Page 21 of Sparks Fly
“What do you meanrun away again?” she asked. “I didn’t run away when I left Red as Sin.”
Max knew that if he wanted to have sex tonight he shouldn’t push the point, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from saying, “When I went back to that room to find you, you were just gone. And you must’ve moved quick, too, because it’s not like I passed you, unless you purposely avoided me so I wouldn’t see you making a mad dash for the exit.”
Now he was sure she was frowning.
“I didn’t see you,” she said. “If I did I would’ve said something. You were gone for a while, Max. What was I supposed to do, wait there forever?”
“No, of course not. I just meant—”
“Look, even if I had wanted to stay, when I got my phone I saw that my roommate had called me because she was locked out and feeling uncomfortable because some guy was watching her at the bodega. It was a good thing I left, and maybe if she hadn’t needed me I would’ve tried to find you, but I had to leave. And I won’t apologize for that.”
Well, now Max felt like an asshole.
“I’m sorry,” he said. He lowered himself to his knees so he was eye level with her, but she was looking everywhere but at him, her crossed arms a barrier between them.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I don’t know why I said it like that. You had every right to leave. I should’ve been prepared in the first place. I was just disappointed when I realized you’d left, and I don’t want you to leave now.”
Stella sighed. “I don’t want to leave either. But you came at me really hot just now and out of nowhere. I don’t love that.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” he said again. “Clearly I was harboring some feelings about how things went down the other night, but that was stupid. I’d like to forget about that and start over now. Can we do that?”
The lights in his apartment suddenly flickered back on, making them both blink furiously in the bright light.
“Well, I guess your bills are on autopay after all,” Stella said.
“The backup generators must’ve kicked in,” Max said.
Stella still wasn’t looking at him, and Max was beginning to worry he’d ruined whatever was starting to happen between them.
“Stella?”
He hooked a finger under her chin, gently nudging up her head until her eyes met his again.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
Stella let out a weak laugh before covering her face with her hands and then sliding them down until they rested flatly on her thighs.
“I’m thinking I’ve maybe rushed into something with someone I don’t even know, and I’m not even sure why.”
The words tumbled out of her in a rush, and it took Max a second to parse what she was saying.
“Stella, we don’t have to do anything tonight,” he said, covering her hands with his. “I’m fine with just ordering pizza and hanging out on my couch, getting to know you more.”
“But we’re supposed to have sex!”
Max knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t hold back the little chuckle that escaped him at this declaration. Stella glared at him.
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious.”
“I know, sorry,” Max said. Except he wasn’t because she looked quite adorable with her eyebrows furrowed, staring daggers at him. The look made him want to kiss her, but he held back, assuming that would only make her angrier.
“Why are we supposed to have sex?” Max asked instead. “Because it’s Friday?”
“No, smarty pants.” She flicked his shoulder in annoyance, and he must’ve been losing it because even that small touch made him desperate for more. “I just…I just thought I was ready. To have a casual hookup, I mean.”
Max studied her. He got the feeling she wasn’t telling him the full story, but he didn’t really think he was in a position topush. They’d only known each other a couple days. For all he knew, she’d just gotten out of a long relationship and he was supposed to be her rebound. Or maybe she was still thinking about the fact that she worked for his brother and didn’t want to get too attached when things between them were already complicated.
Either way, Max was happy to take anything she was willing to give him, whether it be just tonight or something more. If the work thing became an issue, he could handle his little brother.
