Chapter 35

Max

To say I felt like ass was an understatement. But really, what did I expect after just coming outta surgery?

I managed to sit up, my naked ass catching the breeze in the process. Somehow, I got my feet to the cold tile, only for Gav to yell at me about my equilibrium, or lack thereof.

I’d only been awake for about forty-five minutes, the anesthetic barely wearing off. They’d apparently wanted to get me into surgery right away, something about the only orthopedic doc in Carinthia being on his way out of town for two weeks of vacation in the Caribbean. Joys of living in a small town and all that BS meant one specialist per life issue.

What I really needed to do was call Lia, tell her I was good and not to worry—or to come. No doubt she was freaking the hell out if Collin had been the one to call her. The guy overexaggerated everything.

“I really gotta get up.” I went to pull on my IV, stopped short by Collin’s hand this time.

“You can’t. Doc said you gotta rest. Gav was telling the truth.” He sat at the foot of my bed, Chloe on his lap. Addie was in the chair next to him, frowning at me.

According to the doc, I had to get skin taken from my thigh to wrap around the bone. Grafts and whatnot. Luckily, I didn’t need pins or screws, but damn it, this surgery was gonna cost me a fortune. I had my business to deal with, gigs to do. What the hell was I gonna do if I had to take time off? I had money left from my dad, but digging into that account again wasn’t sitting well with me.

Collin lowered his chin to Beaner’s head as she listened to Aerosmith on his phone. The cast on her arm looked like a blinged-up accessory compared to the nasty white one I was sporting. She’d had surgery three weeks ago and was already healing like a champ. I was thinking I had a longer recovery time ahead of me than she did.

“Okay, fine. Then at least gimme my phone so I can call Lia and tell her I’m okay.”

“No can do.” Collin shook his head.

“Why the hell not?”

“She’s already on her way here,” Addie answered.

My face went cold. “What?” She had to work on Monday. The last thing she needed was to deal with my stupid ass when she was just getting her new life up and running.

Gavin moved away from the window and leaned against the foot of the bed. He set his elbows on my food tray. “What’d you expect, man? She loves you.”

“And I love her, which is why she didn’t need to come deal with me.”

“She’ll be here soon. No point in calling now.” Collin shrugged like it was no big deal she was making the three-hour drive.

“Jesus, this is all messed up. You’re a liar, Colly.” I pointed an accusing finger at him.

“Well, you’re stupid if you think that Addie would let me keep my sister in the dark.” Colly grinned at his girl, then winked at me.

I lifted my good arm to press a hand to my forehead. Couldn’t even feel the bad hand at this point. “Why didn’t you stop her?” I asked Collin.

“She would’ve come even if I told her not to.” He scratched at his throat.

Likely. She was a Montgomery. They were stubborn like that.

“Fuck me,” I whispered under my breath.

Seconds later, my other favorite blue-eyed girl crawled off her daddy’s lap to sit next to me. “Uck bad.”

My stomach tightened. “Sorry, Beaner. You’re right.”

I tried like hell not to laugh as she snuggled against my shoulder and frowned up at me. Her light little eyebrows were pushed together in faux anger, making her look just like Collin. Even at sixteen months, she still had more light in her eyes than I’d ever seen in anyone else’s. The girl knew what was up. Knew that I was hurting too. And as she pressed her little casted arm against mine, I realized she was already a hell of a lot stronger than I’d ever be.

Addie stood, grabbed Chloe around the waist, and swung her into her arms. Chloe squealed, lightening my downer mood.

“We’re going to step away from the f-bombs for a while and grab something to eat in the cafeteria.” Addie leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You, Mr. Max, rest and get better.” She turned and smiled at Collin, adjusting Beaner. It was then that I saw something shiny on her left hand.

I turned to glare at Colly. He was smiling at the door she’d just walked out of, looking like the cheesiest bastard alive. Happiness for my best friend, and thoughts of that ring in my drawer at home, had me itching to get out of this hospital even more. “What the hell, asshole?” I stretched my leg out and kicked him. “Why didn’t you tell me you two were getting hitched?”

Colly lowered his head and shook it, a huge smirk on his face. “Happened when we were in Minnesota. She just got her ring back from being sized a couple of days ago.” He shrugged nonchalantly, but it did nothing to hide the happiness in his eyes. Fact of the matter was that an amazing woman did amazing things to—and for—a man.

Leaning back against the bed with a huge grin on my face, I stretched my legs and opened them wide. Yeah, my hand was fucked, but my buddy had his forever. And hopefully, soon, so would I.

“Jesus, shut your legs.” Gavin pressed the heels of his hands over his eyes.

I looked down and shrugged. “It’s cold in here. What can I say?”

“Cold?” Gavin jerked his head back. “Your dick gets hard when it’s cold?”

“I’ve got a brand of special in me you’ll never have, big guy.”

