Page 109 of Dr. Bad Boy

“I keep your best friend alive.”

“And thank you for your service.”

He chuckles and adds another twenty-pound plate to the bench press bar. “Come on. You’re lifting weights that most men would cry at.”

I do okay. But I’d rather get a workout on the ice or by doing pushups. Maybe taking out my extra energy on a punching bag. Pumping iron I’ll leave to the big guy.

“Press this and we can call it a day.”

I do, because I don’t back down from a challenge.

Which brings me full circle back to Violet. I don’t like that she’s left. I text her as I leave the rink.

M: How’s your afternoon going?

V: You know…laundry and work prep for the week. I grabbed some groceries.

M: You could come back to my place.

She doesn’t respond until I’m home, and when she does, it’s with a phone call instead of a text message.

“Hi,” she says. Her voice is soft, tired.

Something inside me roars. “Come over,” I say, because fuck niceties.

“It’s easier to be at home on a work night.”

That’s an excuse and we both know it. “You’ll sleep better with me.”

“Maybe.”

“What’s wrong?”

She sighs. “It’s just a lot to process. Nothing iswrongper se.”

“So come over and we can process together.”

“Max…”

“I want in, Violet. I’m not going to take over. I just want in.”

“Then prove that you’re not trying to take over,” she snaps. “Give me the space I need to work this out for myself.”

I don’t say anything.

“Is that too much to ask?” Her voice has gone all soft again and I close my eyes and grimace.

“No. That’s fair.”

“I’m not heading home until Saturday. And I’ve got Friday off. Give me the week, okay? We can see each other Thursday night.”

Four days has never seemed so fucking long. “I don’t want radio silence between now and then.”

“Okay. We can text.”

“Call me to say goodnight.” I’m turning into a sap and I don’t care.

“I will.”

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