Page 21 of A Little Too Forward

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MAX

It takes Sabrina two days to cave and go to my mother for my address. I only know this because my brother Tom gives me the heads-up. Mom, apparently, was beaming and bragging to any member of the family who would listen that Sabrina popped over and surprised her with her favourite butter tarts. My mom loves Sabrina. Dare I say almost more than me?Almost.

And while I know Sabrina has a soft spot for my mom, I also know being roped in for a cup of coffee and a chat was not something she wanted to go through. Not when she finally had my address and murder on her mind.

I may be losing my damn mind, but I’m actually looking forward to the confrontation. There’s a pep in my step, and I can’t wipe the goofy smile off my face as I do a quick clean of the kitchen. At the last second, I call the security desk of my apartment building and let them know I’ll have a guest sometime today.

It would be fun to see her riled up even more by being denied entry, but I don’t want to poke the bear…well…more than I already have.

When the text comes, notifying me I have a visitor on the way up, a second of panic courses through my body. What the hell do I do with my hands? Do I wait for her at the door? Should I have put out food or maybe—

My internal panic stops with a knock at the door. Actually, it’s more like pounding at the door. Panic is replaced with a tingling anticipation. All my senses feel heightened now that’s she’s in my space.

The hardwood floor feels cool under my feet as I cross to the door. I can smell the peppermint oil I put in the diffuser this morning in the air. And I can hear my heart beat, beat, beating in my chest. This is it.

“You fucker” are the first words Sabrina says to me as she storms past the front door. “You absolute fucker.”

“Hello to you too, Sabrina.” It takes everything in me not to laugh at her dramatic entrance, but really, what else did I expect? Manners? Never. That wasn’t what our foundation of friendship was built on.

With my words, she stops dead in her tracks. I’m not sure where she’s headed since she’s never been in my apartment before, but the war march stops.

She mocks me. “Hello to you too. You know, you really are a pain in the ass.”

Closing the door and making my way toward her, I gesture into the living room. “Yes, I have heard that. Many times from my brothers and teammates.”

“Well,” she scoffs, reluctantly following my lead into the room. “They got it right. Insufferable too.” There’s no heat behind the words as she looks around the apartment. Her butt has just touched the sofa when she pops up and walks to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Holy cow,” she whispers, taking in the city below.

As Sabrina gazes down at the never-sleeping city, I take her in. She looks good, relaxed in a way I haven’t seen her in a while. Her red, wavy hair is pulled back into an elaborate bun thing, and she’s in a bulky sweater and jeans. Even casually dressed, she’s a striking woman.

It’s her eyes and sharp cheekbones that are the real showstopper. If she’s set her sights on you, you get lost in the mossy green of her eyes.

“Is this the place we’re doing the documentary?” Sabrina asks, having turned around and made her way back to the sofa.

“Only a small portion will be done here. I share this apartment with Mason and Sidney, and I don’t want to inconvenience them too much with the filming schedule. I have a house in Barrie that the production team was adamant be the main stage for the series.”

“You have two houses?”

“I rent this apartment with my teammates, so it’s not a big deal. It’s really a place to crash after games or long travel days. If I have any time off, I’m up north.”

“No big deal? Thisno big deal apartmentis a penthouse on the fifty-sixth floor.”

I press my lips together in indecision. She’s not going to like what I’m about to say.

“The apartment was big enough for three hockey players to live in without bumping into each other, and we need the security this place provides. Some of our fans are…”

“Determined, I imagine.”

“Exactly.”

Sabrina turns to me just as I’m gesturing to the kitchen.

“Oh my God, Max! Go put on some clothes.”

Confused, I look down at my clothing. “What are you talking about, Bean? I’m fully dressed.”

“That’s what you called dressed? It’s below freezing outside, and you’re walking around like you’re on a beach. Too much skin, Max. Too much. And what even is that top?”

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