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23
Tatum
I heara hammering coming from somewhere in the house. Doesn’t the world understand that I need my sleep? I slowly open my eyes, barely as the sun is blinding me. I was a fool last night and didn’t put down the blinds. Max and I stayed up late hanging out. We talked a little bit about my work and his work.
I now know just a little bit more of the secretive Max Hunter. He is a partner with his buddies, Dane and Lukas in some sort of business that builds things. So he has a good job, I’m glad for that. And he’s got some great friends, who I already really like, so I’m glad for that too. His DVR is filled with comedies and crime dramas and I even saw a few recordings of a reality show that just aired recently about creating crazy creatures for Hollywood, I’ve always wanted to watch that.
The hammering hasn’t stopped, and I’m coherent enough now to move and get out of bed. I stretch as I reach the bedroom door and open it slowly. I peer into the hallway to figure out which direction to go to. The hammering is coming from the side door, which leads out back, it’s wide open. And I stalk to the direction of all the ruckus.
Max is standing in the backyard, shirtless, there is a sweat sheen on his body and I’m trying to divert my eyes, but they’re glued on his back muscles. He is standing over a bunch of wood and I can’t even figure out what it is. He must have sensed my presence as he turns around, hammer in hand.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” He asks.
“Um, yeah. Rule number two, no hammering until at least noon on the weekends.” I try to smile, but I can’t take my eyes away from his shirtless chest.
He notices that I’m not looking him in the eyes and grins.
“Sorry. I didn’t think I was being that loud.” He offers. “My eyes are up here Tate.”
“What are you making?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure. I bought this table thing and it came in a million pieces, it’s worse than IKEA.” He wipes his brow and he’s leering at me like I’m prey.
I look down and notice that I’m wearing boxers and a tiny tank top with no bra. My tank top is showing my alert nipples and I cover myself up as I look back up to Max. He shrugs and smiles.
“I was about to give up anyways, I’ve been trying to hammer these things for the past 45 minutes and I’m obviously not getting anywhere.” He says starting his way to me.
“It looks like a beaver’s dam.” I laugh.
He turns and starts laughing, looking at the scene from beside me.
“Come on, I wanna get your input on something.” He turns and I follow him back inside.
He takes me down the hallway and at the very end, is a closed door. I never noticed it before but now that we’re about to enter, I’m all the more interested.
He opens the door, and he walks inside, as I linger in the doorway.
“I didn’t know the house had 3 bedrooms.” I say looking around at everything.
“This is my office. I’ve never really used it as such, but I was thinking, what if we use this as Peanuts room?” He finally says.
The air has been pushed out of my lungs and tears are threatening to fall. I cross my arms over my chest and hug myself.
“Okay.” I squeak out, and as I take a deep breath the tears have emerged. Max notices and then he’s rushing to my side. His hands are on both of my shoulders and he’s bent down to look me square in the face.
“Hey, did I do something wrong? Are you okay, is everything okay? Shit, fuck. I knew I should have waited.” He’s started to ramble.
I shake my head and uncross my arms so I can wipe at the tears on my face.
“No, no… it’s just I wasn’t expecting this. Any of this.” I sniff waving my hand toward him.
He pulls me against his chest and hugs me. He’s rubbing my back as I breathe in and out.
Day one in the new place, and I’ve already cried like an idiot. I pull back and look up at him. He’s just as good looking up close as he was that night at the hotel bar when he was flirting shamelessly with me.
“I’m sorry, I’m just emotional. Sorry. This is great Max, really great.” I sniffle as I stare into his blue eyes and study the bridge of his nose and his soft pink lips, those soft, soft lips.
I pull out of his arms suddenly as I start to feel an ache in my stomach and my throat goes dry. Damn hormones.
