Getting Closer

Chapter Nineteen - Juliet

A full month since Charlie saved me from Michael, I finally stop annoying the boys as I take a weekend away with Brooke to a spa out of town. Plus I need to step away from constantly crawling into Max's bed at anytime we can get and I just simply want to spend time with my friend again.

But I can't get far from it as Brooke asks me constantly about Max and the mind-blowing sex I've been having. Though I wanted to avoid talk, I say, "I never knew sex could be so much more enjoyable when your partner actually thinks of the other person." Michael was such a selfish lover where he'd try to get off as soon as possible. If I orgasmed before he did, he thought he was a fucking god or something. But most of the time, I just was left lying there wanting more.

Brooke laughs as he get off of the freeway. "I'm happy for you, girl. You needed to let off some steam."

"Yeah, repeatedly."

For weeks, Max and I would consistently meet up at his house anytime he said his mother wouldn't be home until late at night. We always meet on Thursdays after he gets out at school and when we're done, we just head over to Charlie's as if nothing happened. Usually, we give each other a day off until we meet up again but even then we still sometimes fuck every day if we're both feeling like it. And god does it feel good to have someone who knows how to pleasure a woman right.

Pulling into the overnight spa, Brooke parks and turns to me. "I really am happy for you Jules. I do miss you though. Those little teenage boys are taking over your life."

I pout and reach for her hand. "I know. I've been ignoring my biggest bitch."

Brooke cackles. "And don't you flipping forget it!" Squeezing my hand, she says, "Now let's just relax and forget everyone else."

"Sounds great," I smile and head inside together, hand in hand.

***

As Max gets ready, I go into the hallway and snoop around. Fully relaxed and recharged, it didn't take long for Max to text me after getting back home asking if I wanted to come over to his place. And even though he invited me, he still wasn't completely ready for me and now I have some downtime before we're at each other like animals.

Though I've been here every other day mostly, I've only really been in the living room and his bedroom. Now taking my time, I look at all the photos on the walls. Despite the boys being by each other's side constantly, Mrs. Torres only has a couple pictures of them with Max. But it is clear that Mrs. Torres' focus is on Max and his life throughout the years.

There are photos of him at a young age with missing teeth; there are photos of him and his mom in professional shoots with varying willingness to smile; there are photos of him up north climbing and swimming; and the one that catches my eye is one where his leg is wrapped up and him on crutches. I tilt my head as I study the photos. He doesn't look that much younger than he is now.

Hearing the floorboards creak, I turn to find Max studying me with those fucking nice eyes of his. "When did that happen?" I ask as I turn back to the photos.

Following my eyeline, Max says, "End of sophomore year. Some jealous fuck from North St. Paul targeted me while I was at second. Completely shattered my knee and dislocated my shoulder."

I frown. "What the fuck?"

Max softly chuckles. "I had two surgeries on my knee and was wrapped up for six months before I had to wear a brace for another six months. Only until last spring, I've been free of that shit."

I turn to him fully and my eyes go down to his knee. "And are you okay? Does it still hurt?"

"It gets stiff sometimes and I have to take it easy now and again but yeah, I'm good." Max steps a little closer to me and lifts my chin up so I gaze up at him. "I'll never play baseball again but I'm good Jules."

"Is it because of the pain or-"

"Mostly by choice," he interrupts. He pauses as if this is the first time he's admitting this verbally to anyone before. "I don't want to be afraid that I'll get hurt like that again. And I don't want to taint my favorite sport any more than it already did." I pout thinking about losing something you love like that in one go. From what little I've heard before, Max must've been really good at the sport.

I'm suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when Max wraps his arms around me and kisses me softly. It was the kind of kiss to take anyone's breath away, one that was thorough and slow and magical. When we separate, I laugh, "What was that about?"

He chuckles and brings his lips to mine again. "You're cute when you pout."

"Noted." I might have to use that in the future to get what I want especially if he's going to do that again. Batting my lashes at him, I bite my bottom lip. "So are you going to show me your scars?"

Laughing and showing me one of the prettiest smiles ever, he nods. Sweeping me off of my feet, he quickly takes us back to his room and it suddenly hits me that this is the happiest I've been in a long while.

And that kind of scares me at how well things are going.

But for now... I let go those worries to just focus on Max and how fucking good he makes me feel.