Page 40 of Until We Kiss

That one nearly breaks me.

But I don’t leave. I study each image. One after the other. Until my breathing becomes easier. Until I don’t feel like I’m going to break the fuck down.

Give me a fact, bro.

I want to put my life back together.

9

I stop on the boardwalk,between the white tents, clutching Carter’s triangular to-go box from the bakery, and pull in a nervous breath. Last night, I bailed on Maxim. Just turned around and booked it down the stairs without even a word.

It was a dick thing to do. A thing that cocky-Theo might have done without thinking about it if he’d somehow gotten into that situation before.

But I don’t want to be that guy anymore.

I find Maxim pulling a dolly with two kegs over the rise to the boardwalk, a white bar towel over his shoulder, his inked arms straining with the weight. I set Carter’s pie on the ledge and help him pull it the last few inches, my arms straining with the weight as I keep it off my knee. The kegs rattle as they hit the boardwalk.

“Good timing.” Maxim raises an eyebrow. “I was in need of a man built like you.”

“Uh, yeah.” I pause, then reach out and grab Carter’s pie off the ledge because I don’t want it to fall.

Shit, what do I say?

He leans on the dolly. “Laia’s.”

“What?”

“Laia’s Pies.” He nods at the box. “Best pie on the island. You’ll enjoy it.”

“It’s for… he’s… Carter.”

Maxim’s lips lift faintly. “I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.”

“I, uh…‍” Shit. “I’m sorry about last night.”

“Relax, handsome.” He tilts his head, dark eyes studying me. “Did you make the right choice for you?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“Then we’re all good.”

My thumb presses into the top of the pie box. “Thanks.”

He pushes off the dolly. “For what?”

“Opening my eyes, I guess.” I kinda want to hug the guy, although that might be weird.

He doesn’t understand what he did for me. I’m not sure ifIunderstand. But it feels like he’s on the list of things that brought me to Carter, and that’s making my throat tighten.

So, I just… step forward and wrap my free arm around him.

I hug him, and he laughs softly as he hugs me back.

“You know,” he whispers, close to my ear, “when you’re buying pie for a man, there’s probably something worthwhile there.”

“I hope so,” I say as I step away.

“Good for you.” He sets his foot on the bottom rung of the dolly and tips it. “And good luck, Theo.”

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