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27
Tatum
I wokeup in Max’s room, but I was alone. His side of the bed was cold, as if he’s been up for a while. I looked around his room and saw the alarm clock across the room. It was still early, not even 10am yet.
The bedroom door was closed, but I heard voices out in the living area. I rolled out of his bed and found a t-shirt hanging in his closet. It wouldn’t be proper to walk out there, if we had company in my tank top, since Max seems to think it’s see through.
I walk into the kitchen and see Sterling and Dane on the other side of the counter.
“Good morning sleepy-head,” Dane smiles as I approach. They are way too chipper for the morning.
I look around and see no signs of Max.
“Max went to the store. I brought over bacon and then he explained to us that you couldn’t eat the bacon, so he ran to pick up some sausage.”
My heart filled with gratitude as I smiled.
“So, he tells us that you’ve cured him.” Dane says. Sterling swats at him and shushes him.
“Cured him? From what a broken heart? Max never striked me as being broken hearted.” I laugh.
Sterling and Dane suddenly look uncomfortable, and it would seem that I missed something. But they are looking behind me and not at me. I turn and I see Max is cemented in the spot he’s standing. Holding two grocery bags and an unhinged jaw.
By the look on his face, I’m not sure if I said something wrong or not. He’s not showing any signs of, well anything. He resumes his steps and smiles weakly at me as he walks by me. He sets up the bags on the counter and leaves the kitchen into his room, where he closes the door behind him.
“Shit. Did I say something wrong?” I ask, hugging myself.
Sterling and Dane look hesitantly at one another.
“I’ll, uh go check on Max.” Dane says excusing himself.
“Shit, I did, didn’t I?” I sulk to the barstool and plant myself on it. I put my head in my hands and groan.
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. Max… fuck… he should be telling you this. I’m sorry Tatum. This isn’t my story to tell.”
“Is Max, is he okay?” I ask. That’s the only answer I need right now.
“He’s been better since you moved in, since you and him re-met.” She answers. I can see in her expression that she believes that.
Not a minute later, Dane reappears from Max’s bedroom.
“Hey, let’s give these two some alone time. We’ll uh, come back over and have breakfast for dinner. Yeah, sorry Tatum. Really.” Dane says apologetically.
I follow them with my eyes and then turn the stool to eject myself from it and seek out Max. I should probably give him some time to himself, but that would torture me right now. So I walk into his bedroom. He’s sitting in one of the corner recliner chairs with his hands in his hair. He’s breathing deeply and it looks like he’s about to lose his cool.
“Max? Max? Did I do something, say something wrong?” I squeak out. I’m walking slowly towards him, unsure how to approach him.
His eyes finally focus on me and recognition appears. His hands fall from his hair.
“No, no of course not. Come here, please?” He asks me holding his hand out to me, it’s shaking slightly.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on, Dane and Sterling they said–”
“I know what they said.” He takes a deep breath. “Listen, there’s something that I need to explain to you. I was actually trying to get the nerve to do it today anyways. They just sped up the talk I was hoping to have with you later on today.”
“Oh no.” I start to move myself from sitting on his lap but he wraps his arms around me.
“No, no it’s not anything like that. Please, just listen. We’re gonna, I’m gonna have a serious discussion. It’s one sided though, but I think in order for there to be an us, this is something that you are fully aware of. And I would feel particularly better about this, if you stayed right where you are.” He says fixing my legs so I sit astride him.
