Twenty-Two

Max

I hold her hand in mine the whole way there, not letting it go for a second, because I know once we get into that gala I won’t touch her till she comes home with me tonight. I know it isn’t what we planned since her parents are staying at her house, but no way in fuck I’m not bringing her home. Once I see that we have arrived I pick her hand up and kiss it before getting out. I wasn’t ready for the whole red carpet photo session. The only good thing is she will be right there. I get out first as I lean in and hold my hand for Allison and then Denise.

We walk in together as the ladies pose on each side of me. Reporters scream my name, as we don’t speak to any reporter before walking in. Making our way through the lobby of the hotel, we see almost everyone is dressed up to the nines. We also see a slew of celebrities that are all walking in and waving hello. Once we get to the ballroom the music is already coming out of the doors.

“Here we go,” I say to them as my fingers brush with hers. My pinky wraps with hers right before we walk in and then stand here, taking it in. I’m blown away. The whole room is a soft blue and wherever you look is something about winter. Snowflakes hang from the ceiling all are lit up. Tables are all around with white silk tablecloths and huge white flowers. We walk in a bit more as my hand goes to her lower back.

“Look out,” Denise says and we look up as Zoe and Zara come to us. Both are dressed in baby blue dresses that hug their every curve. I shake my head, watching Cooper behind them.

“Max,” they both say.

“We flipped a coin and I won the first dance,” Zoe says as Zara folds her hands over her chest.

“He’s saving the best for last.” She follows as Cooper comes to Allison.

“You look beautiful.” He kisses her cheek. “Is your guy coming?”

“Nope, he’s traveling this week, but he’s due back tonight so.” She turns and says, “I came with Denise and Max.”

“Honey,” Parker says beside Cooper, “that dress is perfect for you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Cooper sees someone he knows and waves at them. “There is Ken.” Then he looks at Allison. “His son is just out of med school. We should set you guys up.”

“Dad”—she shakes her head—“I’m happy with my guy, but thanks. I’m going to get some champagne. Tonight we celebrate.”

Denise smiles and nods, following her to a waiter who is handing out champagne.

“When does the dancing start?” Zoe asks, winking at me.

“Look, there is Ryder.” I point to them and they both whip their heads around and look at him.

“Dibs,” they both say at the same time, speed walking to him.

“I said no to those dresses,” Cooper says, looking at Parker. “Why, why, why do you go behind my back?”

“Pick your battles, Cooper. It was that or a mini dress. I chose the lesser of two evils,” Parker says. “Why don’t you go and bid on some silent auction items? I see a nice condo in the Rockies that would be a great getaway.”

He leans in, kisses her lips, and smiles, walking away to the auction table.

I stand here with Parker and she looks at me with a smile. “Now I’m going to do what I told myself I wouldn’t and that is give you the third degree.”

I put my hands in my pockets, waiting to hear it.

“Pick your battles, Max. If you know you won’t fight tooth and nail for her—”

I don’t let her finish. “With all due respect, ma’am, there are two people in this world I would fight for. One is my blood, my duty. The other is your daughter.” I shake my head. “I don’t really care if you or anyone in the family likes me or not, or thinks I’m not good enough for her.” I laugh, a bitter laugh. “I know I’m not. Trust me, I wake up every day knowing that I’m not good enough for her.”

She puts her hand on my arm, squeezing it. “You’re a good man, Max Horton. Regardless of your past mistakes.” She leans up, kisses my cheek, and then walks away as I look and see that Allison is being introduced to another guy in a tux. Cooper laughs with them, and her eyes fly around the room, searching something, and I know what that is the minute her eyes meet mine and she smiles at me. I turn, walking to the bar, and ordering a water bottle. I’m here for a minute or two before Phil joins me, then Ryder, Luka, and Charlie.

“This is going to be the longest night of my life,” Nico says. “Aly owes me for this. I’m all for going to the hospital, but getting dressed up in a monkey suit. ”

“Shut up,” Phil says. “It’s for a good cause.”

“What is?” Matthew asks, coming to the bar, and ordering a water bottle also.

“All of this,” Phil says as he points all around. “This,” he says and then points to the pictures of the patients both past and present, both in the middle of treatment and some that are in remission. “Go put your name down on some of those prizes.”

“Fine,” he grumbles. “It’s for the kids.”

I drink a gulp of water when Zoe comes running to me. “Max. I’m sorry,” she says breathlessly. “I’m not going to be able to give you the first dance.”

Matthew throws his head back and groans.

“I got another offer.” She winks at me and turns to walk away.

“Those two are going to give my father a heart attack,” he says as someone comes on and tells us to get to our places as the ceremony will start.

I walk to my table that Denise is at and sit down next to her. I see Matthew come to the table with Karrie, along with Doug, Cooper, Parker, and the seat next to me stays open.

“Vivi is going to be so pissed she missed tonight,” Matthew says, taking a sip of champagne that they put in front of him. “I think I saw that Charlie dude.”

