Chapter 6

chapter

six

Max

I roll over and grab my phone, picking it up and staring at the screen like I've done every morning the last six weeks. I know she can't contact me. She doesn't know any more about me than my first name. Still, I crave seeing her name flash across my phone.

I use my fingerprint to open my device and stare at the picture on my home screen. It's of us after the second time I took her. She's laying on my chest and we're both smiling up at the camera.

As ridiculous as it sounds, I feel like I left my heart in that hotel room with her.

There's a knock on my door. "Maxie-pad! Come eat breakfast. Shelby just got here."

I roll my eyes at my oldest sister, Luna's old nickname for me. I came home for the weekend because I've been so damn sad. I got tired of my buddies giving me shit about it so I figured some sister time might help.

I got in last night, and so far I've only seen Luna and her husband, Mason.

"I'm coming," I grumble. I climb out of my childhood bed and pull on a t-shirt to go with my athletic shorts.

It's just me and my sisters now since our parents died when I was young. My sisters are the very best. And I'm so damn happy they both recently found men that almost deserve them. No one would ever be completely good enough for either of them, but Mason and Dane come pretty damn close.

By the time I've brushed my teeth and gone downstairs, I find just my sisters at the kitchen table.

"What did y'all do to your husbands?" I ask.

"Dane is waiting on a delivery of new dogs at the sanctuary this morning," Shelby says.

My brother-in-law, Dane Whitmore, runs a dog sanctuary. They've got plenty of acres out there so the pups have plenty of space to run around. Then Dane and some other guys I haven't yet met work to help find forever homes for the dogs. But at least at the sanctuary they're saved from being euthanized.

"Mason needed quiet to get some writing done," Luna says.

"New songs?" I ask.

"Evidently."

"He's been writing them nonstop since they first met," Shelby says.

"Is he going to record them? I thought that tour was just a reunion. Is the boy band back together?" I ask.

Mason was the drummer in Soul Obsession, a boy band from Luna's teenage years.

"He's not sure yet. Maybe he'll record them himself or maybe he'll sell them. Right now, he's just happy being here with people who don't follow him around taking his picture," Luna says.

"Yeah, I bet that gets old really fast," I say.

Luna brings me a plate with a hot cinnamon roll on it. "I got these from the new bakery in town Sugar Bakers. These rolls are insane."

"Thanks," I say.

My sisters exchange a glance with each other, and I know I'm about to get it. I just take a bite of the sugary confection and pretend I don't know the grilling is about to begin.

"You gonna tell us why you came home this weekend, baby boy?" Shelby asks.

"We know something's bothering you," Luna says.

Shelby reaches over and ruffles my hair, like I'm still a little boy.

I set my fork down.

"I met someone," I say.

Luna's brows rise.

"We're gonna need more details," Shelby says.

I blow out a breath. "It doesn't even matter." I blow out another breath. "I met her at an airport. We only exchanged first names, no other information. Now I feel like I let the one get away."

"Sweet boy," Luna coos. She stands and kisses me on the head.

"If she truly is your one," Shelby says, "then you'll find her. It just might not be in your timing."

"You are only twenty-two," Luna says.

"All the more reason I'm ready to start the rest of my life right the fuck now."

Luna sits again. "Want to tell us about her?"

I unlock my screen and hold my phone out to show them the picture. "That's her. Charlotte. And yes, before you ask, she's older than me. You know I don't care about crap like that."

"You're an old soul, Max. You always have been," Shelby says.

"True story," Luna agrees. "You've been in love with love for as far back as I can remember. Always fascinated with couples holding hands in public. Living for the kiss at wedding ceremonies. You're a romantic. Nothing wrong with that."

"Do you think maybe there's a chance that, since Luna and I just found our happy endings, you might be rushing your own?" Shelby asks.

"Can we not do that? I know how old I am. I know most twenty-two-year-olds aren't thinking about their forever. But I've never been like people my own age. For the last few years I've done nothing but school and hockey. Rarely did I go on dates. Mostly because girls my age are vapid and annoying. Charlotte was different. Special."

Luna puts her hand over mine and squeezes. "Then I'm certain you'll find her."

"Absolutely!" Shelby agrees. "Your paths will cross again. No doubt."

I give my sisters each a smile. "Thanks. Hey, Shelby, do you think Dane would care if I went out to the sanctuary? Maybe playing with some dogs would cheer me up."

"I think he'd love it. We can always use an extra pair of hands out there."

"I love y'all. Despite the fact that you still baby me."

"And we love you, Maxie-pad."