Page 70

Behind them, Daddy was already helping Bella with the knots around Max's ankles. I looked across the room. JJ was standing frozen. The grin was gone. Completely. Mikey was beside him, one hand wrapped around JJ's arm. JJ looked at Max crying. Then at Bella. Then at Dominic. Then at me. And I watched understanding hit him. His whole face changed. He'd thought this was going to be the perfect moment. Max having his first scene. Dominic appearing. Some big romantic reveal that JJ could claim credit for until the end of time.

Instead, Max was sitting on a stage crying because the thing he'd wanted in theory had become too much once he was actually there. And JJ knew he'd helped put him there.

Daddy got the last rope free. Bella sat back on her heels. "I'm sorry," Max said again.

"Stop apologizing," she told him. Her voice was gentle but firm. "You gave me green until you couldn't. Then your body told me before your mouth could. That's why I was watching you."

Max wiped at his face. "I froze."

"That happens."

Dominic's hand was still under both of Max's. "Do you want to get off the stage?" he asked.

Max nodded immediately.

"Can I carry you, or do you want to walk?"

Max looked at him. "Carry me."

Dominic stood and lifted him carefully.

Max curled into him almost at once, face disappearing into the side of Dominic's neck, arms wrapping around his shoulders. That was what JJ had wanted. Dominic holding Max. Except there was nothing triumphant about it now. No romance-novel moment. No audience applause.

Just someone scared being carried somewhere quieter. Daddy turned toward JJ. He didn't need to raise his voice. He lifted one hand and crooked two fingers.

Come here.

JJ came immediately. So did Mikey. I followed because there was no chance in hell I was staying behind. Bella came too, but Daddy stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"You did exactly what you were supposed to do," he told her. She looked miserable anyway.

"I should've caught it sooner."

"You caught it when his responses changed."

"I knew he was nervous."

"Nervous isn't the same as withdrawn consent."

She nodded slowly. Daddy squeezed her shoulder once. "Give him some space. We'll talk later."

She looked over toward the hallway Dominic had carried Max into. "Tell him I'm sorry he got scared."

"I will."

Then Daddy looked at the three of us. "You. With me." JJ's face went white.

Gustav met us near the hallway. One look at Daddy's face and he didn't ask questions.

"I've got an empty room," he said. Of course he did. Gustav always somehow had exactly what people needed before they asked for it.

He led us to one of the private scene rooms off the quieter hallway and opened the door. The room was simple — a double bed, a couch, a few pieces of equipment stored neatly along one wall, a TV switched off in the corner, and a small attached bathroom.

Daddy waited until all three of us were inside. Then he closed the door. Nobody sat down. JJ looked like he wanted to disappear. Mikey had gone quiet enough that I knew he was slipping deeper into little space from the stress, twisting his fingers together in front of his stomach. Daddy crossed his arms.

"What happened?"

JJ swallowed.