“I’m leaving.” Collin stood from the end of the bed and nudged Gavin’s shin with his knee. “Might need to grab some bleach for Gav’s eyes on the way out.”

“Sorry it’s so pretty you’ve been blinded.” I winked at Gavin.

He smacked me upside the head, not even caring that I was laid up in this hospital bed. It’s what I loved about my boys. They never made a big deal about anything.

* * *

Lia

The entire drive home was silent on the Maxwell front. Even as Mom and I pulled into the Carinthia hospital parking lot, nobody was answering my phone calls. I was exhausted and on the verge of a mental breakdown. Yet knowing I was so close to Max pushed me to get out of my funk. I didn’t expect him to call me, but at least Addie or Collin could have called with an update. Even my dad wasn’t answering the phone.

Two hours into the drive, Mom and I had switched positions. I’d slept fitfully during that last hour on the road, which only made me feel worse. Still, I loved Max wholeheartedly and would lose years and years of sleep if it meant I got to be there in person to make sure he was okay.

“You ready to go in?”

I nodded. “Yeah, just drop me off at the front door. Dad’s probably at home waiting for you. You can take my car home. I’ll grab an Uber to come by and get it after visiting hours are over.”

Her soft, brown eyes narrowed at the clock on the dashboard. It was past seven at night. “You sure?”

“Positive.”

She pulled me into a fast hug, then leaned back to hold my face in her hands. “You’re a good girl, Leanne. I love you.”

I hugged her once more, not holding back. I refused to cry as I inhaled the lavender scent of her shampoo. She sniffled in turn, wordless in her love as she patted the back of my head.

“And no need for an Uber. Just call Dad or me when you’re ready to come back to the house.”

I leaned back and nodded, already missing her.

* * *

Max’s hospital room was quiet and dark when I pushed the door open a few minutes later. I’d taken time to call my principal, to explain what had happened. Said that I’d either be late on Monday or wouldn’t be able to come in until Tuesday, depending on what happened tomorrow with Max. She was awesome about it, proving that I’d found the perfect beginning for a forever career.

I set my bag on the chair next to his bed. Taking a deep breath, I turned to find his dark, sinful eyes open and focused on me.

“Hey, Lee-Lee.” He looked exhausted and sounded like he’d swallowed fire. But the smile on his lips and the sweet way he spoke my nickname somehow managed to lessen the burn in my throat. “You didn’t have to drive all this way. I’m good.”

“And miss the chance to kiss you better?” I tsked. “Never.” I kissed him on the lips to prove the point, then sat on the edge of his bed. “How’s the hand?” I pointed to it, frowning at the massive cast.

“Hurts a little. Luckily it’s the left hand, not the right.”

“A little…” I mocked and rolled my eyes.

He waggled his eyebrows. “It’s a good thing I’m made of titanium.”

I sighed and leaned forward, pressing my forehead to his chest. Breathing in his familiar scent made me feel like I was home.

“I gotta admit something.” His voice crackled. I leaned back to look into his eyes.

“What’s that?” I ran my knuckles down the side of his cheek, and he nuzzled his mouth against my hand. I opened my palm wide so he could kiss it.

“Nothing will ever hurt me worse than missing you.”

I shut my eyes, shivering at his words, his touch, his simple kiss.

How was it that we had been apart for less than a week when it felt like so much longer? “I love you,” I whispered against his chest.

“You better, ’cause I’m in love with you.”

I smiled, blinking back tears, the happy kind. I did love this man. I loved everything about him, in fact. His goofy tendencies, his protective nature. The fact that I loved the way he looked didn’t hurt matters either. But it was his heart that made me feel alive. Made me want to better myself, not just for my family anymore, but for him too. And because of that heart, I knew what had to happen.

I laid my ear against his chest, listening to him breathe and to his heartbeat.

“I’m gonna be laid up for a while, I’m afraid, but I’ll be good as new soon. Wouldn’t think about missing my trip to see you in a couple of weeks.”

The simple thought of leaving him like this hurt me worse than before. I leaned back, just enough to look in his eyes. “How will you work, Max?”

One shrug later, he lifted his bad hand. “Gonna have to master things one-handed, looks like.”

“And if you can’t?” Optimism was never my strong suit.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He touched my chin, stroking his thumb back and forth.

I leaned in closer. “But what if it takes a while?”

“I’m paid up on my lease at the store for a year.”

“And bills?” I bit my lip. “How will you pay your bills? Or cook for your gigs?”

His face grew serious, and he stared out the window instead of at me. “Guess I’ll be tapping into big daddy’s money after all.”

I pulled in a breath, nervous. “What if there was a different way?”

Even in the dark, I could see his gaze swing back to me. Feeling far needier than I should have, I silently took him in as well.

