Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(65)

Max raked a hand through his hair and looked back toward the camera crew he left behind. “Uh, I kind of, work here. Well, not work here yet. I’m doing a couple of guest spots at home games, interviewing the crowd, offering analysis, things like that. Hopefully it’ll become permanent soon.”

I watched Max intently as he spoke. There was something different about him. He looked almost . . . peaceful. “That’s great, Max,” I said sincerely. “I really hope it works out for you.”

Max and I stood there and stared at one another, getting lost in the moment like only Max and I could.

“Ahem.” Amanda successfully pulled me out of my daydream, or whatever you’d call it.

“Sorry. Max, you remember Amanda?”

He nodded and extended his hand. “How ya doin’, Amanda?”

She offered him a small smile as I continued the introductions. “And this is Amanda’s boyfriend Shane and our friend Kyle.”

Max shook their hands and said to Shane, “So you’re the CrossFit trainer?”

I couldn’t even remember telling him this tidbit of information, so I was surprised that he’d remembered.

Shane looked like he was going to come on the spot. “Oh, uh, yeah.” He took a deep breath as if to clear his thoughts. “Sorry, I’m just kind of awestruck. You were a great player.”

Max’s smile grew as I rolled my eyes. I knew all it took to get on Max’s good side was to give his ego a little stroke. Shane had probably just made a friend for life.

“Thanks so much,” Max responded coyly.

What a wanker.

Kyle must not have wanted to be left out of the ass kissing, because he quickly added his two cents into the conversation. “It’s the truth, man. You were a f*cking force to be reckoned with on the ice. I remember when you broke that dude’s nose and jaw with one punch. Epic.”

Max tilted his head slightly, as if remembering a particularly fond memory. “Sal Perdone. That prick deserved everything he got. He high-sticked me throughout the entire first period.”

“Well you showed him,” Kyle added.

Max released a hearty laugh. “You’re damn right I did. So, Shane, I’m really interested in all of this CrossFit stuff. I’ve done a little research. It looks really intense.”

“Yeah, it’s a great total body workout. You should come in and try it sometime. We’d be excited to have ya.”

“That’d be awesome. You got a card or anything?”

“Absolutely.”

Amanda looked shocked. “Wow, it took me months to get your phone number, but less than ten minutes with Max and you’re giving up the digits. You whore.”

“Hey, when ya know, ya know,” Shane deadpanned as he handed Max his card.

“Great. I’ll give you a call later in the week and we’ll try to set something up.”

“Fantastic. Looking forward to it.”

Max turned away from me slightly, pulled out his wallet, and put Shane’s card inside. He then turned his attention back to me. “Well, it was really good seeing you, Lily.”

“You too, Max.”

Our eyes scanned each other, both of us not wanting to make the first move. Finally, he broke down and leaned toward me, wrapping one arm around my back. I reciprocated, placing one arm around his shoulder. His masculine cologne infiltrated my nostrils and the familiarity of his embrace, as well as my tipsy state, caused me to melt into him more than I consciously meant to. We broke away from the hug both too soon and too late.

Max flashed me a boyish grin before he started back toward the cameramen, who had almost finished packing up their equipment.

“Christ, I feel like I need a cold shower after that,” Amanda stated.

I darted my eyes to her. “Stop, it was nothing,” I chided gently.

“Whatever you say,” she sighed as she resumed our walk toward the escalator.

As I followed them, I couldn’t help but turn back for one last glance at Max. My head slowly rounded and immediately connected with Max’s eyes. Guess I’m not the only one who can’t resist looking back.

***

The ride home was quiet as sleepiness stretched through us. Kyle walked me to the foyer door and I waved to Shane’s car before heading up to my apartment, alone. I put my hand into my coat pocket to retrieve my door key that I had stuffed there after letting myself into the building. When my hand hit a piece of paper, I withdrew it and, unfolding it, read its message. I couldn’t help the welling of emotions that coursed through me.

He must've slipped it to me when we’d hugged. Though the how wasn't all that important. It was what it had represented, with simple words but a complicated message.

Good in the place of one apology.

Goddamn those f*cking coupons.





Chapter 24: Adam


Somehow, over a week had passed since Lily and I had spent any time together. And I wasn’t exactly sure how to reconcile my epic f*ck-up from the last time I’d seen her. I’d claimed I was all-in, only to tell her in the next breath that I’d kept our relationship from Eva. Although it wasn’t so much that I’d kept it from her as it was that I just hadn’t gotten around to discussing it with her yet. I’d told Lily I was certain that Eva would take the news well. But the truth was, I’d been about as excited for that conversation as I’d been to tell her about the birds and the bees. That lovely chat had been a f*cking blast. Saying the word ‘erection’ to your twelve-year-old daughter ranks right up there with plucking out your eyelashes one by one.