Page 114 of Maximum Dare
“After the accident I hated myself,” added Nick. “I couldn’t bear to look in the mirror. Then you came to see me in the hospital, Daisy.” He lowered his voice. “I’d get on my knees to beg you to take me back but that’s not possible right now.”
My heart pounded furiously against my chest and I felt dizzy and lightheaded.
“It’s a lot to take in,” whispered Nick. “But I wanted to do it in a place that’s special to me.”
The place I’d never seen the whole time we’d lived together. A soft, panicked murmur escaped my lips. Looking around, I tried to find Max in the crowd again, tried to find the only man who’d know how to handle this without embarrassing Nick or hurting him any worse.
“Daisy?” Nick rested his right crutch against the center island and took my hand.
I blinked, feeling like I was having an out-of-body experience.
A roar erupted from the crowd as Nick pulled me into a hug.
Wait…
I broke away, my cheeks flushed. Movement in the archway caused my freaked-out stare to move away from Nick’s face over to where Max was now standing.
I could see words trying to form on his lips, but he couldn’t say them.
Instead, Max rushed forward and embraced Nick. “Well done. You did the right thing.”
“She’s amazing, isn’t she Max?”
“Of course she is.” Max turned to me, leaning over to kiss my cheek—though he failed to make eye contact. “Congratulations, Daisy.”
“Max,” I said, sounding panicked.
He broke away, strolling back through the archway and out of the kitchen.
A flash went off near my face and I blinked away the stars.
Remember to breathe.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Nick, fighting back tears.
He blew me a kiss.
I hurried out, scurrying down a long hallway, pausing to peek into each room as I went, hoping to find Max. I had to catch him and explain…I didn’t want to be with Nick. I wanted him. From the first moment we’d met it had been him.
Pushing open a door, I found Max standing at a window, texting.
I ran toward him.
He raised a hand to warn me not to come too close. “Someone might see.”
A thousand tons of pressure pushed against my chest. Drawing in full breaths was impossible. “Did you hear his speech?” I asked.
He let out a sigh. “This is what you wanted. What you fought for.”
“No, Max you and I—”
“I’ll always be here for you. You know that. But I have to return to Brazil—I have a situation in São Paulo.”
He was steadying his emotions.
Pushing me away.
I reached for his arm. “Please, Max—”
