugs and then takes a sip of his water, crossing his ankle over his thigh.

“Yeah, it’s the best I could do.”

I open my mouth to chastise him, but Max interrupts.

“I’m a good decision, Coop. I promise.”

Coop’s lips purse and he arches an eyebrow at him. “Are you?”

“Yeah, I make him happy.”

Coop considers that for a moment and then says, “You’re also straight and experimenting with him and his feelings.”

Max opens his mouth to respond but then snaps it shut, his cheeks flushing. My heart rate picks up, and I feel myself growing slightly dizzy.

“Coop, stop it,” I manage to say, and he eyes me, looking protective.

“I just want to know what his intentions are. That’s all.”

I narrow my eyes and stand up quickly, my chair catching on the floor slightly and toppling over. “You know what? I’m not going to put up with this anymore. We’re leaving.”

Max reaches out, his hand wrapping gently around my wrist. He must feel my pounding pulse under my skin. He has to, it’s racing.

“No, it’s okay. It’s fine.”

I shake my head, but he just gives me a small smile before he lets me go and picks my chair up, tugging me back to my seat.

“It’s not fine,” I huff, but calm down slightly when his fingers link with mine. He brings my hand up to his lips and kisses my knuckles gently before glancing at Coop.

“I know it seems like I’m experimenting, but Beau said I don’t need a label for…” he swallows and says softly, “…for what I am, for what I feel.”

Coop blinks at Max’s sincerity. “And what do you feel?”

He doesn’t even hesitate. “Happy. Bow-tie makes me happy.”

I nearly melt into the floor, my entire body warm now.

“You make me happy too,” I tell him, my eyes stinging slightly.

Max reaches over and caresses my face, making Coop sigh.

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