I Don't Believe In Fate

Chapter 10

After leaving Shannon's house, I made it back to Lilly's and grabbed the guitar out of the back seat. I had to get it in the house before Max and his buddy saw me. If they did, they would surely embarrass me to no end. Lily arrived home earlier than I planned and I was tripping over my own feet to get my stuff loaded into the car. I wanted to hurry and leave before she started asking all kinds of questions.

Lily wasn't stupid and I knew she had to realize something was off by the way I was acting. I did tell her that Max didn't give me any trouble and I would consider staying again if needed.

Max was his usual self, quiet and not saying much as I loaded up. I was very thankful that he didn't mention a word about Shannon coming over. I hugged Lily and tossed my backpack in the car. "Later, Max." I nodded as they both stood, watching me drive off.

"Later." I chuckled at his classic one word responses. The whole way home all I could think about was that kiss Shannon and I shared. When I realized that he tricked me with the guitar, I acted annoyed, but the truth was, I would've let him continue kissing me if it weren't for Max.

After an hour drive, I walked into my quiet apartment. I was kind of sad to come home and be all alone, but this is life now. I just had to get used to it. Unfortunately, I was becoming a hermit in my time off. I missed Lily, Max, and my parents and thought about moving to LA, but decided against it. I dumped the clothes from my backpack into the laundry basket and headed into the bathroom to take a shower. I was starving and had to go get something to eat. I didn't buy much at the grocery before going to Lily's, so there wasn't much in the refrigerator.

I washed and dried my hair and threw some jeans and an old  Metallica T-shirt. 'A gorgeous man kissed me today and I ran away. Am I stupid?' I joked with myself, trying to understand why I do such dumb things. 'Get your shit together Claire.' I promised myself that if I ever bumped into him again, I wouldn't run away. 'I should be so lucky.'

I decided on sushi for dinner and ordered in the car so I could just run in and pick it up. Maybe I would even stop and pick up a nice bottle of red wine and the new James Patterson book. I was all set for my exciting night alone. Parking the car, I was about to get out when my phone rang.

Seeing Lily's name on the screen, I answered. "Hello?"

"Claire, hey you made it back alright?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?" She never called to check on me and I immediately began to suspect something. Did Max open his mouth about what happened?

"Just making sure. Everything okay?" She asked, but there was something in her tone that made me feel like that rebellious little shit spilled his guts.

"Lily, what's going on? You've never called to check if I made it safely from a forty-five minute drive before. Are you okay, is Max okay?"

"We're fine. Don't mind me, I'm just being the big sister, so let me do my job. I love you." 

Now I knew something was screwy. We had never been very lovey like that and certainly never  expressed emotion ever since Tyler died. "O.... kay. I love you guys too." This was just weird. "Anything else you need to confess to me?"

"No, not tonight." She laughed and I thought I heard Max in the background talking, but the phone sounded muffled, like she was trying to stop me from hearing him. "Was that, Max?"

"Yeah, he just wanted to say thanks for staying with him. Well, have a good night Claire. Bye." She rushed me off the phone and I sat there for a few seconds trying to understand what the fuck just happened. Max wanted to thank me? Yeah, right.

That was the strangest conversation I think I ever had with my sister. I shook my head and got out of the car. Carrying the box of take out in one hand and the bottle of wine in the other, I wasn't prepared for what, or who, was waiting for me at the door.

Shannon was leaning against the wall, hands in his pocket and looking sexy as ever. "I figured you could give me a tour of your apartment this time."