Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(26)

“Hi, Mom!”

As if it’s not two in the morning.

“Hey, Bubba. Go get in the car, and I’ll be right there, okay? And what do you say?”

“Thanks for letting me stay. Sorry, I’m a pain in the butt.” He waves and hurries down to Max’s car, and I roll my eyes.

“I’m sorry about this.”

“Hey, it’s no big deal,” Stan, Pierce’s dad, says. “They’re at a tough age. They want to feel independent, but they’re just not quite brave enough yet. We’ll try again in a few months.”

“You’re the best. Thank you.”

I walk back to the car and climb in.

“—weird noises.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“Alex was just telling me that there were weird noises.”

“Yeah,” Alex says. “And it smells funny. Pierce said his mom likes seasonal oils, and he has a water thingy in his room with the oils.”

“Essential oils?” I ask with a smile.

“Yeah, that. I didn’t like it. I’m sorry, Mom. I know I promised that I’d stay the whole night.”

“It’s okay.” I sigh, sinking back against the warm seat. “We’ll try again another time.”

“Did Rocky miss me?”

And there it is. The real reason Alex wanted to come home. I should have realized.

“Of course, he did,” I reply with a yawn. “Right to bed when we get home, though. It’s about three years past your bedtime.”

“Can I take Rocky with me?”

“Yeah.”

I’m too tired to argue.

By the time we reach my house, I’m ready to head back to bed myself. Max escorts us inside, and I’m faced with the uncomfortable talk.

Alex takes Rocky out of his crate and carries him to bed. I turn to Max, but his hand is already on the doorknob.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says.

“I’m sorry.” I walk into his arms. “This was supposed to be different.”

“You’re a mom,” he says simply. “Sleep well. I’ll come over in the morning for breakfast.”

“You don’t have to—”

He shuts me up with his lips on mine. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

And then he’s gone.

I walk down the hall to my room, which is two doors down from Alex’s. He’s in bed, Rocky curled up with him, and he’s whispering to his pup.

“I’m glad I came home,” he says. “It’s fun at Pierce’s, but you weren’t there, and I missed you. And Mom, but don’t tell her that ’cause she might not let me go again, okay?”

I grin and keep walking.

***

“Max is here,” Alex announces, the way he always does when he sees Max’s car pull into the driveway. “Why was he here last night?”

I was hoping he would forget about that.

“We were on a date.”

It’s not a lie, and much to my relief, Alex just shrugs and goes back to watching American Ninja Warrior.

“Hey,” I say as I open the door, then feel my eyes bug out of my face. “What’s this?”

“I didn’t know what you liked,” Max says as he carries four bags to the kitchen and sets them on the island. “Alex, come get breakfast.”

“Holy cow!” Alex exclaims at the sight of the bags.

“Holy cow is right,” I agree. “What’s in here?”

“This bag is bagels and cream cheese. Over here we have omelets and hash browns. I got biscuits with a side of gravy, some fruit, some sausage, and a whole thing of bacon.”

Max wiggles his eyebrows.

“The bacon’s for me.”

“Will you share with me?” Alex asks as he pets Rocky, who’s also excited by the smells coming from the bags.

“Sure. One piece.”

Alex giggles. “I want an omelet.”

“Omelet coming up. With one slice of bacon.” Max slaps about four strips of bacon on Alex’s plate and winks at me. “What about you, beautiful lady?”

“Just a bagel for me.”

“More for us, right, buddy?”

“Yay, more for us!”





Chapter Eight


Max


I’M RESTLESS.

Work isn’t holding my attention, which doesn’t usually happen. I just can’t get my mind off Willa and Alex. I find my mind wandering, curious about how Alex’s math test went today, and what Willa’s wearing to work or if she needs help with the puppy.

I have it bad.

And it’s interfering with my productivity.

Not good.

It’s only been a few days since our interrupted night alone, the best sex of my life, and a fun breakfast the next morning. We spent all day inside, watching movies and the snowfall outside. We made homemade pizza and laughed when Alex spilled his pepperoni on the floor, and Rocky ate it all.

I had no idea that being domesticated could be so fun.

I shake my head as I turn down Noah King’s driveway. He lives next door to his birds of prey sanctuary. I pull into his circular drive and hop out of the vehicle. Before I can ring the bell, I hear a loud crack from the side of the house.