Page 8 of Property of Max
Carefully, I lift my brother out of his chair, cradling his weight as best I can. One hundred and forty pounds of slack muscle pulls against me, heavier than it should be, but I lay him gently on a folded sheet in the grass.
“That’s it,” I murmur, more to myself than to him, brushing the hair from his forehead with trembling fingers. I force a smile so he won’t see the worry tightening my chest.
But the truth gnaws at me. Micah is heavy, but manageable. His chair, though? Five hundred pounds of dead weight.
And somehow, I’ve got to get it into the van.
Taking a deep breath, I grip the handles and pull with every ounce of strength I have.
Nothing.
The chair doesn’t move so much as an inch.
Ten minutes later, sweat runs down my back, and my arms tremble from the effort. Not a single budge. Five hundred pounds of steel and silence…immovable.
I force myself to stop, to kneel beside Micah. His lips are wet, his breath shallow. Lying him flat makes things worse. Without the help of gravity to help push it down his throat, his mouth fills quickly with saliva. My chest tightens as I grab the suction kit, slipping the tube carefully into place and drawing out what his body can’t handle on its own.
“Easy, buddy,” I murmur, brushing a hand across his hair. “I’ve got you.”
His breathing evens a little, but I can still see the worry in his eyes. He knows. He always knows.
I swallow hard and paste on a smile I don’t feel. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just catching my breath. We’ll figure this out.”
“Mama, I asked this man to help you.”
My heart nearly leaps from my chest. I whip my head up and find a man…no, not just a man, but a very sexy man…standing there with my daughter’s small hand tucked trustingly in his.
“Brianna Marie,” I scold, surging to my feet and tugging her away from him. “You were supposed to stay in the van. And youdefinitelydon’t go walking up to strange men without me. No…strike that. You don’t do itever.You have no idea if someone is going to be kind or cruel.”
Bree frowns, glancing between us. “But, Mama, you needed help… and he looks strong.”
“Not the point, Bree.” I crouch down, holding her chin so her eyes meet mine. “Don’t do it again. Promise me.”
Her lips wobble, then she sighs. “Promise.”
Only then do I let her go, my pulse still hammering. I turn back toward the man, ready to tell him we don’t need his help, when I make the mistake of really looking at him. Broad shoulders, hard jaw, dark eyes that miss nothing. The kind of man women dream about, and the kind of man I can’t afford to.
“Your mama’s right, pretty girl,” the man says, his voice steady but kind. “Not everyone you meet is a good person. Be a good girl and do what she says so she always knows you’re safe.”
“Yes, sir,” Bree sighs, shoulders drooping. She peeks up at me, guilt written all over her face. “I’m sorry, Mama. I only wanted to help.”
I pull her into my arms, hugging her tight against my chest. “It’s alright, honey. I understand. And I love your heart. Now, go sit next to your uncle until I say otherwise.”
She nods and scurries back toward Micah, leaving me alone with the stranger.
“What can I do to help?” he asks.
A nervous laugh slips from me before I can stop it. “Got a three-hundred-foot extension cord and about six hours to spare?” I gesture toward the heavy chair. “His chair died because I’m an idiot and forgot to charge it.”
The man shakes his head slightly, his expression softening. “You’re not an idiot. I’m sure your mind was elsewhere.”
He crouches down beside the chair, running a hand over the frame like he’s measuring it up. “How about we both take a side?”
I shake my head, biting my lip. “This thing weighs at least five hundred pounds. I couldn’t even get the tires to roll, let alone lift it. I don’t think there’s a chance I can even manage half.”
His gaze flicks up to mine, steady, unbothered. He grabs his phone, presses something, and holds it to his ear. “Brother, you still nearby? Head back and meet me at the park. Need your help. Yep. See ya.”
“Mister, are you kind?” Bree asks from her spot beside Micah. Her little voice is curious, not shy at all. “You said not everyone is. But are you?”