Feathered dark hair I adored…dark-brown eyes I’d memorized like my favorite love song…and that sly little grin, the one that managed to make everything around me feel frozen, except for my rattled heart…

God, he was sensational looking. How could I ever not want him with me all the time?

“I really suck at cooking, Max.”

He scowled at me, but I kept going.

“And who’s going to wash your back in the shower?”

I sat up along the edge of the bed and looked at my lap, my face growing hot. “I can’t do life without you.”

“Yes you can.” He urged me onto his lap with his good hand, cradling me against his chest. “Don’t say that. Don’t even think that. This is your dream job. And I’m sorry if I worried you.”

My point wasn’t coming across the way I intended. So, I sucked in another big breath and laid my head back to look up at him, trying a new angle. “I got a new bed, Maxwell. Mom ordered it for me. It’s huge. After she found out I was sleeping on that futon, she had a fit.”

“Good.” He kissed my nose. “You deserve a nice bed. That futon was a killer on my back.”

“But it’s going to be a lonely bed without you.”

Half of his mouth curled up into his swoony Maxwell grin. “Then we’ll have to make enough memories on it during my visits to make sure you’ll never miss me again, yeah?”

I shook my head, frustrated. He wasn’t getting it. Though I wasn’t being clear either. So, I let it go. All of it.

“Move in with me. Live with me in Springfield. Once your hand is better, we’ll come back on the weekends and do your catering gigs together. Then after I’ve completed my year, I’ll quit and try to apply for a position closer to Carinthia. We’ll move back here together.”

His eyes narrowed in confusion. “But what about you getting tenured and I thought…”

There were so many ways I wanted this man, and I’d only just begun to discover them all. Apart from him, I couldn’t do that, but together was another story.

“Nothing matters but us.”

He sighed, looking unconvinced. I’d pushed the idea away, so there’s no doubt I confused him. “Look, I have all this room in my closet and a dresser with three spare drawers. I need them filled. By you and your stuff. Your presence. I just need you.”

He moved to adjust his bad hand, then sat up a little straighter, still with me on his lap. Eventually, he leveled our stares, pressing his forehead to mine in that way I loved. “It’s a damn good thing you asked, ’cause I was thinking about sneaking into your car when you weren’t looking. Hitching a ride, then permanently planting myself in your house like a protestor until you decided there was no other option.”

I laughed out loud, my head tossed back. Whether it was from happiness or exhaustion, I didn’t know. Either way, I had the answer I wanted. Max was going to move to Springfield. With me.

Our chests smashed together. I tangled my hands in his hair and pressed my lips to his. What had I done to deserve someone so amazing?

A minute passed, then two. Our tongues danced, and our bodies did things that hospital beds weren’t made for. Touching and caressing, all sorts of naughty things that I couldn’t wait to expand upon once he got out of this place.

He kissed my chin, slowly moving around until his lips were inches from mine. “Are we really gonna do this then? You’re okay with it?” He tucked some of my hair behind my ear, trailing his fingers down my cheek only to stop at my chin. Fascination lit his eyes. “I don’t want to rush you.”

My throat was tight with emotion, but I managed to swallow and say, “Yeah, we are. That day-by-day scenario sucked the second you pulled away from my place.”

With his nose nuzzled against my neck below my ear, Maxwell shook with laughter. “You’re it for me, Lia. You know that, right?”

Unable to deny what I’d known for so long, I said, “Yeah, I know. You’re it for me too.”

“Hell yeah.” He growled low in his throat. “Now, come here and kiss me some more.”

With a smile, I did just that, only to get to the point where neither of us could breathe from exertion. The sun could have been falling from the sky, or zombies could have been rising from the grave, but I didn’t care. Not when I was right where I wanted to be. Forever.

Almost.

“Hold on a sec,” I whispered, then straightened my legs out only to shimmy out of my shorts and panties.

No hesitation.

No fears.

No regrets.

I slipped under the covers, pulled his hospital gown up to his chest, and sank down onto his lap before he could ask me what I was doing.

There. That’s better.

Once I’d adjusted to his fullness, I lowered my hands to both sides of his head and whispered against his mouth, “Think you can keep it down, Soldier Boy?”

He palmed my ass one-handed, grinding against me, urging me to move faster, when I wanted slow. “Doc said no strenuous activity for a few days.” He bit at my lip, only for his heart monitor to beep a little louder. “But damn it, I need you real bad, Lee-Lee.”

Equally as desperate for him, I kissed his cheek, his brows, his nose. “Well, it’s a good thing we’re going to be roomies, because I can’t get enough of you.” Slowly, I arched my back, loving him not only with my body, but with my heart.

“And it’s a damn good thing I was blessed with stamina then.” He wrapped his one good arm around my waist, somehow still managing to help my movements along.

I giggled and he grinned back at me, his eyes bright.

And then together we discovered just how amazing secret hospital-bed sex could be.