Chapter Nine
Max
I could honestly say that I hadn’t seen this coming, not in a million years. I hadn’t had any intention of coming back to Edgewood for anything other than supporting Hal and the girls. I’d figured it would be a lightning-fast trip, where I made my presence felt and made the girls happy then got out of town again.
I hadn’t figured on Dominic Bell. I hadn’t figured on having some of the best sex of my life with my best friend’s younger brother, a man I’d basically watched grow up. It might have squicked me if I thought about it too much. But Dominic was a consenting adult now, and he was into it—damn was he into it—and his presence had taken my trip from a comfort to myself and Hal into a genuine, expansive pleasure.
Everything seemed better—even work felt like less of a pervasive weight across my shoulders.
I was happy, I realized on the second morning Dominic dropped me back at his brother’s house, his hair still wet from the shower and his lips still a little swollen from the blowjob in said shower half an hour ago. I’d fingered him again when I returned the favor, and he almost fell down when he came as a result. Thinking about it was enough to have warmth flood my body, from my chest straight down to my cock.
I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I had felt like this. I thought about it as I walked into the still-dark house, lips still tingling from a good-bye kiss.
After hanging my coat at the door and setting my bag of clothes down by the stairs, I made a beeline for the coffeemaker. Happy was such a rare feeling. I thought I was happy in the city, but compared to this? I shook my head. There was no comparison—I could practically float through the air.
What kind of person didn’t recognize how being really happy felt? Fuck. Was my life in the city that depressing?
I liked being a lawyer. The pace of work at the offices of Staller, Weisz and Coast was frenetic, especially when I was still a junior trying to rise through the ranks. I honestly didn’t remember the last time I’d gone to a play on Broadway or out to a restaurant while I wasn’t also wooing a client or…anything, really, other than the gym and work. I liked the work, overwhelming as it could be sometimes, but…
When was the last time I’d gone out in New York City, just for fun?
“Earth to Max.”
Hal’s voice broke my reverie. I’d been standing at the coffee machine with a cup of steaming French roast in my hand, completely lost in thought. “Sorry, what?”
He motioned to the mostly full pot. “Just trying to get in for a cup of my own. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t.” I moved out of the way and watched Hal pour coffee into a cappuccino mug. Ariel had given the machine to Hal last year—he’d always wanted a cappuccino maker. Great coffee was the one luxury he allowed himself.
“No? You looked pretty distracted.”
“I wasn’t really…distracted. Just thinking.” I smiled. “About how much I’m enjoying my visit.” And my time with Dominic.
“Well, the girls love having you here, but I get the feeling that’s not really what you’re talking about.” He held up a hand before I could protest. “I’m not bothered by it, Max. God knows Nicky could use another friend, and I haven’t been much of one to him lately. I think you’re good for him.”
I frowned. “Dominic worships you. He always has.”
Hal shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe. But it’s not like life has been easy on him either lately, and I haven’t had the bandwidth to do much talking to him about leaving the army and starting up a whole new career.”
“He seems fine,” I said after a second. “Really. His work partner likes him, that’s obvious, and he’s got the house to work on. His counselor seems pretty on top of things, too.”
Hal glanced at me. “He talked to you about her?”
“Just that he had a regular appointment with her, to help him manage his PTSD.”
“Wow.”
Wow what? I was about to ask for clarification, but then Hal chuckled wryly. “God, that fuckin’ house. I told him not to buy it. It was such a wreck. Way worse than what you’re seeing now. He was determined to have his own place, though. Funny, growing up, this house had seemed packed all the time. Now it practically echoes.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “The girls do a pretty good job of filling it.”
“Jesus, you’re telling me.” Hal smiled a bit before taking a sip of his coffee.
I knew that things weren’t okay with Hal. He was putting on a pretty good front for the girls, but in these quiet moments with me, I could see the sadness inside of him, and the anger, and the fear.
I couldn’t magic Hal’s worries away—all I could do was my best to alleviate them while I was here. I also made a mental note to call more often when I got back to New York. The thought didn’t do much to comfort me. New York City felt so far away right now, so distant from Hal’s warm, coffee-scented kitchen and the girls giggling only a staircase away, and Dominic’s company and laughter and kisses and…
An idea teased at the edge of my brain. I knew better than to chase after it, especially with the tiny patter of footsteps transforming into a thundering charge as they got to the stairs. “Speaking of filling the house,” I murmured, and Hal smiled again as the girls rounded the corner to the kitchen.
“Hi, Max!” Marnie said as soon as she saw me. “Did you have another fun sleepover with Uncle Nicky?”
“I sure did,” I replied and fully ignored Hal’s huff of laughter.
Steph wandered sleepily over to her dad, and Hal picked her up effortlessly in one arm, setting her against his hip and kissing her forehead before taking another sip of coffee.
If he wasn’t the best father I knew, I would eat my goddamn shoes. Hal might worry, but I didn’t, not about his relationship with his daughters at least.
“Did you guys stay up late?” Marnie asked as she opened the fridge. She tried to grab the milk, but it was a new gallon and too heavy for her to hold.
I stepped in before she dropped it on the floor. “We did stay up a little late.” I supported her hold on the milk and carrying it over to the counter with her. Then I got a plastic cup out, poured it half full, and handed it to her.
“Did you watch one of your movies?”
I had watched something way, waaay better than even the best movie, but that was definitely not something I wanted to share with anyone present. Although Hal was hiding a smile behind his coffee cup, so he knew what was up.
I cleared my throat. “Not last night. Mostly we just talked.” I got another cup out and poured a little milk in then found a sippy lid for it, snapped it on, and handed it over to Steph. She took it with a little smile and started guzzling it down immediately.