Page 36 of Waiting for Sunshine

She must be showing a house because she only sends strictly emoji texts when she’s really busy.

Leah

See you in 20 Shaney.

I’m supposed to be meeting Leah at the gym in 20 minutes. Shit.

“Umm... I gotta go.” I sigh, not wanting to leave this conversation unfinished.

“Yeah, Tucker’s actually outside waiting for me.” He clears his throat and takes a step toward me. He plants a kiss on my forehead and then turns to head down the stairs. I have no idea what he’s thinking right now, and it’s going to drive me absolutely crazy. Once he’s gone, I pick up my phone and text Leah back.

Me

I just have to change and I’ll be on my way!

Thanks to the fan I set up in here, the painting is already almost done. I grab my gym bag from the corner and put on my light blue workout leggings and matching sports bra, I pair them with my favorite white workout sneakers and throw my paint sweatshirt back on. I had been wearing my hair in a messy bun on top of my head and wrapped a bandana around it to act as a headband. So I left it alone. When I walk back over to the painting I touch a few spots to make sure it’s dried. I grab it off the easel and pick up my bag, throwing it over my shoulder to head downstairs.

When I get down to Max’s office, I set the painting on the small table behind his desk chair and grab a post-it from his desk. I scrawl on it and post it on the painting before heading out to meet Leah.

CHAPTER17

MAX

This woman was goingto completely break me, and I am becoming more and more willing to let her. She was right, about everything. She let herself feel the worst things in life so that she can welcome the good things. I wanted that. I wanted her joy, her goodness, her pure sunshine to completely overtake me. I was more than ready to make this girl mine. Thanks to Tucker and whoever was on the other end of her phone notifications, today wasn’t that day. But it sure as shit would be soon.

“What the hell took you so long in there, man? You finally make a move?” Tucker pesters. I run my hand over my face, trying to hide the smile creeping up.

“Oh shit, you did, didn’t you?” Tucker exclaims.

“No, you fucking golden retriever, I didn’t. Will you just drive?” I say holding my hand out towards the road.

“What the fuck, Maxwell. Have you seriously not realized yet how mad you are for that girl?” he asks, clearly irritated by me.

“Can we please just go?” I plead.

We headed to the range and my mind stays on one thing the whole time. I think about everything that’s happened in my life since I met Shane a few weeks ago. The day I met her, those ocean-blue eyes completely captivated me. Her smile and fiery attitude pulled me in within minutes. When I learned Ruby had hired her at the bar I was curious to see how long it would take for the things I’d felt right off the bat about her to fade. Most of my female interests last a day, maybe two. But every time I am around her, I only want more.

When I saw her in danger I felt violent, when I saw her getting hit on I felt jealous. When I see her smile I feel warm. When I feel her touch I’m at ease. There’s nothing about her that is a fleeting feeling. I am still scared shitless to let myself give in to her. I am still the guy who’s lost too much. But I’m finally starting to see that Shane Thompson is worth the risk.

* * *

NEW YEARS EVE

The bar has somehow become a hot spot for people to spend New Year's Eve, and it is absolutely fucking packed in here. We have everyone who is on staff working and we are still having to send people away at the door so we don’t break the fire code. People are coming in with the craziest outfits on. Sequin pants, feathered tops, light-up cowboy hats. It looks like Big Bird got a hold of a bedazzler. But the person who holds my attention all night is wearing a simple Chattahoochies t-shirt and jeans that fit so tight they look painted on.

Shane Thompson has something about her that sends me into overdrive. I’ve had to fight like hell to treat her the same way I treat every other employee on staff at the bar. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever actually accomplished that. We’ve had moments here and there when it would be just the two of us and my guard was down. I can say with complete certainty, she’s the only one to ever make it happen, and she doesn’t even know it.

Shane takes a chance to go dance with her friends during a minor lull, and I can’t peel my eyes away from her. Ruby is behind the bar, Heather and Marco are running food and drinks on the floor and Shane is going wherever she is needed tonight. Once I notice Ruby starting to get slammed again I take it upon myself to let Shane know she needs to help. I walk over to her and lean my head down, bringing my lips to her ear.

“Ruby is starting to get slammed, why don’t you go help her out?” I was trying to be sure that she could hear me, but by the look on her face, I’m assuming it came across as harsher than I intended.

“Yeah, of course.” She looks over at the bar and then turns to tell her friends she’ll catch up with them later. She walks past me and over to the bar. When I turn back around Taylor, Leah, and Lauren are staring at me with smirks on their faces. I gave a look as if to sayWhat?

“Be good to our girl,” Taylor says, winking at me before dragging her friends further into the dance floor. Well, that’s not what I was expecting. I turn back around to face the bar and Shane works it like she’s been doing it her whole life. You would have never guessed her second night here was a total shit show, but she’s come a long way since then.

The smile on her face when she talks to guests or when Ruby whispers something to her could light up a room. The same way it did when she helped me out on Christmas Day. I swear every straggler and biker that came in here that night fell in love with her. They weren’t the only ones. I shake off the thought before walking over to greet Tucker.

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