Page 77 of Scandalous Little Obsession
"You're bringing the party down," Finn states, picking a marshmallow off the top of the sweet potato casserole and popping it in this mouth.
"So you decided to throw food at me?"
"That was me," Kendall announces.
"Of course it was," Max mutters under his breath.
"I'm sorry. What was that? I couldn't hear you." Kendall pokes at Max, a wicked grin on her face. I watch as Declan nudges her, but she's clearly not ready to give up. "Just giving you a taste of your own medicine, Max. Learn to be nice to others, and they'll be nice to you."
Max doesn't reply; instead, he focuses on his plate, moving his food around but not eating anything. The rest of the meal goes by in the blink of an eye. Once everyone's done, the girls leave the guys to clean up. The only person excused from everything is Julian since he cooked. He slipped out the back door with Piper on his arm without even saying goodbye.
I wanted to thank him for his help. For his encouragement. But he was gone before I had the chance.
There’s only Max, Finn, and me left in the dining room, clearing the last of the plates. Finn watches the two of us closely, not saying a word. I can feel his eyes as I move around the table, gathering dirty silverware. Max must be able to as well because he finally calls Finn out.
"Dude, calm down. I'm not going to hit him again."
"You sure? I didn't think you were going to hit me, and then you sucker punched me months after the fact. I'm just watching out for the kid. And for you. I don't want Evie to have to kick your ass again."
"She didn't kick my ass," Max replies defensively.
"Really? From where I was sitting, she didn't take it easy on you either. Still glad you taught her how to throw a punch?"
Max taught Evie how to fight? I shouldn't be shocked. And I really shouldn't be laughing at the irony of the situation, but I can't help it.
"Laugh it up, kid. I'm not the one who's going to have a black eye in the morning."
"Yeah, but I'm not the one who got beat up by a girl who weighs one hundred pounds and barely comes up to my chin." Max glares at me but doesn't say anything else as we finish cleaning up the table. It's not until he leaves the room that I remember Finn is still in here.
"Don't get cocky now. He might throttle you yet. Watch your back."
"This coming from the guy he sucker punched in the bathroom."
"Exactly. So you should heed my warning. Max is like a firework. His fuse is always lit. You never know when he's going to go off."
"He needs to get laid," I mutter to myself. When Finn's large hand lands on my shoulder and squeezes, I swallow the words I was going to say next.
"I wouldn't be talking about sex in front of him, or any of us, any time soon. We all love Evie like a sister. Max might be the most protective, but we have her back when he's not around. Remember that."
Finn brushes past me, stopping in the doorway to give Evie a kiss on the head before disappearing into the other room.
"How many brothers do you have?" I joke as she approaches. Evie doesn't answer, only smiling up at me as I reach out and tug her into my embrace. "And why are they all so much bigger than me?"
"You're not that much smaller than them; they just have an intimidation factor you haven't mastered yet. They didn't used to be like this. I swear, the last few years, it's like their personalities have grown and because of that, so has their presence in a room. Yet, they're the same height and weight they've always been. Well, they've all bulked up a bit since high school. And Micah's muscles—"
I silence her with my lips, not wanting to hear what she has to say about another man's body. The only body I want her thinking about is mine. Only one I want her touching is mine. And the only hands I want touching her belong to me.
Pulling back, I rest my forehead against hers and close my eyes. For a moment, it's just the two of us. No drama. No one else around. The silence is peaceful, and the reprieve is welcome.
It doesn't last long enough. A throat clears and when I look up, I find Max standing in the doorway.
"You want to join us?"
His eyes are focused on me, making it clear that whatever he's inviting me to, Evie is not welcome. It's also clear I don't have an option. He may be asking a question, but he expects a certain answer.
"Uh, sure."
"Actually, Maxy. We were just about to leave. You'll have to catch Leo next time."
