Page 8 of Not Yet Yours

“It sounds perfect,” I say.

“Oh, it was,” Max says. “I’d go back in a heartbeat. Do you want to see some pictures? And you can say no if you don’t want to, and I won’t be offended. I don’t want to be one of those people who bores everyone with their vacation pictures.”

“No, don’t be silly. I’d love to see them,” I say, and I mean it.

Max gets her cell phone out and taps on the screen a few times. She holds the cell phone out to me.

“There you go. Just keep scrolling right,” she says.

I do as she says and even when our meals come, I keep scrolling with one hand as I eat with the other hand.

“I need to go there. Or let’s face it, anywhere,” I say when I’ve finished looking at the pictures.

“How about we plan a girl’s trip for this time next year to celebrate your business’s one-year anniversary?” Max says.

“I don’t know,” I say. “What if it doesn’t work out?”

“It will, but if it doesn’t then we’ll go just because why the fuck not,” Max laughs.

“I think Rio might be a bit out of my league for now,” I admit.

“Ok then when you’re rich and famous and because I believe in you and you don’t, the trip is on you,” Max says.

“Ok deal,” I agree.

Hell, I could agree to a trip to the moon under those conditions. I’m not going to get rich and certainly not famous from this.

“Maybe this time next year we could go away as a foursome,” Max says.

“Oh, that sounds fun,” I reply. “You and Cullen and me and my imaginary boyfriend.”

“I mean sure, you could bring the imaginary boyfriend if that’s what you really want, but I have to be honest. I was thinking more of me and Cullen and you and Liam,” Max says with a wicked-looking smile.

“I guess you heard that we might have had a bit of fun at your wedding,” I say, shaking my head but laughing all the same.

“I certainly did,” Max says. “I’ve been trying to think of a way to bring it up since I sat down.” We both laugh at that and then she goes on. “So, a little birdie tells me you two were kissing and then you left the party together.”

“Your little birdie would be correct,” I agree.

I’m dying to tell her the rest but it’s kind of fun playing along like this and making her work for it. She knows I will spill the beans eventually.

“And?” Max says with a raised eyebrow.

“And it was a nice kiss. I enjoyed it,” I say.

I try not to laugh at Max’s frustrated expression, but I can’t help it.

“Ok, ok,” I say. “I’ll tell you.”

Before I do, I poke the last one of my curly fries into my mouth and push my plate to one side. I make a show of slowly wiping my mouth on my napkin and then taking a drink of my Diet Coke. Max watches me, shaking her head, but smiling.

“We fucked,” I say, shrugging one shoulder.

That’s really all there is to say. I don’t think she needs to know that it was by far the best sex I have ever had. Or that I came so hard I was momentarily blind.

“And?” Max says again.

“And we fucked again the next morning,” I say.

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