Chapter 22

I tensed when I saw Max’s familiar, broad-shouldered silhouette walking up the path outside the house. He looked worn out, beaten down, and entirely dejected, with a rucksack similar to the one I’d packed slung over one shoulder. Behind him in the driveway I could see his pickup parked beside Rick’s and loaded up with even more of his belongings.

Rick opened the door for him and started to say something, but Max cut him off.

“Not in the mood to talk, man.” He came in and tossed the bag on the floor before glancing at me but not saying a word. He didn’t look angry, though—just tired.

“What happened?” I asked, unable to disguise my anxiety. I decided immediately after the words came out that I didn’t really give a shit about my mother, or the night before. I was willing to trust Rick and give Max the benefit of the doubt, particularly now that I could see him.

Max collapsed into an overstuffed armchair and rested his head back, staring at the ceiling. “Well, your Mom got the point of your little gift, let’s just say that. I spent half the day doing damage control when she threatened to call the cops and have both me and Rick arrested.”

“What! But I said I was willing!”

“I know. She has nothing to go on, but she was damn upset about it. The rest of the argument was about the divorce and all the bullshit she could dole out with that as evidence. I finally convinced her to wait until she talked to you.” He let out an amused chuckle followed by a sigh. “You should have seen her face. My God was that vindicating. I did feel bad for her, though.”

“So…you weren’t with her last night? I mean, I saw her in bed with you before I left. That’s kind of why I did it.”

He raised his head and looked at me, brows raised. “Jesus, Casey.” He swiped both hands over his face. “I can’t imagine how that made you feel. She ambushed me in my sleep. The whole night was pretty damn surreal, to be honest. After I put you to bed, I took something to help me sleep. When I woke up I was sure it was ~you~ straddling me and trying to ride me. The fact that I said your name when your mom was trying to fuck me was what set her off after that. I’ve been awake since about Midnight or so.”

“Why did Tanya even come back last night?” Rick asked. “I thought you said she’d given you until tonight to move your things out. Not to mention she’s with someone else now, isn’t she?”

He shrugged. “She said she wanted a farewell fuck, for old times’ sake. But the good sex Tanya and I had was history years ago. I don’t envy the new guy, though. And I’m so fucking grateful Casey inherited her dad’s personality.”

“My dad? You didn’t even know my dad, so how would you know?” I asked.

“I know enough about him from stories your mom told me before he died, and I found out more when I looked up his old squad mates. You’re definitely not like your mom, you never have been. That’s probably why I love you.”

I was tempted to ask him exactly how different I was from her, but decided I really didn’t want to know. Mom and I hadn’t gotten along since I’d grown breasts. Max had ended up stuck between us through so many vitriolic arguments. Only half of them did he ever wind up coming out on my side of things, but he almost always had a good reason for taking her side, no matter how much I hated the fact.

Max’s gaze drifted lazily over me and Rick, then moved to the paused image on the TV screen. He let out a soft snort. “A little lesson in what not to do, there,” he said. “I can’t believe you still have this recording.”

“How long has it been since you watched this?” Rick asked.

“I burned my copy years ago.”

“Yet you kept your gear. Why? Because you hoped we’d find another someday, but it never happened? Casey, tell him what you told me.”

My eyes stung with tears again. I was relieved Max was talking to me but still anxious. I wasn’t sure I could get all the words out a second time, but I took a deep breath anyway.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t come back,” I said, struggling to keep the desperation out of my voice. “I’m just afraid I’ll never live up to the girl in that video, because I’m so new at this. When I thought you might be back with Mom, even after what she did—and what ~we~ did—it hurt. I don’t want it to end, Daddy. Not when it just started.”

His shoulders sagged when I finished. Just as I was about to escape upstairs to cry I found myself pulled into his lap and wrapped in his embrace.

“Jesus, Casey. I’m such a fucking fool. The last two days meant everything to me, too. I just couldn’t reconcile it at first because—Christ—you’ve always been my little girl and now you’re very much ~not~ that anymore.”

“I want to be what she was to you,” I said softly into his chest, pointing my chin toward the television.

He grabbed the remote control and killed the power with a curse.

“Screw Aurora. Forget you watched that, all right, baby? You’re two very different women and ~you ~are the woman I want.” His voice was gruff and intense in my ear, his stubble rough against my cheek. I took a deep breath and was calmed by his warm, familiar scent.

“Show me, please.” I gazed up at him, hoping my face wasn’t too puffy from crying. In spite of the dark mood, simply being held tight against his solid body had caused a low heat to grow deep inside me.

He slid his hands up my back, over my sweatshirt and cupped both sides of my face.

“I would do anything for you,” he said softly, and my heart pounded when his lips pressed against mine. I savored the kiss, hoping it meant that he wouldn’t abandon my cravings for the sake of propriety. He pulled away and gave me a small smile. “There’s just one question I need to ask you,” he said. “What do you want to try first?”

I blinked at him, then looked over at Rick, who leaned against the sideboard, hands braced on the edge. His lips were parted in anticipation of my words, his knuckles white from clenching the wood of the exquisite piece of furniture that I knew he’d built.

They both looked so beautiful, and they were hanging on my words.

“I just want to be with you both. Maybe make it up as we go—find our own rules. Is that okay?”

“That’s the general idea, Case,” Max said, giving me a wicked smirk. “Remember your safe word.”