“Which Charlie dude?” Karrie says, looking around when the seat next to me gets pulled out before Allison sits in and pulls herself in. “Oh my God, is that the Sons of Anarchy guy?” She points to the man who is in fact Charlie Hunnam. “Shit, give me your phone.” She knocks Matthew’s arm, taking it from him, and snapping a picture. “He’s on my safe list,” she says as Matthew snatches the phone from her.

I have one hand on Denise’s chair and the other on my leg as the MC starts talking. And then the tablecloth is moved, covering it as Allison puts her little hand on mine. We sit listening to the MC talk about the hospital and all the good that the money collected tonight will do. She lets everyone know about the silent auction that is going on.

“So what do you guys think? Should we get this party started?” she says as people clap. “The dance floor is now open.”

When the song “All of you” starts Doug asks Denise if he could have the first dance to thank her. Karrie gets yanked up by Matthew. Cooper pushes his chair out as he holds out his hand for Parker and then looks at us.

“Oh, I see Lincoln.” He points to the guy that was talking to her before.

I push my own chair out. “I got it,” I say gruffly as Allison gets up and follows me to the packed dance floor. My hand wraps around her waist the same time her hand wraps around my shoulder, and I hold her hand in the other.

“Smooth,” she says, looking down and laughing. We spend the rest of the night with stolen touches as I sit at the table watching the girls dance till finally they both collapse next to me.

“I’m ready to go,” Denise says.

I nod and text the driver who has been on standby the whole night.

“Me, too,” Karrie and Parker say as Cooper and Matthew say, “Finally.” Under their breath.

“Oh, look,” Allison says as she looks at her phone. “Okay, people, my guy is home early.” She picks up her glass of champagne, downing whatever was left. “It’s been fun, but—”

“You can’t hide him for that long, Aly,” Matthew says.

“Leave her alone.” Karrie slaps his arm. “She’ll introduce you when she’s ready,” she says as Matthew grunts out.

I walk out, going to the door as Denise and Allison say goodbye to everyone. I see our limo guy and put my hand up to him as I walk over and get in. The car door opens and both girls get in, closing the door after them, and laughing.

“This was so much fun,” Denise says, coming on the bench I’m sitting on as we switch places and Allison scoots closer to me, shivering.

“It’s getting cold.”

I take my jacket off and put it around her shoulders as she lays her head on my shoulder and that is the last thing she sees. Her eyes fall closed and when it’s our turn to get off I’m carrying her all the way upstairs to bed. She stirs when I take her shoes off and a bit while I peel the dress from her body. I crawl in next to her and her body turns into mine as she places her head on my chest, throwing her leg and arm around me. I fall asleep to her soft snores.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” she yells the next day as we sit at the island in my kitchen. Her in my shirt from last night and me in boxers. Both of us with wet hair since we took a long shower. I’ve never gone this long without having sex with someone that’s done pretty much every possible thing that I could think of. I know she’s ready, but I don’t want to just fuck her. I’m one hundred percent not fucking doing it in a hotel room, that’s for fucking sure. At least not her first time.

“Well, I usually take off Christmas morning,” I say as I place the eggs in her plate. “We aren’t back on the ice till the twenty-eight.”

“I’m with my parents on Christmas morning,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s traditional.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Well, it’s tradition that I have Christmas Eve with Denise and then early Christmas morning I load up and take off. It’s a five-hour drive.”

“So are you saying that you aren’t going to be home till the twenty-eight?”

“I usually come back the night before the game. So I’ll be back around the twenty-seventh.”

“It’s our first Christmas together,” she says out in a whisper. “You don’t even have a tree.” She points to the living room.

“Allison, if you want a tree we can get a tree,” I tell her as I put my own eggs on my plate. “Whatever you want, angel.”

“Well, are we going to exchange gifts?” she asks and I nod as I take a couple bites. “When?”

“We can do it on the twenty-fourth before you go to your parents,” I say and all of a sudden, I’m not sure I’m hungry anymore. I look over at her as she picks her eggs in her plate. “We can go shopping today if you want.”

“Okay,” she says, not looking up as she eats a bite. “We leave tomorrow, so I can order all the decorations online for when we come back in three days.”

As soon as we finish, we go out looking for a tree, which is a big mistake. Where I want a small one, Allison is the bigger the better and full. It takes two guys to strap it to my truck and it takes us an hour to drag that fucker upstairs. The amount of pine needles is like we have two trees.

“Isn’t it perfect?” she says as Stanley jumps on the couch looking at it with a glare. “Where is your computer?” she asks as she sits on the couch. “I’m going shopping.” She totally does because when we get back from Boston there are over fifty boxes waiting in my living room.

I pick up my phone, taking a picture of all the boxes, and send it to her.

She sends me a text with a thumbs-up. I undo my bag, throwing my clothes in the washer when a knock on the door echoes. Opening it, I see it’s Allison.

