“No.”
“Well, then, how about—”
“Tad. I can’t.” Sean met his gaze. “He gave me away... Flat-out gave me away. He doesn’t want me.”
Fuck. The poor guy sounded so damn resigned. Not that Tad could blame him. What Red did was fucking brutal. Not to mention bullshit.
Tad shook his head. “Max is an idiot. Like, seriously, a total numbskull.”
Sean’s lips curved briefly into the tiniest smile.
“I’m serious,” Tad went on. “I mean, what in the fuck? He clearly has it bad for you. That shit’s plain as day.”
Sean exhaled and leaned his head back. Stared at the ceiling. “I dunno, man. I used to think so, too. Hell, not long ago, I was fucking positive. But after the way he treated me on Monday?” His frown returned and deepened fast. “No way he could be like that and still want me.”
“He does, dude. I’m telling you. Scott’s convinced of it, too. Says so all the time. Says you make Max smile—something that even Scott can rarely do.”
Sean’s lips curved sadly. “Smiles aren’t enough.”
Tad shook his head again. “No, dude. It’s not just that. He acts differently when you’re around. It’s hard to explain. Hell, Friday night, when he reciprocated your hug? My jaw straight-up hit the fucking ground.”
That little smile came back. “You saw that? You were there?”
Tad nodded, dodging the obvious; that he’d pretty much been spying. “Yeah, I saw it. Couldn’t believe my fucking eyes. I’m telling you, man. He’s different with you. Anyone else would’ve gotten a beat down for that shit.”
Sean’s smile spread wider, not a lot, but Tad noticed it. Along with that faint new glint in his eyes. Both faded fast, though, as Sean gazed back up at the ceiling. “Yeah, but that was then. That isn’t now. Something changed. He doesn’t… He doesn’t want it.”
Tad sighed and stared at his Coke, his brain churning for answers, to find logic in the chaos of Red’s lunacy. “Something happened in Max’s past,” he mused. “Something really fucking bad. From what Scott’s said, it really messed Max up.”
Sean stilled, then met his eyes again, this time with brows pursed in confusion. “Something happened to him? When?”
Tad shrugged. “When he was younger. Don’t know the specifics. But I’m pretty frickin’ sure it’s why he’s acting this way.”
Sean stared at him intently as if chewing on his words, that look in his big, blue eyes pensive. A long moment later, he finally shook his head. “I didn’t know… I… God…” He rubbed his brow. “That definitely helps things make more sense.”
Tad nodded a little, but before he could reply, their server reappeared with their food. Which pretty much kicked things into phase two of their lunch break, Sean much quieter from there on out as he ate. Tad could all but hear his gears grinding as he mulled over Tad’s words, as he did all the math to Tad’s disclosure.
Fuck, Tad hoped he’d done the right thing, shedding that little bit of light. But Sean deserved a heads up, deserved more context to work with. Leaving him clueless in the dark wasn’t cool. God knew, Tad would want the same respect if something ever came between him and Scott.
Not long after, they finished and drove back to the Morning Star. Sean offered Tad a smile, one that actually looked real, then climbed out and headed to his Beetle. Tad eyed the little convertible for the umpteenth time. Such a cool little ride. Maybe one day Sean would let him drive it.
But as Tad pulled away to go find a place to park, he couldn’t help wondering what the odds were. After all, as things stood, Sean and Max were caput, which meant Tad probably wouldn’t be seeing Sean again. The thought bummed him out, because Sean was a great guy.
Tad fought back a scowl and parked his Jeep.
Come on, Max. Stop being a dumbass. Make shit up to that man before you lose him.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Sean Matthews 7:29 PM
to me
I’ve thought about it and have decided to give Kai a try. If it isn’t too much of a burden to you, I’d appreciate it if the first session could be at your place. I don’t know Kai very well and am hoping the familiarity of your dungeon would alleviate some of the transition’s uncomfortableness. I’ll be waiting for the arrangements you and Kai work out.
Sean
Max stared at his computer screen in disbelief. Not because Sean’s email was so uncharacteristically cold and sterile—the kid was clearly still pretty pissed—but because he’d even sent the thing to begin with. Max knew Sean was a bold one, but never in a million years had he thought that Sean would give Kai a go.
Max’s heart pounded anxiously as he sat at his desk, one hand rubbing his mouth, one anxiously thumbing the item in its clutches. Okay, so maybe a part of him had suspected that Sean might. Especially with how impossible the kid was to deter, and all that feisty fire in his spirit. It wouldn’t be out of character. In fact, it’d probably make more sense. And undoubtedly the subconscious reason why Max deliberated Kai’s involvement so extensively.