Beautiful Beginning(23)

“Do you remember when Will hired that creepy clown to deliver a singing

telegram on my birthday?” I asked, an involuntary shudder moving up my

spine. This kind of thing had become the norm in the Will, Bennett & Max

Show. After having accidentally hired a transvestite hooker for Will while

we were all in Vegas, he’d retaliated by having a couple of goons pretend

to bust us for card counting. It had only escalated from there. Chloe

insisted it was only a matter of time before one of us ended up in the

hospital or jail. My money was on jail.

Max groaned. “Fuck. I thought I’d finally erased that mental image.

Thanks for bringing it back.”

I glanced back toward the hotel to make sure I didn’t see Will coming down

yet. “I have some retribution in the works.”

“Okay . . .”

“Did you happen to meet Chloe’s aunts last night?”

“The ones that looked like a couple of hyenas circling a lame gazelle?

Yes, lovely ladies.”

“I may be partly responsible for that,” I said, waiting for his reaction.

He seemed completely unfazed.

“‘Partly,’ Ben?”

“Okay, completely.”

He shook his head, but was clearly amused. “You don’t think they’ll get

their hopes up, do you?”

“I got the sense that they were just looking to have some fun. I sort of

told them he liked experienced women and that he liked them in pairs. All

of which is true, I might add.”

He raised a brow.

“Technically true,” I corrected. “I’m going to hell, aren’t I?”

“Did you give Hanna the heads-up?”

“I’m not a total dick, Max.” When he lifted his brows as if to say Oh

really? I ignored him, continuing, “I may have suggested she play along.

She agreed.”

“That’s it? She’s easier than I expected,” he said, already shaking his

head in disbelief. What girlfriend would ever agree to such an evil albeit

brilliant plan? Clearly, Hanna was a genius.

“It took a little reassurance that he’d escape unharmed, but yes, she

did. I really like her, by the way.”

“Same,” he said with a quick nod.

“So what do you think? Should I call it off? I’ll be honest, I’m feeling

a little dirty over this one. They’re Chloe’s aunts.”

We heard footsteps move across the deck and both looked up, seeing Will

jogging toward us.

Max leaned in quickly and whispered, “Tell him and I’ll kill you.”



There were surfers scattered down the shore and a few runners passed us as

we started away from the hotel.

“So what had you up so early?” Max asked from my right, keeping a steady

pace with me. Will, the competitive runner, was about twenty feet in front

of us, shouting insults and patronizingly encouraging remarks over his

shoulder every few minutes.

“Just . . . everything,” I admitted. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so

exhausted and so keyed up at the same time in my life. You probably don’t

want to hear this, but I’m not sure whether I want to sleep for ten hours

or f*ck.”

Max gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “I know the feeling,” he

said.

“Like hell you do,” I said back, looking over to him.

He fought a laugh. “Sorry, mate. I don’t mean to mock your pain, and this

will most definitely fall into overshare territory . . . but I’ve never

seen Sara like this before. She’s always been . . . How should I say this

. . . ?” He scratched his jaw, thinking. “She’s always been eager. But

pregnant Sara? Jesus, mate. I can barely keep up.”

I’d really have liked to shove Max into the pounding surf, but I had to

admit it was a little endearing to see him so flustered and fumbling

through his words. “That might be the most inarticulate thing I’ve ever

heard you say.”

“Fucking right.”

“Really trying not to hate you,” I groaned.

“So, aside from the obvious,” Max said, meaningfully. “How are things?”

“The usual. My mother is texting me every half hour with whatever happens

to be her worry of the moment. Chloe’s dad wouldn’t have the foggiest

idea where he’s supposed to be at any given time without Julia assigned to

Frederick Watch. Bull is waiting for Chloe to decide she wants one last

fling. I’ll probably be checked into rehab by the end of the day.”

“And Chloe?” he asked.

“Chloe is Chloe,” I said. “She’s sexy and infuriating and constantly

keeps me guessing. I thought I might strangle her last night but we talked.

I think we’re finally on the same page.”

“Sounds great then,” he said. But it was too short, too flat, and I didn

’t miss the way he kept his eyes trained on Will.