Page 71 of Be Your Forever
“Fuck off, Cas,” I retort before turning to Max.
Max’s strength continuously astounds me. And I’m not just talking about his physical strength, but mental and emotional, too. Anyone could have taken the cards he’s been dealt and let it run their lives.
Not Max, though.
He’s showed up for PT every day, ready to make it his bitch.
Watching him go from limp and lifeless to being able to walk on his own has been truly incredible to witness. He’s nowhere near one hundred percent, as he still has faint twinges of pain in his arm and shoulder, but he’s here. He’s alive. And that’s what matters. I notice the boot he once relied heavily on sitting in the corner, and I know without a doubt that his mom is the reason it’s still there. His doctor has given him the all clear to go back to work with some slight restrictions, but anytime someone brings it up to him, he changes the subject. He says he’s content with office management stuff at his company, but I call bullshit. Well, I silently call it.
“Hey, buddy, how’re things going?”
“Good. Shit has been a lot better. I no longer have to do as much PT now, and I’m able to walk up and down the stairs without feeling like I need to take a break.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for you, man.”
I don’t think Max is gonna give two shits that I’m dating his sister. But there’s a sliver of doubt lingering in my mind that has me second guessing myself.
Max, Bri, and I have been in each other’s lives for years. We’d spend every summer going on trips with each other’s families or just hanging out at each other’s houses. There has always been this unspoken, intense connection between Bri and I. There had been many nights tossing and turning as visions of Bri flooded my brain. Her laughter was the perfect lullaby, guiding me to sleep. Well, that and the endless amount of Bri-induced orgasms. I’d chalked it up to teenage hormones andnotbecause of how incredible she was. During the daytime, I’d drown in my own denial. And at night, I let my imagination run wild as I pictured Bri’s pretty lips wrapped around my cock. It wasn’t until her name slipped through my lips after a mind-numbing orgasm that I realized the truth.
I was hopelessly, stupidly in love with my best friend's sister. A confession I’d take with me to the grave as a kid since Max was extremely protective of his sister. Hell, he warned our entire baseball team off from dating his sister. And since I was both his best friendandteammate, I was double fucked. So, I kept my feelings for her under lock and key, planning to never tell a soul how I felt. The only time I came close to saying fuck it was when she threw herself at me during that party.
Nowthat I have her, I refuse to give her up for anyone or anything. Even if that means my relationship with Max isn’t the same. Because Bri deserves to be loved out loud. And no one, not even my best friend, will stop that from happening.
“Asher?” Max interrupts my inner monologue.
When I look up at him, it’s clear he’s been talking to me, and I wasn’t paying attention.
“Hmm?”
“I was asking how Bri was doing? She still hasn’t been by to see me or texted me back. I just want to know she’s okay.”
“She’s doing a lot better. She wants to come see you and she will when she’s ready. Speaking of Bri, I have something I need to say.”
“Finally!” Max shouts, causing me to jump out of my seat.
“Finally? What do you mean finally?”What the fuck?
“Well, I’m assuming you two are together?” Max raises his brow, wearing his signature crooked smile.
“We are. I’m sorry I didn’t ask for your permission to—” Max interrupts me.
“Permission? Like Bri would give a shit if I said yes or no. Either way, I’m happy for you guys. It’s been obvious you two liked each other for years. I know you’ll treat her right, so I’m fully behind it.”
“Thanks, man. I didn’t know how you’d act, honestly. I mean, you warned our entire baseball team not to fuck with her. What did you expect me to think?”
“Fucking hell, man. I winked at you after I said it. That was me telling you the rules didn’t apply to you, dumbass.”
“Fuck. You did, didn’t you? Goddamn it, so we could have been together this whole time. Asshole. As far as Bri not giving a shit about your thoughts? You’re wrong. She values your opinion a lot. I think that’s why she hasn’t been to see you. Your opinion of her matters.”
Max isn’t an overly emotional person, but as soon as the words escape my lips, Max's eyes fill with sadness. I watch an entire life of pure sibling love flash before me as his gaze swims with unshed tears begging to be freed. His head falls into his hands, and I watch as emotion rattles his entire body like an earthquake. With Bri, I’d pull her into my arms. But with Max, he just needs the space to feel. So Cas and I sit next to him in silence, offering our support just by being here.
“I’ve held everything in for so long and I can’t take it anymore. I am a complete mess, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. That accident fucked me up, and I miss my sister. She was my first ever friend, and the fact that she hasn’t been by to see me hurts. I understand she’s going through her own shit, too, I just wish she would come to me.”
Well, damn. I guess all that waiting for Max to express himself paid off. I’ve always had a solid connection with my gut instinct, and it told me to wait him out. Max will come to you when he’s ready. I just wish I knew how bad it was, because seeing my best friend shatter before me? Truly heartbreaking.
“She wants to. She’s just been dealing with some heavy shit. Give her time, she’ll come around.”
“I just feel like she hates me. Either that, or she’s mad at me or something. We’ve never gone this long without talking to each other. It feels like a piece of me is missing.”
