Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Sixteen years old

Homecoming was just around the corner, and Max had yet to bring it up. I didn’t want to mention it because that would make me sound desperate. And I wasn’t desperate. I mean, it wasn’t like I was planning on a particular color or whatever.

Since we’d been together for a year, perhaps he didn’t think he needed to ask me. Was there such a rule? Why was I making such a big deal about a stupid dance? I guess it would show people how together we were.

For the first eight months, we kept things low key; only Rusty and Grandpa knew about us. Neither of them liked it very much, but like me, they saw that Max was different; he was special.We got in a fight in the hallway at school because of that low key status. Max was mad because Prescott made some lewd comment at me. Nothing new there. It was actually surprising he had not done it sooner. It was almost the end of the year when Max took me on a real date to Franny’s. Since classes would be over soon, we didn’t care much for the fallout. Max never got me fresh flowers again. He was attentive, sweet, and kind. He was the perfect boyfriend, always doing little things to make me feel special. I knew I wasn’t an easy person to be with. He made it seem easy and effortless, like something that just came naturally to him.

I was in my speech class when Jana got a bunch of balloons and chocolates delivered to her by Gary Newton, her boyfriend. All of the cooing going around turned Jana’s face beet red, but she was loving it. Not to mention, I saw the smirk she sent my way. What did your boyfriend get you? At least, I think that’s what she meant by that evil smirk.

Abigail turned to look at me. “So, what are you and Max going to do on Saturday since you guys aren’t going to the dance? Besides, even if he asked, what would you wear? Dresses cost money and based on your hand-me-downs, you have none.”

I wanted to say something, but what could I say? I didn’t know if Max even wanted to go. I had never gone to a dance. Rusty didn’t go either; he said it was a waste of money, and in the past, Grandpa didn’t let me go if Rust didn’t go. And even if Max asked, Abigail was right, I had nothing to wear.

“I’ll see you on Saturday,” I bit back. Meanwhile, Abigail and her posse laughed. Sticks and stones, I reminded myself throughout class, but sometimes sticks and stones didn’t cut it. Nothing played you like your insecurities, and damn did my insecurities love to play with me.

Walking into the cafeteria, I went to my usual spot where I ate by myself. Max and Rusty both had a different lunch break than I did, and I hated it. The school wasn’t huge, so the chances of getting a lunch break with your friends were one in three since there were only three breaks. Being alone didn’t bother me before, but now that I knew how it felt to have someone, it made me feel… lonely.

In the middle of lunch, Prescott came in with the school band to ask a girl to homecoming.

It reallyannoyed mebecause it wasn’t me being asked to homecoming by the other Dunnett brother. I was being a little petty, wasn’t I? My mood didn’t improve the whole day. I even avoided going to my locker just so I wouldn’t have to see Max. I didn’t want him to think I was somestupid little girl in case he didn’t want to go to homecoming.

I was in my last class when the secretary called asking me to report to the main office. This was a new one. It was usually my teachers sending me to the main office, not the other way around. I was trying to think of what I had done in the past few weeks that could have gotten me in trouble, but I came up blank.

“What are you doing here?” Were the first words I spoke to Max all day as he opened the office door for me. If he knew I was avoiding him, it didn’t show. Now I was kinda hoping I was in trouble to escape his questioning .

“Maximilian isn’t feeling too well, and he asked if you could take him home since he doesn’t think he can drive,” Mrs. Lopez, the secretary, said. I turned to Max for an explanation, but he pulled us out the door immediately.

“You’re not feeling well?” I questioned. Maybe it was true; I wouldn’t know I as had been avoiding him all day.

Max only shrugged. He grabbed my hand and dragged me out of school. He didn’t seem sick to me. When we got to his sweet ride, I expected him to hand over the keys so I could take him home, but nope, that was not the case. He got in his car and drove like nothing was wrong.

“Max, what the hell’s going on?” I demanded to know once I had enough of his silence.

“Oh, so you’re done avoiding me now?”

My mouth dropped open. Of course, he knew.

“We have to stop by the UPS store and then go back to my house.”

My stomach fluttered in both a good and bad way at the mention of his home. I knew his parents were out of town and no one was home. The bad part was no one was home. People in this town said many things about me, but none were true, and I wasn’t sure if Max had expectations.

“You pulled me out of class so we can pick up a package?”

“Why don’t we go back to you not talking?” he said. Like most people, I assumed Max’s quietness meant he wasn’t rude or a jerk. Like most people, I was wrong. He could be cocky, but lucky for me he was mostly sweet. Max kissed my nose before getting out of the car, telling me to wait for him. He was acting a little edgy, but I wasn’t too worried. This was Max; he was the most honest guy I knew. When he returned, he gave me the box and sped his way back to his house.

“What is it?” I asked, trying to open it, only to have my hand smacked.

“Patience is key, babe.” If I didn’t love the way he called me babe, I would have thrown the box out the window to prove a point that patience could kiss my ass, but he sounded cute as hell when he called me babe, so I couldn’t be mean.

Like always, I waited in the car while Max got out to open my door. While he went around, I took in the monstrosity of a house he called home. This was the first time I had ever been here. We mostly just hung out at Rusty’s dad’s garage, the field, or in front of my trailer. I always wondered why the Dunnetts didn’t build their house by the lake. Those houses were beautiful. From what my grandpa said, Max’s grandfather was a stand-up guy who wanted to be a part of the community.

