Saving Max

Chapter 20

I wake a little groggy, wiping the tiredness out of my eyes as I sit up, looking across the living room to see Katie sprawled out on the ground, her arms and legs all stretched out to make her look almost like a starfish. The blanket she had last night is balled at her feet, and her night shirt has risen slightly to show the bottom of her back.

I get up, walking over and kicking her in the side, just hard enough to wake her, a small groan falling from her lips as I leave her alone, shuffling over to the kitchen. I pull a bowl out of the cupboard, turning around and getting a box of cereal off from the top of the fridge, picking Coca Puffs to start of my morning.

"I feel like a zombie." Katie grumbles, snatching the box of Coca Puffs out of my hands and getting herself a bowl of cereal before standing next to me, leaning her back against the stove like she can barely stand on her own without assistance.

We didn't really do much besides watch movies and joke around last night, but we stayed up until 5am doing it, so it proved for quite a long night. By the end of the movie What to Expect When You're Expecting, (Katie's choice) I felt like my eyes were about to kill me with how heavy they felt.

"Don't worry, I feel the same." I sigh, offering a half smile as I place my bowl in the sink, leaning next to her again to wait as she finishes. "And I have to look after Max today again. They don't have school for elementary because of some teacher work day, so I have to stay home and look after him with Caden, and then go to his parent-teacher meeting tonight. Apparently they have one every quarter or something like that."

Katie frowns at this, pouting as she fills her mouth with another spoonful of Cocoa Puffs. "Can I stay home with you?" she pretends to fake a cough, holding her arm over mouth as she practically chokes on air, patting her chest after she's done. "I think I'm sick."

I grin, nodding at her antics, mostly because she didn't even need to ask. She, Caden, Max, and I will have a fun time hanging out today, probably just doing something really relaxed so that I can catch up with my two favorite boys.

The thought that I'll see Caden again today makes me happy, since the last time I saw him was late Sunday afternoon, and it's now Thursday morning. I'm not really sure how to act around him yet, mostly because the relationship is still so new, an we don't want anyone to know about it. On top of that, after talking with Katie last night, I can't help but feel a little guilty about keeping my acceptance to Stanford from him.

But one thing I do know, is that I really, really want to kiss him. Now that my lips have gotten a taste, it's like they can't get enough. Caden's lips are now my most favorite taste in the world, and I can barely wait until my next taste.

"As long as you don't mind helping take care of Max, I'd love for you to spend he day with us. It'll be good for my boyfriend and my best friend to spend some time together." I shrug, earning a small, quick hug from Katie, telling me that she's going to change really quick.

I decide to take this small bit of alone time to call Caden, even though I just talked to him yesterday afternoon. I tell myself that it's just to let him know about Katie tagging along today, but on the inside, I know it's just because I want to his voice.

"Hey princess." he greets me, picking up after the very first ring, the smile evident in his voice.

"Hey." I say breathlessly, still not quite being able to suppress the effect he has on me. "What's up?"

He lets out a long breath, a few slow footsteps coming through from the other end of the line. "Nothing really. Just missing you." He knows what his words do to me, and I know he can see the blush that's on my cheeks from all the way across town. "What time are you getting back?"