Something So Irresistible (Something So 3)

“It’s all good, Allison,” he says and my heart can’t get under control. “It’s just a cut.” He walks into the room with the doctor and I walk to the door, but the nurse closes it in my face. I turn, looking at the rest of the guys as they walk in.

“What the fuck happened to Max?” I ask Phil, who laughs. “Sherry told him that he fucked his mother last night, so Max knocked him out.”

“Idiot,” I say to everyone and walk out, going to the after party. When I get to the club I walk in and you have team jerseys hanging everywhere. Tables are set up everywhere with some food in the middle. I look around once and then people start coming in. Karrie arrives with her father.

“This looks so cool,” she says, looking around and finally sees the pictures I had posted all around of different players with their family members. “Love this.”

Slowly the players trickle in and they introduce me to all their family members. I won’t remember tomorrow. I have a water bottle in my hand, but the alcohol is flowing freely. I turn around to go and sit with my family when I see Max walk in. Our eyes meet as he looks around and raises his hand to say hi. I raise my hand and am not sure if I should go to him or not, but then I see him look down and point at me and I see it’s Denise. I smile big and make my way to her.

“Hey,” I say, hugging her, and she hugs me back big.

“This is amazing,” she says. “This is my friend Steve. Steve, this is Allison.”

I shake his hand and he looks at me.

“You’re the guardian angel?” he says, and I smile and blink. “It’s all we hear about.”

I move my hand, brushing away the compliment.

I look up at Max and he stares at me. “You look like you got your ass handed to you.” I fold my arms. “You have a photo shoot on Monday. How the hell are we going to cover up the black eye?”

“Maybe it’ll be a selling point,” Steve says. “Badass Mad Max.”

“That fucking hashtag.” He smiles and a couple of waitresses walk by and smile at him. “Is it seating anywhere?” he asks me and I nod.

I look over and see Karrie. “Hey, Denise, I know it’s not business, but I would love to introduce you to my sister-in-law, who is going to be helping me out. If you don’t mind.”

She looks at Max, who nods. “I’d love to.”

I smile and turn around to walk to the table in the back where I introduce Karrie to Denise. They hit it off right away and she sits with them as they make room for them. I sit down and Steve sits on one side while Max sits on the other side. Steve turns to make conversation with me and I watch Max dodge about six girls who walk up to them to take pictures and have him sign stuff. Matthew turns and starts asking Steve questions, so I turn and look at Max, who is looking around.

“Looking for your date?” I ask and I don’t know why I do it.

His eyebrows pinch together. “No date, Allison.”

I just nod and I’m about to turn away. “What time is it on Monday?”

“Ten,” I say

“I’ll swing by and get you,” he says quietly.

“I’m not coming,” I tell him.

“Then I’m not going,” he counters. “So you better cancel or change your schedule.” He stretches his hands out, placing them on my chair, his hand touching my back. It’s a simple thing that has happened with other men a thousand times before, but it’s different with him.

“You don’t need me there,” I counter and he shrugs his shoulders. “I wasn’t even there when you did it the first time.”

“Allison, it’s pretty much either you come or I’m not going.”

“Such a fucking princess,” I say.

He smiles and laughs. He doesn’t move from beside me all night long, and I don’t move either till Karrie gets up.

“If we don’t leave now we are going to get home after the sun comes up.”

“You’re right,” I say, getting up and standing next to him as he still sits. “I gotta go.”

“Where are you going?” he asks, looking around as Matthew and Karrie start making the rounds to say goodbye.

“I’m going to Long Island since we’re off tomorrow. I’m going to have a family day.”

He nods and I walk around him and say bye to Denise and Steve.

“I’ll call you next week,” I tell her.

“Yes, tomorrow is the big breakfast at the hospital, so I will be unavailable.”

“What is the big breakfast?” I ask.

“Max and a couple of players are coming by and serving breakfast for the kids. They love it.” I turn to look at Max, who is just staring at me.