Page 101 of Worlds Collide

“This morning.” He’s sounding more and more like the Wolf I know, short and to the point. I like that.

“Tell me your highlights from New York,” I demand.

“An easy one was teaching Theo’s little sister how to play the guitar when she was home on break during the summer. Apparently she’s never struggled with learning anything, so it was pretty funny to see her absolutely lose her shit and smash a guitar like a true rock star.”

“Seriously?” I ask with a chuckle. “Did she eventually get it right?”

“Nope, she gave up right then and there and we went for consolation cookies at Theo’s bakery.”

“What else?” I want to know all of it.

“Getting Max Jr. of course. I just call him Junior if I’m honest, but meeting him, bringing him home, and getting to see Mike and Theo’s big dogs being playful with him.”

“Oh, no. Did they hurt him?” I’m actually worried. Oscar and Tony are huge.

“Nah, they were always gentle. Nowadays, Junior can hold his own. He’s not as big of course but he’s gotten a lot taller.”

“I really can’t wait to meet him. What else?”

I hear about every tidbit Wolf remembers on the relatively short drive to Bel Air, and I laugh at pretty much everything he says.

The Delicia is deserted when we arrive, and I see it’s just as empty on the inside when we walk in.

“Wha—” I don’t even get the word out before Wolf is greeting the woman who meets us and asks us to follow her. We arrive at a balcony that has the best view I’ve ever seen of LA. I can only stare at the massive area of twinkling lights with the right side completely black since that’s where the ocean is.

I startle when Wolf places one hand on my hip and turn to seehis face is right there next to mine. I take advantage of it and steal another quick kiss—cause I can now.

“This is awesome.”

“Glad you like it,” he says seriously, and I can tell that he is.

It becomes pretty evident that he rented out the restaurant when a server comes out with two glasses of Agua de Horchata, and we settle in for the best Mexican tacos in town.

“So how is the residency going?” Wolf asks after they bring us the first couple of dishes, and so I tell him about being behind because I missed so much time, but that my bosses are all giving me some leeway.

“Some of the other residents hate me for all of it,” I tell him, and shrug. “But I’ve always had people who hated me pretty close by so it’s not really a bother for me.” He frowns darkly from across the table but I know it’s not directed at me.

“They hate you because your bosses suspended you for something that wasn’t your fault and are now not being dicks about it? How the hell is that fair?” he growls the question out.

I can’t help but smile, but reach for his hand and squeeze tightly when he takes mine. “It’s really okay, Max. Now, you tell me what happened with Derek. All Hawk told me is you guys can now be in a room together and something about grunting being your love language?” I’m seriously confused by that one even three months after Hawk tried to explain.

“Well...” He trails off and lets out a huge breath. At that moment I realize I’m being pretty damn pushy, and he’s already been so open today. No need to make him talk even more.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” I rush to say.

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine.” But I can see he really doesn’t want to get into it so I get his eyes back on mine with a harder squeeze to his hand.

“Wolf, you don’t have to talk to me about something just because I ask. I know you’re not the most talkative guy in the world?—”

“But I’m trying to be more?—”

“You don’t need to try,” I interrupt and get one of the growls Hawk was telling me about. I snicker and shake my head at him.

“Stop interrupting me,” he tells me.

“You interrupted me first,” I point out as I lean back. This time he stays silent, so I keep explaining what I meant. “I fell in love with you while you were spiraling and very poorly dealing with everything about your life changing, Wolf.” Time to get serious now. “I fell in love with you like that. Snarky, broody, quiet, and yes, an asshole. I don’t need you to be a prince charming. I don’t need you to talk about your feelings when you don’t want to. I don’t need you to tell me absolutely everything when you’d rather do something else.”

He’s frowning again, and after a long moment where he’s clearly trying to figure out if I’m telling him the truth or not, he looks away at the view. I don’t blame him, it really is stunning.

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