Page 39 of In The Dark
“Max? Are you still in there?” There’s a knock on the bathroom door and a voice on the other side. Max’s eyes meet mine. She points at me then mimes zipping her lips, and I get the hint. “Are you talking to someone? Please don’t tell me it’s Brian.”
“It’s just a video I’m watching,” she answers. “I’ll be right out!”
“’Kay. I grabbed some PopTarts for us to have on the drive over.”
The other voice disappears, and Max’s shoulders sag. “Sorry. That’s my roommate, Skyler.”
“Am I your dirty secret, angel?”
“Not intentionally and not because I’m embarrassed of you or anything.” Her blush deepens. “I’m going to tell her. It’s just nice to enjoy the moment, you know?”
“My roommate knows about you,” I say, and her mouth pops open. “What? I’ve been talking about you nonstop since the first night you stopped by my haunted house.”
“You have?”
“I told you I’m obsessed with you.” I flash her a grin. “Who’s Brian?”
“My ex-boyfriend. The one who cheated. A girl I work with told me his car was in the parking lot at school recently, and I swear I saw him drive by our house last night. It was dark, though, and I can’t be certain.”
“Huh.” I frown, not liking the sound of that at all. “That’s odd.”
“Very odd, but I’m probably imagining things.”
“Do you have a security system at your place? Cameras? An alarm?” I ask, even though I know the answers.
“No.” Max shakes her head. “Sky and I keep saying we need to install something, but I haven’t had any time. It’s on my list to get to during the holiday break.” She smiles and looks at the camera. “I should go.”
“Make sure you wear sunscreen.”
“Okay, daddy.” She rolls her eyes, and my cock twitches under the sheet. “If you say so.”
“Sorry for caring about your wellbeing. It would be a shame if I had to put you over my knee and teach you a lesson.”
“And what lesson is that?”
“Talking back to your elders.”
Max laughs. “Have a good day, Hunter.”
With one last smile my way, she waves and ends the FaceTime call, and I stare at the ceiling, positively smitten.
“It’sabout time you got up.” Leo slides a bowl of cereal my way when I make it into the kitchen and taps the milk sitting on the counter. “I’m too tired to make something special.”
“What are you talking about? Cheerios are the way to my heart.” I cover the cereal in milk and join him at the island on one of the barstools. “How are you able to get through the day without drinking any coffee? I feel like I need to submerge myself in a gallon of caffeine just to eat my food.”
“Pure adrenaline, baby.” He shovels down half a blueberry muffin, crumbs spewing from his mouth. “You’re on the late shift tonight, right?”
“Yeah.” I yawn and drop my chin in my hand. “I don’t clock in until six, but I’m going to be busy all day.”
“With?”
“Max.”
“Oh, shit. Is she coming over? Are you spending the afternoon together? Do I get to meet her? Please tell me you’re taking her on a date and not fucking her on another table.Wooing, Hunter. Remember?”
“I remember.” I take my time eating a bite of cereal. “I’m doing none of the above. This requires things more along the lines of breaking and entering.”
“Of course it does. What grand gesture do you have up your sleeve?”
