Page 94 of Be Your Forever
“Well, no, but—”
“Did you tell her to run through the red light?”
“NO, b—”
“Did you break my leg, arm, and shoulder all by yourself?” I can’t help but laugh at his ridiculousness.
“You know I didn’t, Max. But I’m the reason we were in the car in the first place.”
“You’re right, you were. But I also got in the car willingly. We can’t predict what’s going to happen, Breezy, but we’re here and we’re alive.”
“You always have to be right, don’t you?” I ask. The familiar teasing feels like coming home from a week-long trip, comforting and familiar.
“Did you expect anything less? Um…Can we sit down? My leg is feeling a bit stiff, and we have a lot to talk about.”
“Oh, yes, of course. I’m sorry.”
We make our way over to the couch and I feel his eyes boring into the side of my face. This conversation is long overdue, but I’m fucking terrified.
“I’m so sorry, Max. I—”
“Can I go first?” Max asks, his voice wavering a little.
“Oh…S-Sure.”
“First, I’m going to tell you how much I love you. I need you to not only hear that, but accept it. You mean the world to me. You’re my best friend and I need to get this off my chest.” Max pauses to collect his thoughts before continuing.
“It hurt me when you cut me out. I-I understand that you were hurting, but I needed my sister. You didn’t answer any of my texts, and I couldn’t help but think I did something wrong.”
Max’s pain is a direct hit to my heart. And my tears are cascading down my face at a rapid pace. I reach out to grab my brother's hand, squeezing it a few times so I can collect myself before I respond.
“No, Max. Never. This was all on me. You did absolutely nothing wrong. I wanted to reach out so many times, but I was so frozen in my own despair that I didn’t know how. I didn’t think you’d want to see me. I had somehow convinced myself thatyouhatedme.”
“I could never hate you, Bri. You’re one of the most important people in my life. I felt so…so lost and empty without you. It was like I was floating in space, unable to latch onto anything. I just…I missed you, you little asshole.” Max’s watery chuckle breaks some of the tension.
“It takes an asshole to know an asshole.” I rest my head on his shoulder and inhale a deep, shaky breath. “I’m sorry I cut you out. I cut everyone out. Well, except for Asher. He kinda refused to leave me alone. But I have both you and Avery to thank for that with y’all asking him to babysit my ass.”
Max flinches beneath my weight. “I’d say I was sorry…but it looks like it worked out in your favor. So…you and Asher, huh?”
“Yup. You cool with it?” I ask.
“Yeah, it was only a matter of time before you two got together. But if he breaks your heart, I’ll break his face. If you break his, I won’t speak to you for, like, a week,” Max jokes.
“I missed you, big brother.” I rest my head on his good shoulder.
“I missed you more, little sister.” Max presses a kiss to my head. We stay in this position for what feels like hours, catching each other up with what’s been happening.
“Oh, so I know Asher talked to you about our business idea?”
“He did, and I think it’s a fantastic plan.”
“Well, his brother Xander drew up a plan for what the building might look like, and I was wondering if you’d help build it when you’re up for it?”
“Fuck yeah. I’d be honored. I’m, um, I'm not sure I can do much physical labor for, um, a while yet. But I do great work at the desk in our office, and I can put my bossiness skills to good use. I have a fantastic team to help me with everything else.”
Something seems…off with Max. When we originally talked about my desire to open up a bookstore, he was all over it, creating a very intricate plan. But the Max who sits next to me is stuttering and his smile is too bright—signs that he’s keeping something from me. I’m not sure what, but his lack of enthusiasm to be involved in every aspect ofbuildingthe store is concerning.
“Don’t you want to do more than bossing people around? I mean, Max, you helped me come up with this plan.”
