Page 188 of The Sidekick

It’s not too busy inside. People are filling orders and not paying any attention to me. Couples dance on the dance floor, and a group of young men play pool.

Meanwhile, I’m frozen in the doorway with indecision.

The option to run is taken out of my hands when I see Max cleaning a table with his usual solemn look. Sal is beside him, talking his ear off just like I used to. She touches his shoulder, and my stomach clenches with dread. How dumb is it that I feel jealous over a simple touch when I’m showing off hickeys?

Max shrugs her touch off with a scowl and tries to walk away. Sal slides in front of him with a smile, dragging a finger over the top of her low-cut shirt. He doesn’t look down at her cleavage.

My brows begin to furrow as I watch.

Why am I just standing here? I need to do something. He’s obviously uncomfortable with her attention, and she isn’t taking the hints to back off.

I suck in a bracing breath and march over to them.

“Hi, Max!” I yell out as the music suddenly cuts out for another song to begin. I get a lot of attention before people turn back to their tablemates. My face burns as my eyes widen.

I have to tough this out. I can do this.

Max’s jaw drops as his head swings my way. His eyes widen when he takes in my outfit before zeroing in on the hickeys.

The blush gets worse.

“I guess things are going well with the boyfriend?” Sal laughs and jabs an elbow into Max’s side, inviting him to join in.

He doesn’t. He takes two steps toward me, and a grin breaks across his face so wide it’s like the sun peeking out from the clouds.

“Hi, Tera!” He yells as loud as he can, regaining the attention I don’t want.

My eyes flit to Sal and him again as I debate what to say next. The angry trip over here was too short for me to come up with something witty.

“I’m on break,” Max says to Sal and sweeps me in a tight hug that leaves my legs dangling.

I wrap my arms around his neck and settle my face on his shoulder to hide my embarrassment. And the relief. He didn’t hesitate, even after seeing the marks Asher left.

He takes a deep breath, and his arms tighten around me convulsively.

“Oh, fuck. He found the soap.”

“What?” I think I misheard him over the music.

He keeps repeating the eff word as he quickly strides toward the office.

“Max! It isn’t your turn,” Sal yells angrily from behind us.

He ignores her as we pass into the shadowed hallway and then into the office.

“Max,” Trevor begins warningly, only to stop and take in the spectacle.

“He found her soap. He found her dresses.” Max’s voice is rough as he clutches me to him. His shoulders are shaking as he holds me.

“Andi bought them. I hid them in the closet,” I confess, wondering at this breakdown.

“I’ve missed this so damn much,” he sets me down roughly and places both his hands on my cheeks. His kiss is rough and thorough.

Someone tries to open the door behind him. He doesn’t stop kissing me as he kicks it shut again.

I draw back from him with wide eyes. “You can’t kick a door shut in someone’s face.”

“It isn’t your turn for a break! It’s Emily’s!” Sal’s voice rages outside.

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