Jayded (26 page)

We jump in my car. I allow it to warm up for a moment before taking off.
“
Nah, that
’
s not weird. I think that
’
s pretty non-asshole-ish of you,
”
I joke.
“
But seriously, man, if you like her, then go for it. No one
’
s gonna judge you, especially not me.
”

He looks more at ease.
“
So, tell me the truth. What
’
s up with you and Maxine? I see this crazy unsaid connection between you. The woman lights up when you step in her path and vice versa.
”

Damn, he
’
s noticed. Does that mean everyone else does as well? No. Jeff
’
s just extra-observant when it comes to me because we
’
ve known each other for so long. He knows what
’
s behind my every thought and behind my every move. I seem to forget this little notion.

I hang my head in defeat, then pull out of the parking lot.
“
Max and I have been hanging out a lot. I totally dig her. She
’
s a cool chick. The more I
’
m with her, the more I don
’
t want to be without her. I mean, not in a girlfriend, falling-in-love way, but a good, fun, friendly way. Does that make sense?
”
I ask him.

Jeff snickers.
“
Yeah, makes plenty of sense. You guys are having hot sex. I knew it, man!
”

I slap my hand over my face.
“
Okay, okay. Just keep it to yourself. Can you do that?
”

“
Of course I can. What do you think, I
’
m gonna blurt it out all around work? Beth would love that one!
”
he says.
“
Is she still acting like a psycho?
”

I turn into the deli down the street from work.
“
Max was at dinner with us last night, and I saw Casey, Beth
’
s best friend, there. She told Beth about Max being at the family dinner, and Beth had the nerve to ask me why she was there!
”

Jeff exhales loudly.
“
Wow. She is freaking nuts.
”

“
Tell me about it,
”
I respond.

We order our subs and take a seat in the booth.
“
So what
’
s up with that girl Tracey you were talking to?
”
I question him.

“
She was just something to pass the time. Tracey
’
s already gone like a leaf in the wind,
”
Jeff tells me.

I shove my mouth full of meatball sub. I can
’
t help but groan. This thing tastes like a piece of heaven right now. I finish chewing.
“
Real poetic, man,
”
I tease.

Jeff swallows his sub and then takes a long pull at his water.
“
So, what about the age thing? Max is like ten years older than you. You don
’
t feel strange that she
’
s a cougar?
”

I knew this had to come out at some point. I just didn
’
t think it would come out so soon.
“
What? A cougar? Are you out of your mind? She
’
s nine years older, and I could give two shits about her age,
”
I spit out, a little pissed he even asked.
“
Why the fuck does that even matter?
”

He holds his hands up in surrender, not wanting to be shot at anymore.
“
It doesn
’
t. Relax,
”
Jeff chuckles.
“
Hey, as long as it doesn
’
t bother you, then who cares?
”

I nod my head, hoping that
’
s the truth. The last thing I want is for him to say something to make her feel uncomfortable this weekend. We get back to the office. I clock in and open my email to write to Max, but I already have an email waiting. I can
’
t help but crack a smile.

“
Tonight?
”
she asks.

“
My place? After here?
”
I reply.

“
I
’
ll be there. Chicken parm tonight?

”

I can
’
t help snickering to myself.
“
Anything you want.

”

I send.

The rest of the day goes by pretty steady until my desk phone rings, and it
’
s my father
’
s office.

“
What
’
s up, Dad?
”

“
I want you to come into my office.
”
He hangs up before I can respond.

Shit! Not exactly how I want to end my day. Maybe he
’
s calmed down since this morning. He seemed okay during the meeting, but God only knows what he wants to speak with me about. I head over to his office and shut the door behind me.

I sit down on his couch, adjacent to him.
“
What
’
s up, Dad?
”
I ask again.

“
I
’
d like you to tell me what
’
s going on between you and Junior.
”
Phew! For a second I thought he was going to ask about Max.

“
Nothing. He
’
s just a dick.
”

“
Watch your mouth, son,
”
he scolds, as if talking to a little boy.

I grab the pen on his coffee table and begin twisting it in my hands.
“
I
’
m not a little kid anymore, Dad. You can
’
t just tell me to
‘
watch my mouth.
’
You need to be asking Junior this question, not me. He
’
s the one who has the problem with me! I am so sick of explaining this to everyone!
”
I screech.