“Wow,” the word slipped out when we passed the threshold. Max’s living room was the size of my whole trailer and then some. I was used to my little space, my gramps and everything I needed within reach. There was no use for more. At least I didn’t think so, but looking at this house made me feel small and ask myself the question I hated to think about, but sometimes crossed my mind .

Why me?

“Come, my room is this way.” He led me by the hand while I gaped at his home. Did he judge my trailer? I mean, he’d never been in my room, but he had to know how small my place was in comparison. Did he feel caged whenever he went to visit me? The questions just kept popping in my head. It was a game of whack-a-mole, except for every time I reassured myself, a new question would pop up, making me feel so… so out of his league.

“Max, why am I here? Let me tell you, if you think you can bring me to your room just because your parents are away, it doesn’t mean that I’m sleeping with you.” I crossed my arms and stood by the door, refusing to take a step into his room even though I was dying of curiosity.

He turned and smiled. It wasn’t a mean smile; it was soft, and his eyes gleamed.

“That’s not why I brought you here.” His cheeks were red.

We had never discussed sex at all, and I had just jumped the gun. I really needed to keep my big mouth in check. Why would I even thinkthat? God, Max always stopped before things got a little heated.

“Here, this is for you.” He handed me the box. “There’s a bathroom in my room. I thought you could try it on and tell me if you liked it.”

I looked down at the box like it was a bomb.

Oh God, was it lingerie?

This was Max, he wasn’t a player like his brother. I told myself I went into his room mostly out of curiosity, but I was lying because other things crossed my mind at the thought of both of us being alone in his bed. Why did Max always stop? Did he not want me in that way? Jesus, I was acting crazy.

“What is it?” My hands gripped the box while I watched Max take a seat on the edge of his king-sized bed. I was amusing him again, I could tell by the crinkle in his eyes.

“Just close the door and open the damned box, Freya.” I knew what he was thinking by the look he gave me. I was so impatient to open it in the car, but now that I had it, I couldn’t do it.

“Shit, what if it’s lingerie, and he wants me to model it?” I said to my reflection. I was already looking for a bottle of shampoo so I could pour it all over him if that were the case. When I got enough courage and opened the box, my eyes watered at the sight of the royal blue dress. It was beautiful, so soft and silky and covered with silver gems all over. My boy got me a dress, a beautiful homecoming dress. I didn’t let myself think what this meant, but I put the dress on anyway. I felt beautiful wearing it. I had never owned anything so pretty and expensive. Most of my things were thrift finds or I made my own. The dress was short and puffy with a sweetheart neckline.

I loved it.

At the bottom of the box was a matching tie.

“Is this your way of asking me to homecoming?” I said when I dared to come out of the bathroom wearing the dress. At first, Max said nothing. He just stared at me.

“Max! Hello?” I snapped my fingers at him .

“Sorry, you take my breath away. I needed a moment.”

My heart exploded at his words. I didn’t think, I just ran into his arms. Max didn’t miss a beat; he got up and caught me. Something I came to realizewas that Max was always ready to catch me.

“Freya Pratt, my beautiful girlfriend, will you come to the dance with me?” he asked as he twirled me.

“I guess it’s the least I could do since you already bought me the dress.”

Once again, he looked sheepish as he set me down. “I was a little afraid if I asked you, that you would say no. I figured this way it would be harder to refuse. If you don’t like the dress, we can change it.”

“Max.” I kissed him to stop his rambling. Every time we kissed, I felt butterflies, and I hoped that feeling never went away. “I love it. It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever worn. To be honest, I thoughtyou didn’t want to go with me.”

The last part was hard to admit.

“Fuck, the only reason I didn’t ask you in school was that Russell said you guys didn’t do homecoming.”

I rolled my eyes when he mentioned Rusty’s name. My best friend was clueless.

“Freya I…” I waited for him to say those three words. As much as it scared me,I wanted to hear them coming from him. It almost felt like an eternity before he finished his sentence. “Freya, I love spending time with you.” My heart still skipped a beat, even though it wasn’t the sentence I was hoping for.

“I love spending time with you too, Max.” I could have said those three words, but I was scared—scared he might not feel the same way.

Instead, of confessing our feelings. Max and I danced without music in his room, me twirling around in the dress he bought for me. Somewhere between the dancing and kissing, our kisses became more frenzied, hungrier—heated.

Max laid me on the bed slowly, not breaking eye contact for a second. He looked gorgeous. I could see how hard it was for him to keep it together with us like this, but he did it and made no demands.

God, he was perfect.

I didn’t have the same willpower as him, not when I could feel him. Running my hands through his hair, I said, “Max… touch me.”

Max’s pupils dilated and his eyes narrowed as he let out a throaty growl that had me tingling between my legs. I wasn’t prepared to go all the way, but I was more than ready to get a few bases covered. I knew this was one of those moments that would be with me always, because every moment I spent with Maximilian was beautiful.

“I… No,” he croaked. “I don’t want to pressure you.”

Max’s arms were shaking. I could see how much he wanted it, but he held back for me. He was perfect, and he was mine. Capturing his lips with my own, I let him know how much I wanted him. When I brought him down on top of me, he didn’t protest. When I guided his trembling hand to the apex of my thighs, I gasped, and he held his breath.

“I didn’t bring you here for this, Freya.” Even as he said the words, his thumb added pressure to my aching center, and all I wanted was more.

Of him.

Of us.

Together.