Page 23 of Lucky Shot
He nods, amused, to the other side of the deck. “That one is still here. I think he’s already drunk.”
I don’t need to get closer to see that I’m looking at Max sprawled out across one of the loungers with his arm slung over his eyes. Shaking my head, I move closer to him. At least he’s wearing shorts, so he won’t have to walk around for the next week with his massive dick hanging out, looking like a cooked lobster tail.
I nudge him with my knee, and he shifts his arm back. A smile spreads across his face. “There you are. I thought you were going to sleep the day away.”
“You were waiting for me?” I ask skeptically.
Max sits up. “Yep.” He pops the p. “You weren’t answering the group chat, so I figured you stayed up too late.” He grins suggestively. “Who were you fucking? Don’t hold out on me.”
I roll my eyes. “Not everyone is you, Max. I was just catching up on sleep.”
He huffs and gets to his feet. “Right. You don’t have to tell me. Come on. I’m starving.”
“They have food on the yacht,” I remind him as I follow him to the gangplank.
“I know. I’ve eaten what they’ve served me here, and it was great. But now I’m ready for island food. And drink. And dick.”
My guess would be we’ve all learned about Max, and no one is willing to hop into his bed. Not that I think something like feelings could fuck up a friendship with Max. I think he isn’t capable of them. Well, secretly he is, but he won’t let himself be swayed by them.
But Max gets himself in such shit and he only thinks with his dick that I think we all just steer clear of Max. No potential good time is worth catching the madness that is Maximus Latham.
Once we step onto the dock and head for the checkpoint, I pause. It’s just that it’s a new place where everyone can stare at me. It’s been nice being on the ship where I’m not always watched. I mean, I am sometimes. Especially by the non-hockey athletes because I’m still somewhat new to them. And yeah, even some of the hockey ones will kind of fawn over me.
It’s different though. I don’t have to say I’m not interested constantly. I don’t have to make an excuse or suffer through awkward conversation.
“I think maybe I want to stay out of the sun today,” I tell Max, my pace slowing enough that he turns to look at me.
Max frowns. “Why?”
I shrug. “I’ve seen a lot of sun these last couple weeks. Hell, I live in Florida. A day in the shade is welcome sometimes.”
He’s watching me and I know he’s not buying what I’m saying.
Max comes back and hugs me. I’m completely surprised by it, so I just kind of stand there and look around like I’ve stepped into some kind of alternate reality. “I’ll be your boyfriend for the day, all right? Don’t lock yourself away, Noah.”
My heart pangs at his tone and I close my eyes. I wrap my arms around him and hug him in return. “You don’t have to do that,” I say quietly.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?” I nod. “I know how you feel about constantly being stared at. I’ll protect you.”
“We’re somewhere that you can stick your dick in anything, and no one is going to know,” I say. “You really want to spend the day with me where your dick will certainlynotbe getting any action?”
Max laughs and stands back. “Honestly, my dick takes control far too often. As horny as I am, it’s… been kind of nice to have the break. Now it’s just my over-the-top recklessness that I need to rein in and sticking with you, protecting you from all the hungry men who want a piece of my friend’s fine ass, is a good way to keep me out of trouble too.”
“Thanks, Max,” I say. “I really, really appreciate it.”
He grins. “You’re already turning red under Azure’s jersey, bro. You carrying around your sunscreen for fun?”
I hold it up to him. “First boyfriendly responsibility is to coat me in sunblock without getting handsy. Can you do that?”
“Can I do that?” he sputters. “Pfft. No. But I can try.”
I laugh, and right there on the middle of the dock, Max covers me in sunscreen. He’s not quite as thorough as Azure, but he does a pretty good job. Then he takes my hand and together we head for the checkpoint where I leave my sunscreen and we’re waved onto the island.
Anapos has the only airport, but all six islands have a dock. Besides Anapos, the only one big enough to hold the Opulence is Keone Reef; so that’s where we’re docked.
“Food first,” Max says and tugs me along to the first restaurant he sees.
While he seems slightly oblivious to everything around him, he doesn’t let me go. If his hand isn’t wrapped around mine, his arm is. Or he’s standing behind me with his chin on my shoulder. It’s slightly awkward because Max isn’t a very tall man. He’s probably five-foot-eight at most, but he’s built like a Mack truck.