My father raises his voice slightly.
“
You two need to find a way to figure it out. Eventually, this agency will be left to the both of you, and you have to be a united front. Our authors, as well as employees, need to see this now. It builds trust, and when it
’
s time for you both to take over, there will be no concerns or questions asked,
”
he clarifies.

I lean back on the couch.
“
Dad, that isn
’
t going to be for years to come. I mean, seriously, you never even asked me if this is what I want. I don
’
t even know if I
’
m staying in Rochester for years to come. You have Junior, and now you have Max. I don
’
t need the pressure,
”
I tell him honestly. I stand up and walk to the door, but before I leave, I turn to him.
“
Can you just be my dad for once and not my boss?
”
I leave it at that and walk out of his office.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Max

I shut down my computer and head out of the office. I hear the buzz about McGregor
’
s as I walk through the aisles. Mondays and Thursdays are definitely a popular night with Saunders Agency employees. I
’
d so much rather spend a quiet night alone with Kyle. I
’
ve been dying for that chicken parmesan ever since he mentioned it, and I want to take a look at the photo I bought. I feel like I haven
’
t seen it in so long.

I almost stop at the liquor store to grab a bottle of wine, but I remember he was saving that bottle of red for this occasion. We most definitely can
’
t drink two bottles if we
’
re to be on time for work tomorrow. 

I pull up to his apartment. I see a tan Honda parked in the parking lot behind me. I see a shadow inside, but I can
’
t make out anything else. I know it
’
s not uncommon for people to sit in their cars, but something strikes me as weird. I brush the thought off as Kyle buzzes me in.

The door
’
s unlocked, so I let myself in. Kyle is by his closet, changing out of his work clothes. He just has boxers and a white tee on. So freaking sexy. The man looks like a god. Just thinking about his body against mine makes my panties moist. How did I become this sex-crazed teenager? I
’
ve never been so in tune with my body until now.

He throws on a pair of fitted jeans and then walks toward me.
“
Hey, beautiful.
”

He pulls me in, moves my hair to the side, and kisses my neck. I moan quietly, a sound made just for him and I to hear. He nips down on my earlobe playfully. I dig my fingers into his back. The longer we stay like this, the farther dinner drifts away.

My stomach growls. I pull back, slightly out of breath.
“
Let
’
s go start that dinner,
”
Kyle says.

“
I
’
m starving! I didn
’
t eat much for lunch,
”
I admit.

Kyle begins taking out the ingredients for our meal.
“
You went with Elise, right?
”

“
Yeah, we stopped at a little diner. I wasn
’
t that hungry at the time, so I just got a piece of pie.
”

He grabs a frying pan and pours some oil into it.
“
Did she mention Jeff
’
s name at all?
”
he asks, handing me the bottle of red wine and a wine opener.

I begin twisting the opener into the cork.
“
She just said she was shocked Jeff asked her to hang out. I guess he visits her up front every now and then, but she knows she
’
s not his type.
”

I pull at the cork until a big popping noise fills the air. Kyle
’
s throwing the chicken in the batter he just made. The oil in the frying pan is beginning to sizzle. He quickly adjusts the water for the pasta and takes out sauce from the freezer.

“
I always make enough to freeze for occasions like this,
”
he explains.
“
Well, let me just tell you this
—
he wouldn
’
t be wasting his time up front if it wasn
’
t for a reason. Jeff can be a real egotistical dick, but he seems to value Elise in a different sort of way.
”

After allowing the sauce to heat and the water to boil, Kyle throws the pasta in.
“
Wow. So maybe opposites do attract,
”
I suggest. I
’
ve seen it happen more than once throughout my lifetime.

The pan awakens with the crackling of the chicken. Kyle quickly closes the top before burning himself, then tends to the sauce.
“
I guess we
’
ll see. I heard the band we
’
re going to see is good. I think their name is Crank
.
They
’
re a local band that
’
s actually getting pretty big,
”
Kyle says.

Finally, after ten minutes or so, everything is done. It smells delicious. I grab the wineglass out of his cupboard, and he sets the food down at the table.
“
Salad?
”
he offers before he takes the lettuce out of the refrigerator.

“
No, all I want is the main course,
”
I tell him.

He smirks, looking a little devilish.
“
What about dessert?
”