Page 240 of The Sidekick

“Get out of here,” I protest with wide eyes. “He needs you.”

“He’s being a pussy. He definitely doesn’t need me.”

I gape at his amused attitude.

“Max!”

“Tera,” he mocks me. “I’m used to this. You aren’t. I’m not risking a repeat of last time but he’s in there pouting because you aren’t with him.”

I can’t picture that at all.

“You’re such a liar,” I hiss, trying to keep my voice down.

“If you don’t go in there he’s going to come in here, just saying,” he raises his hands as if he’s done his duty and is leaving it to me.

I scoff. He’s been growling and snapping about everything under the sun. His complaints about the pain makes me think he’s never getting out of bed again.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he sings out as he makes his way to the door with a smile.

“He’s going to yell at me.”

Max’s happy saunter stops in its tracks. His expression when he turns back is so solemn it startles me.

“That motherfucker is going to lie in bed and let you paint his fucking toenails if you want to.”

I gape at the abrupt turnaround, my hand dropping away from my throat in shock. This doesn’t sound like any version of Max I’ve ever known.

“I swear to God if he puts me through that hell again I’ll smother him in his sleep.”

If my eyes get any wider my eyeballs will fall out.

“Let’s go together,” he holds his hand out to me and I’m a little too scared of this version to say no.

He intertwines our fingers and marches to the bedroom, breathing heavily in anger.

“Max?” I ask worriedly. I don’t know what I stepped into this time but I want Asher. Right now.

He pulls me right to the side of the bed while Trevor watches us with a confused frown.

“What the fuck is going on?”

“I brought your sweet nurse in, just like you asked,” Max gives him a smile that’s mostly teeth. “Now you are going to behave so she doesn’t run for her god damn life, understand?”

Trevor’s brows shoot up to his hairline as he stares. I stand like a useless lump without a single thought running through me.

“Tera,” Max’s expression gentles as he turns to me and clasps my shoulders to draw me into a hug. “I love you. Good morning on your first fucking morning in this house of horrors. Please don’t leave me alone with him.”

I sputter, completely at a loss on how to respond.

“You fucking dick, get out of here,” Trevor says in exasperation.

Max leans back to give me a lingering kiss that I’m too tense to really enjoy and then leaves, closing the door quietly behind him.

I stand awkwardly while Trevor stares at the ceiling angrily. Then he lets out a big sigh and glances at me.

“I’m sorry for being a dick,” he mutters.

“I’m sorry you hurt,” is my first response before I frown. “Wait. I don’t know if I should be nice yet.”

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