Page 76 of The Sidekick

“What did you do for work last night?” I try to engage my suddenly jumpy friend in conversation.

“Why do you ask?” He questions sharply, and I rear back in surprise.

“Because I thought you were more the computer guy now? And you have a black eye? Should I be nervous too?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replies in a flat tone that I don’t believe for a second.

“Ok,” I drop it and bite my burger, humming happily. This actually tastes amazing today. Things are looking up.

“Hey, Tera.”

Never mind, everything tastes like poop, and it looks like rain.

I swallow thickly, forcing the bite down to mutter, “Hi, Max.”

“Uh, would you mind if I join you?” He asks awkwardly as I stare at the burger like it betrayed me.

Shade kicks out a chair. Even though it hits Max in the legs, he chokes a thanks out and sits down. I transfer my glare to Shade, the true traitor in my midst.

“I’m not saying shit to you,” Max glares at him as he sets his plate down. “You apparently hit like a freight train, and I’m not in the mood to find out what that feels like.”

“Shade?” I fit a million questions into that one word, and he smirks back at me smugly. Then he picks up his phone, even though it hasn’t chimed, and pretends to read a text.

“I’m out,” he says flatly and stands.

“You’re the worst,” I glare at him as Max looks back and forth between us with a frown.

“Duty calls,” he shrugs and walks away without remorse.

“He’s just going to leave you here with me?” Max asks in disgruntled surprise. “That’s bold.”

“No, it’s rude,” I glare at my now judgy burger.

“If you don’t like it, you should break up with him,” he shrugs with tense shoulders and takes a massive bite of his food. I’m in the middle of envying him for his healthy relationship with his meal when his words hit.

“We aren’t dating,” I scoff. In my distraction, I take another bite of my own food.

He frowns at me, “So it’s just sex?”

I can’t keep my laughter inside. “He’s practically an older brother at this point. Or a dictator.”

“What?”

“And he’s in love,” I mock him at his blatant surprise.

“No,” he shakes his head sharply with a scowl. “He beat the shit out of Trevor last night in the middle of the bar. For you. He’s in love with you.”

“He did what?” My mouth drops open in dismay. I know how he got the black eye now, the little liar. No wonder he was preparing himself for an attack. “Oh my gosh, is he ok?”

“He’s fine, for a miserable patient,” Max waves that away as he studies me. That comforts me a little. At least enough to not feel so guilty for the jolt of pure glee that struck before the worry.

I frown after Shade even though he’s no longer in my sight. “That guy is too much. He loves me but as a sister, Max. Whatever he did to… your boss, he did it as a brother, not a boyfriend. If you brought up sex and me in the same sentence, he would gag.”

He leans back and stares at me harder as I shake my head. Andi brought up my buying one of the toys from work, and the horrified look of disgust on his face runs through my mind.

“He told Andi if she bought me a vibrator, he was going to shove it down the garbage disposal to save on his therapy bills,” I crack up, looking at Max to share in the humor. He stares back with a heavy frown.

“Oh my gosh, if you don’t believe me, just ask him.” I roll my eyes and pull up Shade’s last text message.

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