Page 11 of Surviving the Break
“I’m sure we all have things we’d like to forget.”
I found myself ensnared by his evasiveness. The more he resisted, the more I wanted to make him bend. Could be that I sensed his deep desire to fold. Our beers came, and Max looked relieved to finally have something to do with his hands. “Is the memory tied to your charm?” I pointed to his black pearl, and he closed a palm around it. “Do you like to keep your pain close? As a reminder of some sort?”
His eyes flared, and he took a long swig of his drink before answering. “I honestly never noticed I’d developed the habit.” His expression turned puzzled. “But you did, and you hardly know me.”
“In my line of work, being observant can save lives.” Max was catnip to my keen nature. As someone who was an open book, being in the presence of someone wanting to hide always stroked my inquisitive impulses.
“Is that all it is?”
“What else would it be?”
He took in his surroundings, before lowering his voice. “I have a feeling you’re looking for adifferenttype of friendship from me.”
“And what makes you say that?”
He was adorable when placed in a tough position. To explain why he believed I might be looking for something else meant he would have to explain his “feelings.” And admit to having them.
“Are you denying it?” he countered. Well played.
How forward should I be? Max intrigued me, and lust quickly grew into a deeper attraction. It was hard to explain, but it came down to the small gestures with him. Things I found great pleasure in noticing. Like the way he kept a thermos with cool water in his truck for Pluto because the days were long and hot. Its lid doubled as a bowl, and immediately after being seated, he situated his dog and his water before thinking of himself. Or the way he rubbed his pearl to calm his nerves. What did I want from Max? At that bar, I initially wanted one night of heart stopping sex, by the end, I wanted more nights of the same. Now? Possibly a combination of sex and friendship with the option for more.Let’s start small.“I’d like to get to know you better. For now.”
“For now?” he asked incredulously.
I played back my words, as I had a tendency to be too direct. “Was that presumptuous of me?”
He laughed in disbelief, shaking his head. “Only the ‘for now’ part.”
“Forgive me. You’ll come to learn I lack the patience needed for games.”
His smile died, and we were saved by our food's arrival.
We ate, and the conversation continued, with him only relaxing when the discussion involved The Center, his work, or his granddad. Those were safe topics. “Did your friends enjoy spending time on the farm with your granddad as well?”
He gave an appreciative look for my tactic. “The farmhand and his son, Ryan, lived on the property with us. Ryan and I got into all kinds of trouble on the farm.” He held the neck of his beer bottle between two fingers, swooshing around the dregs at the bottom while giving me a taunting grin. Knowing he hadn’t given me what I wanted. He’d had a couple beers by now, so while his secrets were still heavily guarded, Max’s playful side was coming through.
“Was that your only friend?”
Max wavered in responding, before clearing his throat. “No. What about you? You haven’t given up much about yourself.”
“Ask away.” If Max was looking to prove a point, it wouldn’t be made. I’d tell him whatever he wanted to know.
He pursed his lips, deliberating where to start. “Why have you never been in a relationship? At your age it sounds like a red flag.”
I gave a hearty laugh, and his easiness from a moment ago returned. He flagged down our waitress for another beer. “I’ve spent my adult years going to school for medicine, then building my career. There’s been no time. And no one worth making time for.” My leg brushed and then rested against his under our table. He froze up for a split second but otherwise made no move to fix the situation.
“And before that?” he asked in a husky voice.
“Before that, I was a kid.”
“Are you saying kids can’t fall in love?” He busied himself with checking on Pluto, again.
“Are you saying they can?” I whispered, capturing one of his legs between both of mine. His eyes snapped up, and his mouth parted and closed, but he didn’t pull away. He didn’t answer my question either. “I see why you’re so good with kids,” I said, and his forehead pinched. “It entails more listening than talking.”
“I’d like to believe I’ve always been good with kids, but I suppose there are perks to avoiding adult conversation. I’m capable of making friends, Ash. Not everyone pries,” he said, removing his leg from between mine.
“My questions are basic. How else will we get to know each other?” The waitress dropped the check off, but Max and I didn’t take our eyes off one another.
He exhaled. “Look, I went through a nasty breakup about a year ago. A lot of my memories are tied to him. It doesn’t leave much room for conversation, but somehow I’ve managed to get by until…”
