By the timeI’m locking my office door the following Friday, Coach and Carys are on a flight to Germany in the King Corp. jet, heading to the military hospital, and I’m about ready for bed. If I thought the week leading up to the fundraiser was brutal, it had nothing on the week leading up to Max’s team party tomorrow, coupled with everything that had to be done after the fundraiser.
But life has a way of spinning you in circles, and with the bad comes the good. Willow and I have been fielding calls all week from sponsors, donors, and charities asking for our help. It’s been incredible. And I’ve already started to plan for another event in the new year.
It’s safe to say I’m exhausted. Mentally and physically.
I poke my head into Max’s office to let him know I’m leaving for the night and am pleasantly surprised when he’s closing his laptop already. “Hey, I was just heading out. You getting done early?”
He stands and grabs his suit coat from the back of his chair. “Yeah. I’m done. Let’s go home. Want to pick up dinner on the way?” I’ve slept at Max’s house every night this week. I haven’t officially moved in, but that’s because we haven’t had a chance to pack up my things yet.
“Oh yeah. Let’s get Fat Jack’s. I’m in the mood for greasy food and the new season of that show on Netflix.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and walks me to the elevator.
“There’s about a thousand shows on Netflix, Daphne. Care to narrow it down?” The two of us step in, and he presses me against the wall. “Unless that was an excuse to Netflix and chill.”
“Maximus Kingston. When was the last time you just chilled?” I swear his brain never stops. “Oh my God, did I tell you about this TikTok I saw earlier? Thee.Reading.Mom says it’s ‘chicken and dicken,’ not ‘Netflix and chill’ when you’re old.”
Max growls. “I’m not that old yet.” He smacks my ass. “First... you sound like my sisters when you call me Maximus.” He takes my lips in a searing kiss. “And second, you’re teaching me to chill. It’s a lot easier to relax with you in my life, Daphne. I like going home at night when I know you’ll be there with me.”
The elevator doors slide open, and we step out. He walks me to my car and pins me to my door. “Marry me, Daphne.”
“What?” I whisper. Scared of my answer. Scared of the question.
He drops down to one knee. “Marry me, Daphne Brenner. Let me love you forever.” He pulls a burgundy velvet ring box from his pocket and cracks it open. A beautifully cut round diamond sits by itself on a platinum band. “I thought about asking Maddie if she could give me your mom’s rings. But I wanted you to have something that was just yours. If you’d rather wear hers, we can have this made into something else...” He slides the ring onto my finger and brushes his lips over my hand.
“Promise you won’t change your mind?” A sob is caught in my throat. “I can’t lose you, Max.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” I nod my head uncontrollably and launch myself at him.
Max catches me and swings me around in a circle before he places me back down. “I always knew you’d either be my destruction or my salvation. Thanks for saving me.”
My fingers tangle in the dirty-blonde hair curling at his collar. “I could never destroy you, Max. You pulled me into your orbit the very first time I met you, and I’ve wanted to feel your warmth every day since. Even when I thought I hated you, you pulled me toward you. I love you, Max. Every piece of you.” He pins me against my car door and captures my lips in a kiss that sets my heart on fire.
My phone trills in my pocket with an incoming call I try to ignore. But as soon as it stops, it starts again. I pull it out and send the call to voicemail.
“Lets’s go celebrate.” Max smiles, and I swear that warmth shines so damn bright.
“Fat Jack’s?” I ask as a joke, but I’m pretty sure that’s what I actually want. When the phone rings again, we both glare. “It’s Maddie. Let me just make sure everything’s okay.”
I slide my finger across the screen, not sure what to expect. “Hey, Mads. Now’s not a good time—”
“Daphne, you’ve got to get to the house. Your dad is here. He was walking around the property, didn’t knock on the door or anything. Brandon grabbed him and told me to call the cops. But when I saw who it was, I called you first. What do you want me to do?”
“We’ll be right there, Mads.” I end the call and look up at Max, who heard the whole thing.
“Come on.” He wraps an arm around me. “Luka can drive us.”
We get into the car, and I’m on autopilot, moving but not feeling anything.
Max fills Luka in as we head to Dixon’s, but I tune them out.
My thoughts spiraling.
I’ve wanted to confront him since the day he left. But I don’t know what to say to him.
Of course, my bastard of a father would come back today.
Why not taint one more memory?