Page 12 of Shades of Grey & Gold

I say the last part in my head, the truest part of it all.

He slowly puts his arms around my shoulders. His hand reaches up and grabs the graduation cap off my head so he can rest his chin there. I can feel the cap against my back as he moves the other hand to the nape of my neck, tilting my face up to look at him.

I think my heart stops in my chest. Someone looking at us right now might think we are in love. Our faces are just inches away from each other as he tilts his head down to mine. I take in every inch of him, his tiny freckle on his right cheek, his eyelashes, unblinking. The way his hair falls just right on his forehead. And the way his eyes sparkle. The way his chest feels against mine.

“Please don’t let anyone stop you from shining, Max. No matter where you end up. You deserve to achieve every dream you’ve ever dreamed. You deserve the world.”

And his eyes never looked so serious.

~ Present – Max ~

“And then what?” Becca is sitting next to me on the porch steps back at home.

“And then… nothing. He hugged me again, put my cap back on my head, and—” I put my hands up in the air, wildly gesturing, and then cover my face before she jostles next to me.

“You didn’t kiss him? You stupid moron!” She stands up in front of me, pacing back and forth in front of the steps. “‘Don’t let anyone stop you from shining’ the man said; ‘I’m eye-fucking you and I’m the hottest man alive’ he said; ‘let me look into your soul and beg you to kiss me silently’, he said. But not you, Max. What were you thinking?”

She throws her hands up in the air and stares at me. Looking back, that moment feels almost exactly how she’s describing it. And somewhere deep inside, I bet I knew it then, too. But Patrick.

“Iwas thinking I had a boyfriend, Becca! And unlike that boyfriend,” I start out the sentence angry, and then laughs start bubbling out of my lips, uncontrollably. “And unlike Patrick, I didn’t just,” more laughs, “cheat with every person who touched my body in a way that felt warm and inviting.”

Becca looks at me like I have absolutely lost my mind. “Max, this guy sounds like he was in love with you, and you said, ‘Nah, Patrick is fine’? PATRICK?”

I shake my head. “Becca, he knew Patrick, they were in the same cohort, he knew I was in a relationship. He didn’t make a move because he’s not trash like Patrick. I just don’t know how he ended up at Ellison & Parker because I feel like he’d rather kill Patrick with a dull knife than work with the dude in the same firm.” More laughs escape, and I put my hand over my mouth to try to get them to stop.

“Maybe he still will murder Patrick. Then you’d get out of going to the wedding,” she sighs heavily. “Okay, so Operation Callax—Mallan? Mal? Cax? Whatever we’ll have to brainstorm the couple name—starts now. Let’s go, I’m picking your outfit for the bar tonight.”

“You’re hilarious, I am not going anywhere near Callan when I have barely come to terms with the fact that—” I am shaking my head and still laughing when Becca grabs my face between her hands.

“I swear to God if you mention Patrick again, I will slap you across the face. Handle what fact? Yes, Patrick is in town, he works here. You will have to see his face. Who cares? Remember? Plus, you get to see Callan’s face, too.” She looks me dead in the eyes with absolutely no smile and I know she’s not playing anymore. “At the very least, Callan sounds like he could be worth one night of fun.”

She kicks my foot and points at the front door. I roll my eyes and reluctantly head inside the house. This day never ends.

Chapter Five

Max

Wildhorseisabarthat’s been in Abbott forever. Some college kids from down the way used to show up until they realized the locals weren’t interested in putting up with underage drinkers with fake IDs getting wasted, and the other shenanigans that came with it. Now, it’s mostly good for a few drinks, the occasional good traveling band, and line dancingon Thursdays.

Becca insisted on ordering a car to drive us when we left the house so we could both drink, but I think she did it so she could brazenly keep shoving shots of tequila in my face for the past hour and a half.

“Two more, bartenderino!” Becca throws up two fingers towards Dave, the weekend guy, and he shakes his head, pulling out two more shot glasses and filling them with clear liquid.

She holds it up to me and I roll my eyes and clink glasses with her. I don’t drink often, and it’s been a while since tequila shooters were the drink of choice on a Friday night. But I pick and choose my battles with Becca, especially if Callan Reed really is going to be in this bar tonight. I might actually lean on the tequila to get through it.

The tequila burns and I force my eyes shut. Becca is dancing beside me, sipping on a mixed drink and I’m gripping the bar. If I let go, I might just run out the door and walk the two miles home.

“Lighten up, Max!” Becca knocks her hip against mine. “Woo!”

Becca puts her drink down and claps, hollering as the band finishes their song. They say they’re taking a break and “Cherry Pie” by Warrant starts blasting through the speakers, which is unsurprising because Wildhorse’s playlist always includes something for everyone.

“If you don’t stop looking around like you’re trying to mark all your exits, I’m going to drag you on top of the bar and make you dance.” Becca finishes her drink, staring me dead in the eyes. “Dave won’t mind, will ya, Dave?”

Dave looks from Becca to me, shaking his head. “It wouldn’t be the first time you guys danced on the bar, would it?” Becca throws her head back laughing. “Just give me a warning this time so I can move all the glass.”

I look from Becca to the front doors and survey the room. The bar has a crowd in it, but the music isn’t super loud, so conversations are happening in every corner. A pool game is going on one side of the room, and a couple of older guys are dancing with their beers singing the song at the top of their lungs.

“Alright, alright, Dave, give me another to shut this one up,” I turn back towards the bar and put my shot glass down to be filled back up.