Max tucked Julia into his side, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Piss off. Nothing was going to happen.”
A long, tense stare passed between them and Halloran burst into good-natured laughter. “Fine. You work bloody fast, though.”
Max’s chest loosened. “I had to. You’ve seen Julia.”
Julia tapped his side, a gentle admonishment, but not denial. She smiled at Halloran. “Have a good night, John. Hope your car starts running properly.”
“Me too, gorgeous. Give me a call once you’re bored with Connor.”
Max scowled. “Get out of here.”
With one last chuckle, John left. Good fucking riddance.
Max tugged Julia into his arms and planted kiss after kiss on her cheeks, her forehead, her nose. Between kisses he apologized. “I’m sorry for being a coward. I’m sorry I left you at Brett’s party. I’m sorry I made you doubt the way I feel. I’m sorry for showing up at your house without the answer you needed. I’m just fuckingsorry.”
Julia tugged on his shirt collar. “I understand. Everything was so complicated.”
“It wasn’t complicated at all. I fell in love with you the night we met. I know that sounds stupid and unrealistic but I did. I’ve thought about you for years. I don't want to disrespect Bonnie, but I’ve never—”
He broke off, everything he felt welling up inside him.
“You don’t have to say it,” she whispered.
“I want to.” He swallowed hard. “The way I feel about you? I’ve never felt for anyone before. Every time I see you, it’s like my heart starts pounding out of my chest. I can't sleep, I never want to eat. I think about you when I beat off…Fuck, this was meant to be romantic.”
Julia’s eyes were bright. “It is romantic. It’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Trust me, I’m usually better at this.” Max smiled apologetically. “I’ll probably think of a hundred better ways to say this tomorrow but while I’m screwing up, I should say I’d be totally willing to sleep in a tent for you, Julia. I’ll play your video games, I’ll introduce you to my mum and I swear I won’t be embarrassed. I was never embarrassed by you. I was embarrassed because I wanted something I didn’t think I should. I’m done with that now.”
He held up his left hand.
Julia’s eyes widened. “You got rid of the ring.”
“Figured it was about time. I feel a little exposed without it but it feels good. Different.”
Julia’s mouth turned down and she looked on the verge of tears.
“Fuck, Jules, I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about this here.”
She touched his side. “No, I want to say this.”
She cleared her throat, looking almost heartbreakingly vulnerable. “I-I never stopped thinking about you. I thought it was a teenage crush because you were so gorgeous and easy to talk to…”
Max grinned.
“But you should know I’m not good at opening up and I have these issues about trust and intimacy and—and…”
She mumbled an indistinguishable word.
“Babe, I’m sorry, but what was that?”
“Money,” she whispered. “I hate talking about money. I should probably warn you about that before things go further between us. I can barely look at my own bank account…”
Max’s inner radar went haywire. The donation he’d made to Scarlet Woman. There was no chance Julia would find out about that, right?
“…but I promise I’ll work on that stuff. I won’t let it come between us.”
She smiled shyly. “I want to be with you. Be your girlfriend, I guess, if we’re leaping straight to titles.”