Page 50 of It's Not Home Without You

“I’m going to help Emma with some paperwork. Then I’ll go get us some Rocco’s on me.”

Quincy and Jess got excited at the mention of free food. Show me a teenager who didn’t. I didn’t think much on overstepping when I turned on Emma’s computer. I was good with prices and budgeting a store. I wanted to lightenher load. What I didn’t think I’d find was Emma was trying to keep a secret.

The business was not doing good. The revenue in the past years had declined. Sure, Em sold coffee and pastries, but it wasn’t enough. I felt guilty, and I didn’t know why. I knew I wanted to help her. Because if it weren’t for her,I wouldbe lost. Being here at the store had given me a new purpose and stopped me from running to Max’s house and demand to know why he could stop fighting for us.

How could he stop fighting for me?

I never moved on because I had hope.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

I was freezingby the time I made it to Rocco’s Ristorante. Why did I think it was such a good idea to walk? With the revelations of Emma’s business I forgot I had my grandpa’s truck with me. My fingers were cold, and my back was a sharp wind away from getting frostbite. Even thinking about the word frostbite brought an ache.

I was pathetic.

Shaking my head to chase the memory away, I pulled the door open and was greeted with the smell of fresh pasta. My mouth watered. My head was trying to wrap around Emma’s troubles when my body collided with someone else. I hear a sharp intake of breathand felt fingers digging into my waist almost painfully. My heart thumped wildly, and my blood raced. I didn’t have to look up to know who I had collided with.

I knew whose arms I was in.

I was home.

I was in Max’s arms.

After what happened last time, why was I letting him touch me?

Because the feeling was familiar. It didn’t matter that seven years had passed since the last time he held me. I remembered. My body remembered. My heart never forgot.

Giving myself a mental pep talk, I looked up, even though I didn’t want to. I tried to stop it, but my eyes found him in an instant. Our eyes locked, and in a way,it felt like it was for the first time all over again. He wasn't blowing me off, telling me we were friends, or telling me I was lousy in bed. Max’s gaze traveled from my face all the way downto my toes. My belly tingled, my legs wobbled, and my sex ached.

This was not happening.

What was it about Maximilian Dunnett that made me forget the ocean of hurt and regret between us? What was it about him that made it impossible to look away and try to forget? I needed to learn to live in a world where the words Max and Freya never existed together.

“Let me go,” I pleaded.

Max smirked at me. “You know I felt the way your body shivered. I’d say you like it when I touch you.”

“It’s cold outside,” was my lame attempt to save face. It wasn’t a complete lie. Fall was already here; it usually was my favorite season. It had been a long time since I saw the leaves turn gold. I used to love it—this year, not so much. Every day that passed was another day closer to the wedding.

Before either of us could say something, Mr. Hendrix walked in, causing us both to jump back.

“Freya,” he said my name a little hesitantly, and I briefly wonder if he thought something was going on with Max and me.

“Mr. Hendrix.” I smiled, trying to hide my discomfort. Just because I was friends with his son, it didn’t translate to us being friends. Still, I walked with him to put in my order, leaving Max behind. I felt his molten stare at my bare back. Feeling exposed, I regretted my choice of dress.

“Please call me, Brandon. I don’t mean to be intrusive, but you seem familiar. Who are your parents?”

“Eugene Pratt raised me.” I could tell my answer surprised him. I knew little about Brandon Hendrix, except he was like second cousins with Abigail’s mother.Shit,that meant Dex was related to Abigail. It made sense why Mr. Hendrix would run away. If Iwererelated to the Newtons, I would run for the hillstoo.

“Eugene had more kids? How old are you? I thought he and Josie only had Devora?”

“I’m Devora’s child.”

That startled Mr. Hendrix. His eyes looked like saucers. “Dev’s your mom?”

“She was,” I said the words slowly. My mom was never a mother. A real mother would have never been weak and chosen alcohol over her child.

“What do you mean ‘she was’?” He seemed confused, and I hated to be the bearer of bad news. I leftfor seven years, and alot had changed. According to Dex,his fatherleft for over twenty years. I imagined he had more of a shock when he came back than I did. Then again, I doubted he came back to find his sweetheart engaged to his nemesis.

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