Page 28 of The Sidekick

“Here’s your supplies,” I shove them towards him, pushing him back a little with the motion, and he grabs them, stumbling back in surprise.

Once he’s out of the way, I slide out the door and close it behind me, ready to walk away and forget this happened. Felix is standing in my way, so I slink around him, hugging the wall so we don’t touch.

“Everything ok?”

I was so focused on not touching either of them I didn’t see Max walk over.

Did I touch Blaze? I feel the sudden urge to wash my hands.

“Everything is fine,” Felix replies, back to his normal, uncaring tone.

“Tera?” Max stares at me intently, like he’s willing me to start crying.

“They needed help to find the cleaning stuff, and I decided to show them instead of trying to explain so they wouldn’t get lost and mad about it,” I explain in a rush with my hands held up as if I’m surrendering. The pose makes a cold chill rack my spine. I held them up just like this during the robbery. I drop them at my sides quickly.

He blinks at me, expression morphing from mischievous glee to concern. “You sure you’re ok?”

“Yeah,” I lie, my voice gaining a squeakier pitch. “I just really want to wash my hands. I think I touched him, and it’s grossing me out. Do you think being a jerk is carried through germs? There should be a scientific study. I should look it up.”

Max’s grin returns as he looks over my shoulder at the twins. “You’re saying shit you’ll regret later, and as much as I’m loving it, I don’t want to deal with the guilt. Let’s go.”

My eyes narrow on him as he steps forward, reaching out to me. “No way am I touching you, Max. You’re probably a carrier. Maybe you’re patient zero and don’t know it. Stay away.”

He bursts into laughter that draws attention that I don’t want. I slide away from them and pray they’re cleaning the boy’s bathroom first. I lock the door behind me just in case and thoroughly scrub my hands.

I shouldn’t have said all of that. What would it cost me to admit they made me uncomfortable, and I wanted to get away? My pride? Do I even have any of that left by now?

Ugh! I hate Max for being right about the guilt trip I’m giving myself. I will not apologize, even though it was rude, and they would say something like that to me. Oh, that makes me feel worse. I’m sinking to their level. I rewash my hands, just in case.

By the time I get out, Max is leaning on the wall, waiting for me.

“The guilt has hit,” he shakes his head at whatever look I have on my face.

“That was really rude,” I tell him as if he doesn’t already know.

“Yeah, it was,” he replies with a smile, not caring that he’s driving the guilt into my heart even harder. “I loved it, and you are not apologizing to those assholes.”

“I don’t want to be like them,” I glare at him.

“You aren’t like them. Do you think they feel guilty when they say shit like that? Welcome to your villain era. Embrace it.”

My jaw drops as he wraps an arm over my shoulders and draws me back towards the office.

“I don’t want a villain era, Max. I want to just be me and not be treated like crap for it. So what if I’m not funny? Who cares if I don’t curse. Those are the dumbest reasons to hate someone.”

He leads me towards the office as I quietly vent, drawing Trevor’s frowning attention. He looks at Max, who gives a head nod that guys everywhere understand. Trevor returns it and goes back to scrubbing the bar. Once we’re in the office, Max shuts the door behind us and throws himself onto the couch to lie down.

“I’m not supposed to shut that,” I eye the door, debating on opening it back up.

I don’t feel uncomfortable with Max. Quite the opposite, in fact. His arms are crossed behind his head, and his shirt has ridden up, exposing his lower stomach and the V of his Adonis belt. His hip bones are prominent, and the urge to make him eat something rears up in me, but I bite it back to enjoy the view.

“Says who?” Max’s eyebrow quirks up as he watches me.

“Trevor,” I meet his eyes, forcing myself to not let them lower again. I’m sure it’s weird that I’m staring at him so intently, but he did this to himself, really. Stupid main characters and their hotness, as if they’re oblivious to the effect they have on their hapless victims. So unfair.

“You bad girl,” Max’s grin stretches wider. “Live a little. It’s just me. It’ll be fine.”

He’s so relaxed that I take a couple of steps away from the door, nodding. Then I stop as another thought occurs to me.

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