He’d spoken so easily about the things he’d felt that first night, things I myself had been shying away from. Things I’d refused to trust, my own feelings that first time.
I took out all the things he’s said and done since we met and reevaluated them over and over again looking for any kind of deceit, but I kept coming away with the same thing. He was for real.
I’d already been swaying after this morning’s talk with his mom. She had some very convincing arguments, things that made sense when heard from someone else. Someone who for whatever reason I seem to trust without question.
I wish it was as easy as taking a deep breath and diving in the way I used to when I was learning to swim in the deep end, which this felt like, but there was so much at stake how can I?
Travis seems to believe in him one hundred percent and I know my brother to be a good judge of character. Plus knowing how protective he is of me, I don’t think he’d approve of any relationship that he didn’t think was good for me.
So the only thing standing in my way was my own fear. Without the fear, Max would be the ideal man for any woman, let alone someone as undeserving as I.
In the past week I’ve been tempted more than once to just give in, but something always held me back. But now, now I know his heart and there’s no longer any reason for me not to give this thing a try.
When I look back at the things he’s done it’s almost too much to believe. No wonder it was so hard for me to accept. In less than two months he’s given me a job, moved my brother and I into his luxury apartment, all things that I’d long learned not expect.
But now that I’d heard him, the emotion and ring of truth in the words, how could I not at least think about it? The fact that he was willing to let Travis stay makes all the difference to me.
I’d been straddling the fence even after his mother’s counsel, but those words have given me that last little push I needed.
I wanted to run back down the hallway and jump into his arms, that’s how happy I am. But I don’t want him to know that I know, let him sweat it out for a little while longer. He’s too damn sure of himself. I smiled at the thought.
Now that my mind was clear I felt light, free, happy, almost giddy in fact. Seen through new eyes everything he did that was once suspect is now mind blowing and very flattering.
“To hell with this!” I jumped out of bed and made my way down the hallway. I made sure my footsteps were loud enough that they’d hear me coming.
“Hi guys, what you been up to?” I ignored their confused looks and walked towards the cupboards looking for ingredients. I love baking when I’m happy.
They were still watching me silently when I turned from the cupboard. “We need to go to the store, I need stuff to bake.” I hid my smile when Max looked at Travis questioningly before getting to his feet.
The three of us headed downstairs and walked past the two seat Spyder to a Hummer. “What’s this?” I asked as he walked me around to the passenger side.
“Travis can’t fit in the Lamborghini, this is my backup.”
“Wait that’s yours?” Travis pointed to the sports car with a crestfallen look on his face that he wasn’t going to get to ride in it.
“I’ll bring it out to mom’s one of these weekends and let you take it for a spin.” My brother almost fell on his face. That’s all we heard as we drove the few blocks to the supermarket.
It was amusing to listen to the back and forth between the two of them on the ride. Max was trying to be a father figure it was obvious, and Travis was being a usual teenager who would do anything to have his way.
When Max put his foot down about him driving the car in the city and even threatened him with an ass whipping if he ever snuck the keys I relaxed a
little bit more.
I went for maybe four things and ended up with two carts. Between the two of them, I’m not sure who was worst. “What? It’s been a while since I’ve been in one of these places, I forgot how much fun it is.”
That was Max’s explanation when I gave him a look after he placed another bag of chips in the cart. The two of them carried the million and one packages to the truck when we were through and I can’t remember the last time something as simple as a trip to the store gave me so much life.