“I couldn’t wait,” she says with glee as she walks in. “Oh my gosh.” She puts her bag down on the counter. I walk over to the drawer in the kitchen, taking out the spare key. “Look,” she says as she takes out an ornament of Beauty and the Beast. “It’s so pretty, but first, lights.”

“Here.” I hand her the key to the door, my hand holding it out. “What’s the matter?”

“Is that a key to your house?” she asks, taking it from my hand, as I nod. “Um.” She looks at the key in her hand, turning it over and over, her head coming up and smiling at me. “You like me.”

I lean down, kissing her lips. “Yeah, angel, I like you,” I tell her as my thumb rubs her cheek.

“Good,” she says as she tosses it on her bag. “Now can you get me a ladder? I need to put the lights up.”

And after what takes two hours, but feels like two weeks, four thousand lights are draped around the tree. Four thousand. “I think this is a fire violation,” I say, watching some of the lights blink.

For two weeks, she keeps ordering Christmas stuff, so much stuff it looks like a picture from one of the catalogues. I place her gifts under the tree after we get back home from the last game before the holidays. There are more gifts under the tree than I know what to do with. I think I’m responsible for about twenty of the fifty.

She spends the twenty-third with me as we spend the night hugging, kissing, pinching, pulling, and devouring.

“Happy Christmas Eve,” she says as she wakes the next day.

I look at my watch and see it’s past noon. “Merry Christmas, angel.” I hug her and then she shoots out of bed.

“Presents!” she yells as she runs into the living room.

I get up, following her, and sitting on the couch. “Can we get coffee first?” I ask as I walk to the coffee and press the button.

We exchange gifts, the silly ones first. I get her a key chain with an angel on it, a scarf that she was going on and on about, a thick winter jacket with a fur hood for when we go to Canada in January, and some UGG boots. She gets me a scarf, a kickass jacket, and the best one yet a picture frame of us taken on the couch as she looks at the camera and I lean in and press my nose to her cheek. I get up, putting the picture in the living room on the main table in the middle. Bending down, I pick up the three small boxes that I saved for the end.

She smiles as she unwraps the smaller of the two and her mouth opens as she sees the red Cartier box. Opening it, she gasps as she sees the rose gold bangle I got her.

“Max. This is…” She doesn’t finish as she puts it on her wrist. “It’s too much.” She touches it as she picks up the same size box and unwraps it to see another red Cartier box. She looks up at me and shuts the box once she opens it. “Are you crazy?” she asks as she opens it again this time to see the rose gold wrap bracelet. “Holy shit, this is the bracelet that everyone is talking about.” She takes in the bracelet that looks like a nail that is twisted. Her tears come now. “This is too much.”

“Angel.” I grab her and hug her. “You forgot the last one.”

“I don’t want it. Return it,” she says, pushing it away from her.

“I can’t. It’s engraved,” I tell her as she now grabs the box and unwraps it to find a stainless steel and rose gold Rolex. She buries her face in my neck. “You didn’t see what I wrote,” I say as she unburies her face and takes it out, turning it over.

We have never spoken about feelings, so I don’t know how she is going to take my declaration.

I love you more every second.

12-23-17

“To this day, I have never regretted anything I’ve done in my life, nothing. But with you, being with you, I regret almost everything. I regret that fucking rape charge. I regret giving Matthew’s name. I regret thinking I was so much better than him and everyone else.”

“Max,” she whispers as she moves closer to me. “You don’t.”

“But you see, I do.” I kiss her lips. “I never ever thought it would backfire the way it did. My life was spirally down and nothing could have stopped it till I hit rock bottom. But when those cops came in that room and arrested your brother, I was never more sorry about anything in my life. It was a mistake that I would take back in a heartbeat.” I take in a breath. “It’s because of that mistake we are going to overcome the biggest obstacle of all: your brother.”

“You were young and stupid. I know you,” she points to my chest, “I know the man you are, the man that you strive to be, and that man would never hurt someone purposely. When it’s time, we will do it together.” She says as she leans forward, “no matter the outcome. I’ll be there.”

She gets up to give me my box. “Open it.” I open it and see the same color box. I smile and find a stainless steel watch. Taking it out, I turn it over and smile at her engraving.

The best moment is yet to come. Angel

12-23-17

“It’s perfect,” I say as I put it on my wrist and she cuddles into me. I hold her close, knowing I won’t do this for a while. The door rings and I look at the time. “That’s the caterer,” I tell her as she gets up and goes into the room to get ready.

She comes out with her bag packed. “I called an Uber since the guy is here,” she says as she wraps the scarf around her. “You better call me.” She walks toward the door and grabs her new jacket. “I’m going to miss you.” She leans into me and kisses me, and I hug her close.

“Merry Christmas, angel,” I say to her right before she walks out the door. “I love you,” I whisper at the closed door.