Page 44 of Trust Issues
“Nothing at all?” Naima gestured wildly at me and looked at Max again.
“Nope.”
“Uh huh…why don’t I believe you?”
“I don’t know. I have noticed that you’re wearing the same thing you had on yesterday when I saw you so what’s going on there?” Excellent diversion. I couldn’t have done better myself.
WhywasNaima wearing the same clothes she had on last night?
“Yeah, and where are the bags you left out of here with?” Once the questions were pointed at her, she turned bright red and started stammering
“I just um…left them at Cadence’s. I’m going back over there later. I just came home to grab some things.”
“Going back? Why? It’s the weekend. I thought we were going to hang out?” I said putting my hands on my hips. Max’s stare honed in immediately, making me hot.
“I just need to…”
“You need to what, Naima?” Max smirked.
“Bye, yall. I’m not dealing with this.” She stormed off with a fake attitude to get away from us.
“I’m guessing she has no idea, huh?” Max leaned over and spoke close enough to my ear to give me chills. How could something so hot make me feel like ice?
“None. Let’s keep it that way. Plus after last night I’ve sworn off sex altogether. You have too, right?” I had to double check.
“Yeah. I have. I’m going to play ball with Owen. He should be here any second.” I looked out of the glass double doors and sure enough, Owen was headed into the building. He was also dressed in basketball shorts and a t-shirt but he didn’t look nearly as good in it as Max.
God, I was off my rocker.
“What’s up, Kyle?” Owen hugged me then pulled back and snapped his fingers. I was hoping he didn’t point out the bruises on my neck. “Shit, I forgot to bring your vacuum again. I’m gonna run and get it. I’ll be right back.” He hurried out of the doors and I watched him until he was out of sight.
“Let me get Barkley upstairs so I can feed him.” I don’t know why I told Max what I was getting ready to do. Maybe because I knew he would follow me.
“I’ll come with you. I like to sneak him after breakfast treats.” Just like that, we were riding up to our floor on the elevator together. Alone. I would have given anything for someone to slide their hand in between the closing doors and stand between us. But no. I was fated to stand next to Max who smelled like soap and good memories.
“Damn, did I do all that to your neck?” He gestured and I nodded while staring straight ahead. I didn’t know what would happen if I looked directly at him. I might combust or something dramatic like that.
“Sorry about that. I guess I got carried away.”
“No worries, Max. I’m sure it won’t happen again…right?” I had a tinge more hope in my voice than I wanted. Much more than I should have let slip out. I glanced into his coffee eyes and swallowed.
“If you don’t want it to then it won’t.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. He seemed as uncertain as I was.
“What if Idowant it to?” I asked with wide eyes. The elevator dinged and Max and I stepped into the hallway. It seemed so constricting. We seemed to be standing way too close.
“I guess we figure it out,” he said easily. I didn’t respond. I opened my door and walked in. I went straight to Barkley’s food and scooped some into his bowl. “Kyle, I meant to ask you in the lobby…did I leave my underwear in your room?” Just the mention of his underwear and I was picturing what was hidden away inside of them.
Okay. Maybe I needed to fuck Max one more time while I was sober just to get him out of my mind. You know how you have to hear the song that’s been running through your head incessantly before it stops?
Yeah. Like that.
“I’ll check,” I muttered, rushing to my bedroom before Naima heard what we were talking about. Sure enough, there on my floor hiding partially under the bed, were Max’s black boxer briefs. I snatched them up quickly and balled them up in my fist.
“Be careful where you leave your things,” I said to Max as I stepped out of the bedroom. He smirked and my heart fluttered to life.
“What things are you leaving over here?” Naima walked out of her bedroom and my eyes went wide as I hid my hand behind my back.
“Nothing,” Max and I blurted in unison. That really didn’t help matters. Naima locked onto us like a fucking pit bull. She lunged toward me in an attempt to see what I was hiding but I dodged her. We danced back and forth as I tried my hardest to keep Max’s draws out of sight. If she saw them, she’d know without a doubt what was going on. I backed all the way up from the hallway to the living room, pressing my back flat against the front door.
