Maybe for Halloween...
My door flew open. Not a big deal because it wasn’t closed tight anyway. I’d shut and lock if I was feeling antisocial. Max strode into the room, still grubby from working at the garage all afternoon. “This might sound odd, but...I want to take you out.”
“Like garbage? For an airing, maybe? Also, hey, honey, how was your day? You look all grimy and what-not. Makes me want to loofah you.”
“Is that a verb?”
“It is not. Frankly you look like you could use a sound loofah-ing. Was it a bad day?” I hopped off the bed and closed the distance between us, clutching the front of his jumpsuit to pull him in for a kiss. I’d die before admitting this, but his gray work coveralls, complete with MAX patch, were so retro they were adorable. If my ass wasn’t bigger than his, I’d steal a pair. Sometimes he just wore a work shirt and pants, but for really dirty jobs he busted these out.
“I haven’t even washed my hands yet. Can’t touch you.”
“Even hotter,” I whispered.
He smelled like he’d been working on cars in the late summer heat, but his scent was so familiar that I didn’t mind. I kissed him deeply, savoring the hint of salt on his lips. Max exhaled slowly, fingers curling into fists at his side as he resisted the urge to reach for me. I pulled back with a teasing smile.
“You’re heartless. Unless you actually plan to loofah me.”
“Is anyone else home?” It never left my mind how quickly the others could get fed up. Angus and Kia never signed on to live with a couple, and sex always complicated any dynamic.
“Yeah, Angus is in his room.” Judging by his glum tone, Max realized that shower sex dreams had to wait.
“So you want to take me out, huh. For an official first date?”
“Yeah. Is that dumb?”
“Well, no. Dating is what people do. Well, those who are dating.”
“So will you? Go out with me.”
I grinned up at him. “Technically, I already am. We do everything backward, you know? But it sounds fun. When?”
“Friday night, clear your schedule, because you’re all mine.”
“Okay. Can’t wait to see what you have planned for us.” Giving him a little shove, I followed him toward the door. “Come back when you’re clean.”
“Fine. But just so you know, I’ll be all naked, soapy and wet, thinking of you. When nature takes its course, you have only yourself to blame.”
“Blame, my ass. I’ll take credit. Also, pics or it didn’t happen.”
Max grinned. “You serious? I’ll totally—”
“Get out.” I shut the door in his face before he tempted me to be wild, irresponsible and inconsiderate to poor Angus, who probably didn’t want to listen to us banging in his bathroom.
Still, I went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. Max lit me up from normal temperature to white-hot in ten seconds. Somehow, I didn’t think he was what my mom had in mind when she bugged me to get over Eli, get out there and meet a nice boy. With a faint sigh, I texted her my usual reassurance that I was sober and doing homework. She replied instantly, making me wonder what she actually did with her time. Before I was born she’d worked but never since, not even after I left home. I had some vague memory of clubs and coffee klatches, but that left her way too much opportunity to obsess over my life choices.
I opened the text. When are you coming home again?
Since I was there a month ago, I could be forgiven for the impatience as I typed back, Winter break probably. Talk to you later.
My phone beeped again but I didn’t read the message. The time on the screen reminded me I had fifteen minutes to get to Evan’s. So I banged on the bathroom door.
“Did you change your mind?” Max yelled. “Because I already started without you.”
From Angus’s room came a muffled groan. “God, why?”
Ignoring him, I called, “Then stop. I need a ride.”
“I can take a break if it’s not far,” Angus offered.
That would’ve been fine, except I heard Max cussing and dropping things in the bathroom. I smirked at Angus. “I think that means he wants to go.”
“He’s weirdly possessive about you. I mean, he knows I won’t try anything, so...”
“Her time is mine,” Max said flatly.
“Dial it down and let’s go.”
“I’m hungry,” he complained, following me out of the apartment and down the stairs.
“Whose fault is that? Angus could’ve driven me to rehearsal.” But that would’ve meant missing out on this. A surge of warmth went through me as he handed me his spare helmet. Once he got settled, I swung on behind him and wrapped my arms around his back.
“Is it so wrong that I want to be with you?”
“Nah. It’s adorable. I don’t even mind when you growl to warn other people away. But if you even think about peeing on me, all bets are off.”
“Gotcha, no water sports. Hold on tight, angel.”
“Really?”
“So that’s another for the no pile?”
“I’m afraid so, champ.”
Max made a face over his shoulder at me. “You’re not even trying. Didn’t you call me ‘sport’ the other night?”
“Yeah, I’m bad at this. But I’m great at sex, so that’s a win for you. All the orgasms, none of the embarrassing nicknames. Cuddle monkey.”
“I won’t rest until I’ve dubbed you something permanently precious.”
“You could call me precious, as long as you can do the sinister dog laugh.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s an old cartoon, Eli used to watch it online. I’ll show you later.”
“If Eli loved it, I can’t wait,” he said wryly.
I can’t believe he’s jealous of me, Eli said. He’s already had sex with you more than I have. Plus, y’know, he’s got a pulse.
“Cut it out.” The weird thing: I was talking to both Max and Eli, how trippy was that.
“Where am I going?” I gave him Evan’s address and he started the bike, roaring off with a certainty that told me he knew the way.
It had been a while since I rode with him; I strangled a possessive impulse to demand he never let anyone else on the back of his motorcycle. Maybe I’d been watching too much Sons of Anarchy but it felt like that privilege should be reserved for me. Hell, next time he came out with some crazy hands-off statement, I’d even say so.