Page 10 of Max's Mission

His hand covered hers. Margot’s damn heart sped up again and more cracks appeared in her walls.

“You need to take care of yourself, Margot. How about we set up a day each week where I take the kids and you do whatever you want? No cleaning.” He shook a finger at her. “Sleeping, reading, watching TV, anything that involves you doing something you want. Not something you need to do.”

That sounded wonderful, but she and her daughters weren’t his problem. They were no one’s problem. She waved a hand, dismissing his suggestion. “I’ll be fine. Eventually, they won’t need me so much, and I’ll be able to do more.”

He snagged her hand as it fluttered back to her lap. “Before or after you become a shell of yourself?”

She yanked her hand away and scowled. “My life and my problems are just that. Mine. Stop worrying about me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Try.”

“No.”

She let out a little huff. Why did he have to be so stubborn? “This is not the sort of distraction I was talking about when I asked you to keep me awake. Why don’t you want to?”

“Because I care about you. You’re my friend, and I don’t want to see you work yourself to the bone when you have help available. I understand more now, since you told me about yourparents, why you want to go it alone, but you are not them. Neither am I, nor are any of the rest of us.”

Her scowl softened but didn’t disappear. “I know that.”

“Logically, yes. But in there?” He tapped her chest, just above her heart. “I don’t think you do.”

She did not want to psychoanalyze herself right now. Not ever, if she was honest. But especially not when she was so tired. “How about we talk about something else?”

He sighed and sank back into his seat. “You didn’t like my topic of conversation, so you pick.”

“Okay, how about you tell me about the things that test you?”

He groaned. “What is this? Confession time?”

“Hey, you wanted to pick apart my deepest fears. It’s only fair I get to do the same.”

The side glance he sent her spoke volumes about his lack of desire to talk about himself. She wasn’t sorry. Turnabout was fair play. If he didn’t want to talk about himself, that was fine. But he couldn’t expect her to if he didn’t.

“Tight spaces.”

Margot’s brows dipped. “What?”

“Something that tests me. Tight spaces.”

Dammit.He wanted to talk. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“But I do if I ever want you to talk to me and to let me into that impermeable bubble you surround yourself with.”

“What are you talking about? I let you in.” Of all the adults in her life, besides Annabeth, she was closest to him.

“You let me into the outer bubble. But there’s an inner one that only the girls and Annabeth are in. And even then, I’m not sure that Annabeth doesn’t have one foot on the outside.”

She really hated how perceptive he was. Or maybe she just couldn’t hide her feelings as well as she thought she could. Annabeth always called her on her BS too. He wasn’t wrong, though. She did keep most people at a distance. It was saferthat way. “We’re not talking about me. How about we don’t talk about you, either? I’m awake enough now.”

Max raked a hand through his dark blond hair. “Margot…” Exasperation colored his tone.

Feeling like a bit of a bitch, she flapped a hand and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. “I’m sorry for snapping at you.” To her horror, she felt tears pressing against her eyelids. She turned toward the window. “I’m exhausted and stressed out. Diving into my feelings is not something I can handle right now.”

Max’s warm hand enveloped hers. A tear slid free from her eye. She let it go, not wanting to draw attention to it, but he saw it anyway.

“Hey, it’s okay. Come here.” He tugged her closer, tipping her into his chest.

---