Page 22 of Deal Breaker
“Less time than you.” I perched on the bench next to her and pulled my robe tighter around my body.
“Which is exactly why I got up early to get first dibs.” Autumn flashed a smug smile and popped the last of her breakfast into her mouth. “With you twoandMax, I didn’t want to run the risk of running out of hot water.”
“What? There might not be any hot water left?” Jodie leaped up from the table. “I have to wash my hair!”
“Calm down, I’m sure there’s plenty. It was scorching hot for me.” I didn’t let on that it was probably so hot because I was freezing after my impromptu trip outside and my senses were all messed up.
“I’m gonna go now anyway.” She flipped her long dark hair. “This is a bitch to style at the best of times, let alone when I’m in a remote cabin without my usual arsenal of tools.”
I bit my lip to stifle a giggle and exchanged a glance with Autumn, who looked like she was trying to do the same. We both stared down at the table, while Jodie disappeared into our bedroom.
“Do you want some food?” Autumn asked. She stood up and cleared away the empty plates.
“Mmm, a little bit, please.” I reached for the coffee pot in the center of the table and poured myself a big mug, adding creamer and sugar for good measure.
Autumn placed a plate in front of me with a few pieces of bacon and a small amount of scrambled eggs on it. She returned to the kitchen area and started tidying up.
Her back was to me as she spoke. “Do you want to tell me why you were really outside this morning? I don’t believe your hangover story for one moment.”
The mouthful of eggs turned to pebbles in my mouth. Had Max already said something to her? Did she catch sight of me when she was at his bedroom door earlier? A hundred questions swirled around in my head about what she knew. For allIknew, her knowledge on what had actually happened was zero, unless I told her. And if I was going to be moping around in a strange mood all day, Autumn probably did deserve to know what had happened. Well, at least some of it.
I swallowed hard and dislodged the eggs with another swig of coffee.
“So… you know how Max came home early last night?”
“And you kissed him because we dared you to.” Autumn didn’t turn around. “Before he ran to the bathroom. Honestly, I thought you had better taste.” She giggled.
My face flushed remembering the humiliation all over again. But if I stopped now, I’d never tell her. “I couldn’t sleep, so I got a soda and some painkillers and went to check on Max. I kinda felt guilty for what happened.”
“That was nice of you. I’d have let him suffer.” She turned and winked. “He’d have done exactly the same to me.”
“We got talking and… and he tricked me into staying the night with him.”
If there was a world record for spinning around and fixing your best friend with the most intense glare ever, Autumn would have broken it several thousand times over.
“He did what?Youdid what?” Her jaw dropped. “I don’t know who I’m madder at right now. How could you let that happen? You know I asked you not to get involved with him.” She smacked her forehead.
“Autumn, we were fourteen when you said that!”
“And I should have said the same to Max,” she huffed. “You and Max…I can’t believe it.” She shook her head so fast it was a wonder she didn’t get whiplash.
“You have to believe me when I say nothing happened between us.” I crossed my fingers under the table, hoping Autumn couldn’t see me. There was no way on earth I could tell her about the kiss now. She’d be fuming at the both of us. And I was fuming enough at Max for the both of us already. “We just… fell asleep together.”
Autumn’s face contorted as she started piecing things together in her mind. “Were you in his room earlier when I knocked?”
There seemed little point in denying it now that everything was out in the open. I nodded. “He tossed me out the window. Obviously, he’s ashamed to be seen with me.”
“He didwhat?” Incensed though she was, Autumn’s anger appeared to land squarely on her brother now. “Is that why you were outside?”
Feeling like one of those dogs on the back shelves of cars, I nodded again. “Landed with a bit of a thump.” I pulled the robe aside and showed Autumn the purple and red bruise on the outside of my upper right thigh.
She stepped towards me and ran her fingers over the bruise. I winced. It was more painful than I’d expected.
Jodie crashed out of our room, and Autumn and I changed the subject to our outfits for the day. Neither of us were prepared to share the breaking news about what had happened with Max and me. Jodie was the worst at keeping secrets, and the last thing I wanted was to hear about it all day from our friends.
“Won’t be long!” she sing-songed as she went into the bathroom. “Then we can all get ready together. I’m going to need help with my hair.” She slammed the door behind her, and we heard out-of-tune singing along to Taylor Swift. It was a momentary distraction from the elephant in the room.
“I’m pretty sure he only took advantage of my guilt to trick me into staying with him,” I said, when I was sure Jodie wouldn’t be able to hear us.
