Page 48 of The Perils of Pretending
My shaky hands struggle as I pull my phone out of my back pocket and dial Max. “You think after this I want to be alone with you? Get out!”
Dorian takes a step toward me. “Sadie, please.”
“Don’t come any closer!”
“Hey, princess,” Max says, answering my call. “What’s up?”
My voice is high and tight. “Dorian’s in here.”
Immediately, the door slams open, smacking Dorian in the back. He stumbles forward, clutching his head. “Gah!”
Max looks like a warrior in the doorway with his broad shoulders and fierce scowl. Despite my heart freaking out right now, my knees slightly buckle at the sight of him. He’s hot all the flippin’ time, but right now, he’s sexy with a capital S. He’s like the magical alphas I read about in romance novels. “I’m going to give you two seconds to get out of here before I throw you out myself,” Max growls.
Dorian huffs out a breath. He puts his hands up and surrenders. “Fine. I’m going. But Sadie, all I want is to talk. Promise.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you.”
Max keeps the door open, gesturing for Dorian to use it. “You heard her.”
Dorian glowers at Max on his way out. The second he’s gone, Max strides over to me, wrapping me in his arms. My heart continues to pound like the threat of Dorian is still here. I can’t believe he had the audacity to try to get me alone in the bathroom. I don’t feel safe with him here. What if Dorian finds me when Max isn’t close by? Why can’t Captain BR be magical and shrink his size to be inside with me?
Max envelops me, cradling my head in his palm, keeping me tight against him. He can probably feel my heart beating against his chest. “Are you okay? Did he touch you?”
“I called you when he came in. He didn’t have time to do anything.”
“He’s psycho.”
I kind of wish I would have let him speak to find out what it is he wants. But I much prefer being in Max’s arms away from the man Grandma is forcing on me—a man who has no boundaries. “Seriously. I’m glad you were close.” A shiver ripples through me as images of things Dorian could have done to me if Max hadn’t shown up filter through my mind.
“Whenever you need me, I’m here.”
I stay in his embrace a minute longer, letting the safety and comfort of being with Max settle into my soul, calming my racing heart. “We should get back out there before they leave us.”
“We can stay here if you want to.”
And miss out on freshly picked berries? I’m not letting Dorian ruin the activities I was looking forward to and the only consolation I have for enduring this family reunion. “No. I want to go.”
“I’ll be by you the entire time.”
I step away from Max. Taking his hand in mine, I intertwine our fingers. “Thank you.”
We head back to the group. Brody and Mom are finally in the lobby. We go and stand by them.
“Dorian’s hit a new low,” Max whispers to Brody. “I’ll tell you about it later when I’m not as angry.”
Max finds Dorian in the crowd, staring daggers at him.
“Is everyone okay?” Brody asks.
I nod. “A little shaken up, but otherwise fine. Max came as soon as I called him.”
Brody claps his hand on Max’s shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
Max bobs his head. “It’s what I’m here for.”
A minute later, we’re loading up in three fifteen-passenger vans. Three hours away from Grandma and the aunties sounds amazing. Too bad Dorian’s coming too. Mom and Brody get in a van, but Max and I hang back until we see what vehicle Dorian gets into. We purposely choose a different van than him.
I keep a hold of Max’s hand. The contact serves as a reminder that Max came when I asked and is taking his responsibility as my fake boyfriend and very real protector to heart.
