Page 51 of Crave

Elle and I looked at each other, then Gabby. “Oh, now you gotta tell,” I begged. But she only laughed harder and shook her head.

“Another time. Not ready to share my kink.”

We ate breakfast and afterward I felt calmer. Sure, I’d have to deal with the fallout and social media chaos, but knowing Gabby didn’t do it to hurt us was key. Her point was well taken. I bet the show had no issues with this type of blow up.

In two days, I’d be leaving for filming and I wouldn’t see Adam for a while. I texted him that I’d meet him in an hour, planning to stop at my apartment. I quickly explained that Gabby and I were cool and I’d share details later.

When I got to my place, Max was sitting on the steps.

Heart beating madly, caught between a bunch of raw emotion, I stopped in front of him. We didn’t say anything for a while. He looked like crap—his eyes red, his hair mussed, his clothes wrinkled. He smelled like he hadn’t showered and held the faint scent of alcohol drifting around him.

“I have to talk to you, Landon.” His gaze burned into mine. “It’s important. You need to know the truth before you make a big mistake.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Landon

Listen to Breathe 2am

by Anna Nalik

Iheld back a sigh and stared at Max. I knew why he was here. It was his last-ditch effort to make me doubt Adam, but we’d already gone past the edge of no return. Nothing Max could say would change my mind. A flash of pity raced through me. This was a man I’d once loved and dreamed of marrying. How had so much transpired in one summer? I was now a different person, on a new path I’d never imagined. But without Max, I would’ve never found Adam.

I owed him a conversation.

“You didn’t have to hit him,” I said softly.

His jaw clenched. “Yeah, I did. He crossed the line.”

“Then you should be just as mad at me. I was the one in a relationship with you.”

Sadness gleamed in his blue eyes. “No, Landon. I can’t blame you because you were played. No one knows Adam the way I do. You never had a chance.”

Temper slapped back and my gaze turned cold. “You’re not coming up. I don’t trust you in my apartment. Say what you want right here.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, rubbing his scalp in obvious upset. “How did this happen to us? Did I make you so unhappy you’d run to him for revenge? What is he giving you that I don’t? Is it the sex?”

I refused to blush or answer the direct question. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Max. That’s what I keep trying to tell you. I’ve been fighting my feelings for Adam for a long time. I never wanted to hurt you, but I’m almost glad for that video. It helped me see the truth and things would’ve been much worse if we ignored the warning signs. It’s no one’s fault—it just happened. All I want is not to lose the entire group over this. We were hoping with enough time and space we could get past it.” A desperate plea leaked into my voice. “We wouldn’t have been happy together. I know once you meet the right person, you’ll see that, too.”

“I see you’ve already decided, which means you won’t believe me. I can only tell you the truth of what you’re getting into. I cheated on you, and broke your heart. Adam is also a cheater, but it will be so much worse for you, Landon. He may love you, but he’s too fucked up to stay in a long-term relationship. He confessed that to me over and over—that even when he tries, the demons come and get him and he needs to tear it apart before it becomes too important. He won’t have a choice except to hurt you.”

I swore I wouldn’t listen, but his words held a terrible doubt that locked inside my chest. Adam had spoken about his father many times; how his brokenness loved mine and it made usstrong together. But it was still the beginning for us. Would Adam be able to commit or would he get spooked? Plus, we were about to be torn apart for weeks, living separate lives. I trusted he loved me and didn’t want to hurt me.

What I didn’t trust was Adam’s belief and love for himself. He’d told me it was hard for him to believe he deserved anything good. Would his fears rip us apart before we even had a chance?

“He’s not a cheater,” I said. “It was a game to you. What you could get away with. The only thing that mattered to you was not getting caught.”

He stared at me for a while, then lowered his head. “You’re right. God, I regret what I did every damn second. I became reckless with what we had and now I’ve lost you. That will always haunt me, Landon. But this isn’t about trying to break you up so I can get you back—I know it’s too late. This is about knowing who Adam truly is and being real with yourself.”

“No one knows the future. And I choose him. I choose to believe Adam won’t hurt me.”

Max shook his head, regret carving out his features. “Fine. Just ask him about Josie. Ask him to tell you the truth. Then you decide if I’m trying to bullshit you or not. I’m done trying to convince you. Good luck withDumped.”

He spun on his heel and started to walk away. I called out his name. “Yeah?”

I hesitated only a few seconds. “When we come back, are you willing to try and forgive? Give us a chance to move forward with everyone?”

I was surprised at his sharp nod. “If you and Adam are still together, then yeah. It’s a month, right?”

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