Page 54 of The Next Of Us
Max who’d done so much for me and Audrey.
Max who loved my mother so utterly and completely.
Max who put his trust in me when he took me on, fresh from school.
My eyes rounded as they flew to his.
Max’s eyes sharpened on my face.Dropping his foot to the floor, he leaned in.“I’m proud of you.”
I swallowed, tried to force a smile, and failed.Dipping my chin, I blew out a breath attempting to regain my composure.
It shouldn’t have hit me so hard.
It wasn’t like it was the first time he’s said it.
My mom said it all the time.
Dini said it.
Even my kids said it.
But there’d never been a time I’d needed to hear it more desperately.
Reaching out with one of his long-ass arms, he clamped his hand down on my shoulder.“If you were mine, I couldn’t be any prouder.It’s been the privilege of a lifetime working alongside you,” he voiced gruffly.
Keeping my head down, I fought to control the gratitude that roared in my chest.Breathing deeply, I beat it back.
I huffed out a laugh, then drew in another breath.Swiping beneath my eyes, I exhaled roughly and joked, “Fuck me, Max.You’re going to have me bawling like a baby.”
His dimpled grin took a decade off his face.“For fuck’s sake, don’t do that.Your mother will flay me alive.”
21
Roots of Us
Nadine
The damp chill outside seeped between the cracks around the front door and the perimeter of windows that fairly begged to be replaced.
Since we began talking about making changes, I noticed all the ways our lifestyle drained our finances.This big, old house we no longer filled.Payments, insurance, and repairs on two vehicles we rarely drove, not to mention subsidizing Thalia and Brandon’s vehicles.The steadily growing list of desperately needed renovations.The lawn tractor for the acre backyard no one used, the one I wanted to hoard for future grandchildren.
I huffed out a laugh.
A bittersweet longing to relive days long gone through my children’s children burned inside me.When had my priorities switched?When had I turned my attention to living with and for them instead of withhimand for us?
For myself.
Snagging the blanket off the back of the couch, I curled up and I waited.
Two hours later, my feet hit the floor before the deadbolt slid fully across.
“Aaron!”Lunging for the front door, I threw myself in his arms.Arms that I realized had never, not once, failed to catch me.
And the first time he needed me, I walked out the door.
“Hey!”He stumbled back, closing his arms around me.“Are you okay?”
Tunneling my fingers into his hair, I pressed my nose into the curve of his neck and breathed him in.“I’m so sorry, Aaron.”
