Page 126 of Invisible String
He sighs. “I can never stay angry with you for long. It’s already forgotten.”
My gaze is on my fingers, playing with the hem of his shirt.
“Look at me.”
I do.
“What else did Andrew tell you? It seems he’s out for blood.”
Now that he mentioned it, Andrew did it on purpose. He put us against one another.
“Just that. I slapped him and left.”
His head falls back into a beautiful, heart-throbbing laugh once he regains himself. “That’s my girl,” he praises in his husky voice. “I would pay to see that.”
“Max, why do you both dislike one another?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
MAX
“No surprise he didn’t tell you. He’d only reveal what benefits him.” I place a kiss on her cheek, then her chin. “Rainey, when my mother died, my father blamed me for her death. His pain was so deep he couldn’t see clearly. He became an abusive drunk. One day, a teacher at school saw marks on me and called social services on my dad. They took me away and placed me in foster care. He never fought for me. I went from home to home until the age of eighteen, when I aged out of the system.”
She tilts her head. Her eyes grow soft and glisten with moisture while her fingers intertwine with mine. I did not want to tell her this yet, but I’d rather it be me than Andrew talking about my life like he’s lived it. “I’ve lived in different homes; some were nice families, some were not. I’ve had foster parents who have physically abused me. I’ve been starved. I ran away several times. When I went to Highland Academy, I was living in Andrew’s home. He was my foster brother.”
She’s thrown back. Her brows pinch into a bunch. “What? For how long, Max? They never said anything about fostering anyone.”
“For the months I was there. Andrew found us kissing that day.” The wheels on her pretty face start turning.
“You never came back after that.” She grips my shoulders. “What did he do?”
I rub her back to calm her worries. “He told your dad, who threw a fit to Andrew’s parents. He didn’t want his daughter with a foster kid like me. Andrew has always had a hard-on for you. He got rid of me. They sent me away to another home. Back to Vegas.”
She kisses my lips so hard. “Oh my gosh, Max. I fucking hate them. Fuck the Petersons. It all makes sense.” Rainey wraps her hands around my neck. “I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through.” Tears swim in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,tesoro. Things happen for a reason.”
“Max, you said your dad is still alive. Did he ever know what happened to you all these years?”
There had always been a time in my life when hope spread like a wildflower that my dad would show, clean and sober, to rescue me and apologize for all he put me through. Those days never came because he never cared about my well-being.
“No, I don’t think he knew. He’s always drunk, so I doubt it. I still visit him, and nothing has changed. My mom’s death killed him.”
Rainey’s mouth is all over my neck, nibbling and kissing me, making me so damn heated.
“I’m so angry at your dad, too, and my dad? He’s going to get an earful from me. Max?” She lifts her head from under my neck. “Why didn’t you tell me this years ago at the cabin?”
So many reasons.
“A lot of reasons. One in particular; I had a lot of issues. I was homeless, unstable, and grew up with no warmth, except from Carlos, and that wasn’t until I was sixteen. As a man who never accepts handouts, I’ve always been used to being on my ownand looking out for myself. When I went to the cabin, it wasn’t for a vacation. I had no job, nothing. I was unhappy.” My throat works. I’ve never told anyone this. I had a moment of self-pity, and I wasn’t thinking straight. “I felt I had nothing to live for, was in a dark place, and thought about ending it all. Then you, my beautiful girl, showed up, and my purpose in life became you. It always was, Rainey. I just didn’t think I’d see you again.”
Tears well in her eyes, and I wipe them.
“I didn’t want to tell you about my childhood because I knew I was leaving to come back here, and you had school. The last thing I wanted was to talk about it. I’m a private type of guy.”
She nods, wiping her tears. “I understand you didn’t want to tell me until you were ready to share it.”
I nod and wrap my arms around her, taking in her wonderful scent. I missed her terribly over the past four days. I had been training in the mountains with Carlos when Andrew called to tell me all about how Rainey tasted.
