Page 101 of Puck Me Secretly

“What makes you think she said anything?”

“She busted us at the party and next thing I know, you can’t even look at me.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“What did she say about me?” The tendons of Max’s muscles stood out and his jaw clenched.

I realized Max thought I was avoiding him because of something Mom had said about him. Something bad or unsavory. Which made me feel terrible.

“Nothing. She said nothing about you,” my voice wavered.

His eyes narrowed. “She wants you to be with Calder. Someone with a pedigree, is that right?”

I shook my head.

“Tell me you’re not dating that Baby Boy.”

It was in that moment I knew Max meant what he said. He wouldn’t leave the room until he wrangled the truth out of me. A truth I couldn’t afford to share.

So, I implied a lie. “Calder’s a family friend.”

“He’s a drugged up punk who doesn’t deserve you.”

I avoided his gaze and shrugged.

Painful and cold silence ticked between us. Matching the beat of my bruised and sore heart.

“Answer this one question and then I’ll leave.”

My eyes met his outraged expression.

“Have you slept with him yet?”

I’d rather be celibate for the rest of my life before I slept with Calder. “Not yet.”

Max’s nostrils flared as he worked to get his emotions under control.

With my arms crossed, I watched him. I felt horrible for how this was ending. I hated that I was hurting him and I hated that whatever was between us, I was killing with my lies. But I was doing this for him. As pissed off as he was, losing hockey would be a million times worse. We’d never be able to survive that. And then he’d have nothing.

He pushed off the desk, and his eyes, dark and stormy, pierced mine when he passed me towards the door.

I took a deep shuddery breath and followed him to lock the doorbehind him. I tried to think of something, anything to say that would make him feel better, but redemption was impossible after this conversation. Max had shown me nothing but kindness and now I was throwing his friendship in his face so I could allegedly choose Calder over him.

He reached to open the door, but his hand paused on the handle. I faltered behind him, unsure of what verbal scorn he’d unleash on me. Whatever he had to say, I deserved it and more.

He stared down at me. His eyes were like blue diamonds, glittering like hot ice. He took a step towards me.

I stepped back.

He kept coming until my back was flat against the wall. He towered over me, staring down at me, with those angry hot eyes. He planted the palm of his hand against the wall beside my head. A total dominant move. A thrill shot into my gut.

“This is complete fucking bullshit.”

My lips parted as my brain tried to think of some words.

“Don’t,” his lip curled. “I don’t want to hear it.”

He traced a finger down my lips, pausing so that one finger pressed against my mouth as if to hush me. Our eyes met.

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