Part 35 (1/2)

Together.

My playful mood is gone with the use of that one word.

How long will we be together?

We arrive at the restaurant and Max manages a parking spot right out front. He warned me it wouldn't be fancy, but I didn't expect this. My mood picks up as he opens the pa.s.senger door for me like a gentleman. I ask in surprise, ”Mexican?”

He shrugs, and I could be wrong, but I swear he blushes. ”I wanted to take you someplace I love.” He stills. ”You do like Mexican, right?”

I narrow my eyes at him. ”You don't think you should've asked that beforehand?”

His face falls dramatically before he lifts a hand and pinches the bridge of his nose. ”f.u.c.k, Lena. I'm so sor-”

”I love Mexican,” I chuckle then tease, ”dumba.s.s.”

He breathes deep then lets out a long exhale. I take his hand, still chuckling, and he shoots daggers at me. He walks by my side, imitating me in a ridiculously high-pitched voice. ”I love Mexican, dumba.s.s.” His voice turns normal again and he mutters a low, ”I would remind you that as soon as we leave, your a.s.s is mine. I'd remember that if I were you.”

I round my mouth in mock-horror and stand on the spot, shaking my legs with enthusiasm. ”Oh no. The bad man's gonna get me.”

His palm connects with my a.s.s hard, ripping a shocked yelp from my throat. He stands toe-to-toe with me, looking down into my face. ”How'd you like that?”

I swallow hard and my nethers tingle. Honesty is the best policy, I've always said (when it suits me, of course). I respond a hushed, ”I liked it enough to want to push my luck again, and again, and again.”

He lowers a hand to my collarbone, stroking his thumb over the sensitive skin there. His mouth hovers over mine. ”Stop it.”

I run my bottom lip across his and mutter, ”Stop what?”

He kisses me hard on the mouth. Pulling back a hairs-breadth, he bites my bottom lip, gently tugging at it before responding, ”Stop being s.e.xy.”

My grin is small, but it's there. ”Sorry, but you started it.”

He returns, ”You started it.”

I scoff, ”You so totally started it!”

He mock-glares at me. ”Real mature, Lena.” We walk hand-in-hand, grinning like a couple of fools. He holds open the door for me, and as I walk into the restaurant, he whispers by my ear, ”You started it,” and I burst into laughter. I love this silly side of Max.

We're shown to our table in this quaint restaurant, and although it's small, it's beautifully decorated with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths, stools instead of chairs, and candles on the tables. It makes for an intimate setting, and I secretly love that Max brought me here and not some fancy restaurant where the meals are served on plates the size of car tires with meals the size of my palm. When the server arrives by our table, Max looks over at me and asks, ”Mind if I order?”

I smile sweetly. ”Not if you know what's good.”

He grins at me. ”I know what's good, baby.”

I reach for my gla.s.s of water and sip, when a soft voice by the side of the table utters, ”Max?”

Max and I both look up at the server, but Max is the only one who pales. ”Oh, um, hey, Kate. How you doin'?”

Kate, the young Hispanic-looking server with olive skin, long black curls, and soft eyes responds in a hurt tone, ”You never called.”

My eyes leave the server, and wide-eyed, I turn to stare at Max. ”You have got to be kidding me right now, Max.” Did he seriously bring me to a restaurant where he shtupped one of the wait staff?

But Max blinks up at Kate, silently cursing her before stating the obvious. ”I'm on a date here, Kate.”

Kate turns to me still looking hurt, and I feel for her. I know what it's like to be rejected by Max. It seriously blows. With a sigh, I tell her, ”Honey, trust me. He's completely oblivious when it comes to the opposite s.e.x. You need neon signs and flas.h.i.+ng lights for this one.”

Max utters an offended, ”Hey,” while Kate smiles and admits, ”I thought it was just me.”

I shake my head. ”Nope. It's all him. Believe me.”

Max repeats his insulted, ”Hey!”

I'm curious now. I jerk my chin up at her. ”What did he do?”

Max starts, ”I don't think we need to be discussing tha-”

But Kate cuts him off. ”He took me out for lunch and we made out.” She turns to look down at him, placing a hand on her hip. ”Never to be seen again.”

Max squirms in his chair, then forces a laugh. ”Kate, babe, it was just a kiss.”

Well, I hate to admit it, but I'm glad he hasn't f.u.c.ked her. But still. I shake my head at him. ”Oh, Max. You're such a t.u.r.d.”

Kate jerks her chin at me, mirroring my previous gesture. ”You his girl?”

Max tries to break into the conversation with, ”So this is kind of funny, right?” but as we speak over him, he fades out and continues to squirm.

I sigh dramatically. ”Sadly, yes.”

Her eyes narrow at me before she declares, ”I like you. You're getting the house nachos on the house.”

Smiling at her, I reach out to her. ”I'm Helena. Sorry Max is a big, stupid baby.”

She grins, taking my hand. ”Kate. Nice to meet you, and don't worry about it.” She glances at him before whispering, ”He's kind of flighty.”

Max is one of the most reliable men I know. He's not flighty at all, but I know what she's doing, so I don't correct her. Instead, I play along. I wink at her. ”You're lucky you got away when you did.”

She chuckles, then steps away. ”I'll be right back.”