Page 28 of Crave

“Right here, asshole.” Max grinned and slid in the booth, greeting us. The waitress came right over and we put in our order. He leaned back with a cat-who-ate-the-canary expression, not looking like the worried or brooding Max I expected. A slither of unease slid down my spine but I tried to ignore it. I’d already connected with Landon so nothing should be too bad. “How’s everyone doing?”

We did a quick catch up, going round the table. Ribbed each other and cracked jokes. I settled into the routine of us together like sliding on my favorite broken-in jeans. Finally, Coop asked what everyone was wondering. “You ready to tell us what’s goingon? We all dropped our plans to show up for your ass. Is it in trouble?”

Max’s face morphed into a more serious expression. He looked around the table, meeting each of our gazes directly. When it was my turn, a dark sense of betrayal unfolded within me. I didn’t like it but I also didn’t know how to make it any better. Landon and I were sleeping together behind his back, and though Max had been the one to fuck it up, I was there ready and waiting.

Some friend I was.

“I’m sorry, guys. I don’t think I tell you enough how much you all mean to me. Shit got crazy last night and this morning, and my head was gonna explode. The first thing I did was text you, and you came.” He shook his head, blonde hair glistening in the light. “I love you. I really do.”

Coop groaned and Noah rolled his eyes. I gave a laugh. “Were you watchingThe Notebookagain?” I joked.

He laughed, too, and a sense of warmth settled over the table. We’d been through a lot together and ended up right here when shit went sideways, trying to help the other. I hoped to God Max was going to announce he wasn’t into Landon anymore. That he’d fucked someone else and he was in love again. Anything that would help all of us.

“Sorry, I wanted to let you know since most of the time I’m an asshole.”

“Hell, yes,” we said in unison, which made us all crack up again.

“Okay, back to the purpose of this get together,” Max said. “I worked the late shift with Landon last night. You know, the exclusive shifts in the lounge where all the sex shit happens?”

My gut clenched into a tight fist. WTF? Landon hadn’t mentioned anything.

Coop nodded. “Yeah, Elle told me about that.”

“I was able to convince Rock to get me in. The money’s crazy, and it’s pretty easy. I asked Landon if she’d work with me so we did the shift together last night.”

Noah grinned. “Why do I think that was majorly planned. Dude?”

Max practically stretched in satisfaction., “Cause it was. Figured I’d have some time with her, and maybe it would spark some memories. But I’ve been careful about keeping my distance. I’m playing the long game, so no jealousy.”

I listened with curiosity but I wasn’t worried. I knew Landon had moved on, and couldn’t help Max’s intent to get back with her. “So, what happened?” I asked.

“Landon got attacked by some asshole last night.” My blood ran cold and I froze, staring at Max. He was talking casually like he hadn’t set off a bomb. “Some asshole got handsy and blocked her in the exit hall. I tore him off and punched him, but he got in a good hit and took off. We couldn’t find him.”

Noah whistled. “Is she okay? That’s fucked up.”

“Yeah, she was upset, so I spent the night at her house.” Max sighed, looking off into the distance, as if caught up in memories. “It was nice to be with her again. She let me cuddle her; take care of her. We talked for a long time. Fuck, having her back in my arms? Guys, it was epic.”

My blood went from cold to boiling, until I had to sip breaths in tiny doses or I’d explode from the booth.

Landon had gotten attacked at Red. Another man had tried to hurt her and she hadn’t called me.

She’d gone home with Max instead.

My head spun but I tried to keep cool. Noah seemed genuinely freaked out about it, but I noticed Coop didn’t look surprised. He just ate his pancakes like he’d heard the story before. Like it had happened before.

“Wait—go back to the attack,” I said calmly. “Tell me exactly what happened. Each step.”

Max didn’t seem to think my demand was off, and he quickly summarized the events for me. “Some rich asshole who’s probably well concealed. Rock said he’d try to dig but I don’t think anything will happen. But you know how they say something good comes from something bad? Last night, things finally turned for me.”

“How?” Noah asked.

“I told Landon I’d sleep on the couch. Again, I’m playing the long game. But she had a bad dream and called out, and when I went in to check on her, she pulled me into bed. We slept together the whole night, and she woke up in my arms. Then I made her breakfast—just like the old days.”

I couldn’t seem to register the words. They came from far away, and I almost heard the bang of a nail, closing in my coffin.

Landon had slept with Max.

I spoke in a too high voice. “Wait—did you have sex with her?”

---