Page 19 of Crave

He arched a brow. His voice edged with dismissal. “Sorry, not interested in making out with royalty. I like a woman who’s not afraid to get her hair messed up. Right, princess?”

Oh, we were back to trading barbs from the old days. I practically purred my response. “Totally understand, because I prefer a man who can play a woman’s body rather than his guitar. You’re way too self-absorbed to be rated on my bedpost scale.”

We glared at each other, but this time, it was on a different level.

Max whistled and stepped in. “Damn, are you two still at it? Play nice,” he said with a smile.

Gabby watched our interaction with interest. I cleared my throat and tried to lighten things up. “Old habits are hard to break,” I said cheerfully.

“Landon, can I talk to you for a quick sec?” Max asked.

“Sure.” I followed him to our table, away from the blasting music. “What’s up?”

He scratched his head. “I feel bad but before I left Red tonight Rock asked if I could work the late shift tomorrow night in the private club.”

My eyes widened. “Wow. How’d you manage that invitation?” The downstairs room was the exclusive part of Red that very few had access to. I knew there were all sorts of sex games going on and private stuff—many of the stories spread through the staff but nothing was every confirmed. None of our group had ever been asked to work that section. Max was the first.

He winced. “Yeah, this is the part where you’ll probably get mad. Rock said Mariah couldn’t take the shift and did I havesomeone I wanted to work with. I mentioned your name. Rock said it was fine but to ask you if you’re okay with it.”

“You want me to work the sex club?” I shook my head, trying to sift through the pros and cons. It wasn’t like I’d need to do anything but serve drinks and I knew it was safe. Discreetness was key. No phones allowed. You needed to sign a contract with hefty provisions. The shift ran from 1am to 5am. But the tips were said to be insane.

“You don’t have to do it,” Max said quickly. “I mentioned you because Rock trusts you, and the money is off the hook. Figured you’d want in.”

“No, no, I can do it.”

He studied my face. “Sure? It’s not too much for you?”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be stupid—I can hold my own.”

“Yeah, I remember.” He said the words in a sad, gentle tone. A pang of bittersweet pain hit me, but it was more about what I’d believed he’d be than the actual hurt of losing him. Max had been my ideal. Realizing he wasn’t the one who could ever make me happy put me into a tailspin, but also gave me an opportunity to figure out what I really want. And who.

“You still hate my guts?” Max asked softly.

I gave a long sigh. “No. I mean, it still hurts, what you did. Not gonna lie. But I don’t hate your guts.”

“Thank God.” He blinked, and incredibly, I caught the sheen of moisture in his eyes. It really wasn’t an act. Max still cared about me, and in his own way, was really sorry. It eased some of the remaining bitterness from his lies. “Thanks for not breaking up the group over this Landon. All of you are important to me. You’re my family. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Guilt hit. Ah, crap. When this thing with Adam finally came out, Max would take it the hardest. He’d think it was a revenge thing, and I sensed chaos. My heart beat faster but I was too drunk and foggy to deal with any of it now. “Me, too,” I said.

He smiled. I smiled back.

The girls came rushing forward, giggling and hugging me, tearing me away from Max. “Come on, let’s dance. The night’s almost over!”

We spent the next hour partying hard. The tension between Adam and I climbed higher with every lingering look. Finally, we stumbled out. “Meet at the diner?” Gabby asked.

Noah and Daisy begged off. Coop and Elle and Max were in.

I swayed. I didn’t want food. I craved Adam. Craved knowing what happened next between us.

“Landon, you dropped this,” Adam suddenly said, pressing something into my hand and leaning close.

His ragged whisper held the raw edge of command. “My apartment. Now.”

I pretended to take the offering. “Thank you.”

Adam lifted his hand in the air. “Sorry, gotta get some sleep. See you guys, later.”

They called their goodbyes.

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