Six Months Later
Alina
“YOU CAN PUT that sofa there,” I instructed, pointing the delivery man to the far corner of my new office.
“Is this okay?” he asked, positioning the leather couch at an angle to fit the size of the wall.
“Yes. Perfect.” I bent over to retrieve a box from the floor, and before I knew what was happening, I was being pulled backward, hands gripping tightly to my hips. I swung around so fast I caught my assailant by surprise, my fist grazing his jaw. Only, the person who’d touched me wasn’t the mover like I’d initially thought.
It was Max.
“Jesus, Alina. What was that for?” He scrunched up his face before rubbing his jaw, looking affronted.
“Oh my God!” I cried. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were . . . well,” I glanced over to the mover who’d seen the entire scene unfold. “Him.” I was sure I looked mortified.
Max turned to look at the man before looking back to me. “And why would you think it was him?” Annoyance weaved its way under his words, although he tried to be lighthearted with his question.
“Because he was the only one in here with me.” After the mover had left, no doubt thinking we were nuts, I gently caressed Max’s face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Actually, scratch that. I need you to kiss it.”
“Kiss what?” I playfully asked.
“That’s a great question. Let me think.” He snatched me and pulled me into him, kissing my neck as I squirmed, his lips tickling me and causing goose bumps to break out all over my body. We were so enthralled with each other, our playful moments occurring more and more as of late that neither one of us heard anyone come into the room.
A woman cleared her throat.
“Sorry for interrupting,” Daria beamed, looking more radiant than I’d ever seen her. Her wavy blonde hair hung loosely around her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling as she looked at the two of us. On the verge of asking her about the root of her glow, I saw Hal walk up behind her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back into him, gifting her a kiss on the top of her head.
“What’s up, brother?” Hal greeted, lifting his chin toward Max. “You all settled or are you planning on christening Alina’s office?”
“Ha ha. Very funny,” I said, still a bit embarrassed about Max telling him about my made-up closet full of surprises. Max promised he didn’t tell him anything inappropriate, but he was a man, after all, and men talked. Didn’t they? I knew women did.
“Stop teasing her,” Max instructed. He gave me several quick kisses. “You know she embarrasses easily.”
“I do not,” I countered.
“Yes, you do.” Daria jumped to Max’s side.
“Hey, you’re supposed to back me up, friend.”
Daria broke away from Hal and approached, pulling me into a hug so tight I thought she would crush me. “I’ll always back you up.” Her eyes glistened when she stepped back.
“What’s the matter?” Nerves took hold and I swore she’d have me freaking out any second if she didn’t tell me why she was looking at me in such an odd way.
“Will you be my maid of honor?” she blurted, pulling me into another hug before I could even digest her question.
“Babe,” Hal interrupted. “I think we probably should’ve told them we’re engaged before you ask her to be your maid of honor.” He laughed at her impetuousness, but he appeared just as over the moon as she was.
“You’re engaged?” Max and I both said at the same time. We looked at each other first before turning our attention to the happy couple. They’d only been dating for six months, so to say their announcement was a shock was an understatement. Although, I’d never seen my best friend so damn happy, so whatever reservations flitted through me were diminished as I watched the love they had for each other grow by the second.
“Congratulations.” Max walked up to Hal and gave him a warm brotherly hug, the two men quite the sight to behold. So much love and friendship existed between them it made me slightly jealous I didn’t have a sibling of my own. Although, I supposed I wasn’t without someone to call my sister, because I considered Daria to be my family.
“Will you be my best man?”
“Of course. You didn’t have to ask.”
“Well, I had to make it official and all.” Hal slapped Max on the back before moving behind Daria. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and I thought it was sweet, much like Max was with me.
“So?” My friend’s forehead creased. “Will you be my maid of honor? Or would you be my matron of honor?”
“We don’t have plans to get married anytime soon,” I assured her, awkwardly smiling because Max and I had never discussed specifics. We’d mentioned getting married in the future once or twice, but nothing concrete. I didn’t want him to feel as if I was on some sort of clock to get hitched, so I never said much on the topic, simply following his lead on the subject.
For now, we were enjoying living together. Max moved into my townhome two months prior, and while it was an adjustment at first, we couldn’t be happier. Besides, it wasn’t as if there wasn’t enough room in case one of us needed a little “me” time.
“Speak for yourself,” Max interjected, taking me completely by surprise.
“What?”
He was chewing on his bottom lip. “You heard me just fine.” He kissed me before moving toward Hal, the two of them stepping off to the side to talk, and that was when Daria pulled me in the opposite direction.
“Oh my God!” She literally did a little dance. “He’s going to propose.” Her voice rose with each word.
“Stop it. He is not.” Saying those words disappointed me for some inexplicable reason. I’d definitely thought about what it would be like to be married to Max, and as I’d mentioned, we’d briefly brought it up before, but then we’d always switch off to another topic, never giving much steam behind the idea.
“He so is,” she corrected, hugging me for no other reason than for her delusion. “He’s crazy in love with you. Besides, I saw his expression when you said you two had no plans of marrying anytime soon. It was as if someone had stolen his puppy.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.” She continued to beam at me, her ridiculous expression turning my thoughts around. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Damn, you two might even beat us to the altar.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I diverted my attention to the other side of the room, and as if sensing I’d been watching him, Max returned my stare, winking and giving me one of his gorgeous smiles. From the looks of it, he appeared to be up to no good, but I couldn’t tell for certain because I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
After the newly engaged couple had eventually left, Max and I unpacked the rest of the boxes before helping me to finish setting up my office. Poor guy, I made him move the desk three times before I decided on its perfect placement. I offered to help him with his space, but he said he was hungry and was waiting for me to finish up.
The day after I found out about Amber Sotter being an investor in the building Max had considered leasing, he’d seen reason and had his realtor scout out a new location. And it turned out she found him an even better space. Bigger and less expensive, which was great news considering he was starting up a new firm.
Then he’d asked me to come and work with him, telling me I could take on as many pro bono cases as I wanted. Turned out, Max had a large nest egg and he didn’t need my revenue, but I wanted to contribute just the same. So for every three pro bono cases I took on, I made sure to take on one paying client.
My father was still going strong at his firm. He’d recovered from his latest heart attack and was doing well, even cutting back some hours at the office. Our relationship had started to change after he was released from the hospital. Small things, such as him calling me in the evening to talk about our day, something he hadn’t done in years. Then there were the weekly dinners he insisted on having, even welcoming Max into the fold, which excited me more than I could ever express. As the weeks passed, I saw the two men in my life grow more comfortable with each other, even laughing and swapping horror stories of past clients.
When I’d told my father about Max’s offer for me to come and work with him, he gave me his blessing, telling me I should follow my heart. He knew about all the good I wanted to do for those less privileged and while he’d seen my aspirations as hindrances before, even silly, he now viewed them as strengths.
“Are you ready? Alina? Earth to Alina,” Max called out, waving his hand in front of my face. When my eyes finally focused, he asked, “Are you okay?”
I’d been so lost in thought counting my blessings that I hadn’t heard him. Gazing at the most incredible man in front of me, I replied, “The best I’ve ever been.”