“Okay, now it just feels like you’re playing doctor,” I tease, reclining back in the chair and sticking out my arms. “That’s fine, though. I’ll play with you.”
His light blush goes to full-on blazing red. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
I hold his gaze. “No, I want to.”
With an unsteady nod, he kneels in front of me and begins hooking me up, placing pieces on my fingers, forearm, shoulder, and collarbone. By the time he’s finished, we’re both shaky and nervous, and struggling to breathe normally, which is embarrassing since only my nervousness shows on the monitor.
“You’re nervous,” he states, staring at the screen.
I bob my head up and down. “Yeah, I kind of am.”
He scratches his chin then twists to face me. “I have to ask you something.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“It’s about why you did it.”
My lips plunge downward, and my heartbeat spikes. “Okay.”
“The letter said it was because Queeny told you to … I want—no, need to know—if there was more to it than that. If maybe you hated me or something.”
I hurriedly shake my head. “Max, I’ve never hated you. Ever. What I said in that letter … about liking you since forever … I meant every word, even though I wish some of the words weren’t true. Like the terrible stuff I did.
“I wish I could take back all the stuff I did, but I can’t. And I wish I would’ve told you sooner … about getting you guys kicked out of the science fair. I hate that I waited until Queeny forced me to do it, but I was so afraid I’d lose you. Then I did, anyway. And I …” I stop talking before I start to cry, but the monitor declares my shift in emotions like a big old tattletale.
Suddenly, I wonder if this was Maxon’s intention—to get me in here and use his machine to get back at me. I guess I deserve the humiliation, so I just sit back and take it.
Maxon’s gaze never wavers from mine, even when the monitor sputters out a series of beeps. “You called me Max.”
“Did I?” I want to kick myself in the behind. Out of all the times I decide to call him Max, I pick now. “Sorry. I know it’s only what your friends call you. I won’t do it again.”
He nods. “Good.”
And there goes what’s left of my heart.
As pain pierces through my chest, the monitor about loses its damn mind. Maxon panics when he notices, putting his hands on top of my thighs.
“I meant good in the sense that I don’t want you calling me Max.” His words rush out. “I like that you call me Maxon. It makes me feel … I don’t know, special.” He shakes his head at himself. “I’m officially the biggest idiot in the entire world.”
“No way. That title goes to me,” I assure him. “I’m the one who messed everything up.”
“You didn’t mess everything up,” he assures me, looking me in the eye. “I would’ve forgiven you eventually.”
I grip the handles of the chair, trying to calm down. However, my heart leaps like a giddy unicorn prancing through a field of rainbows. “You would’ve?”
He nods. “I like you too much not to. I was just upset because I felt betrayed.” He reaches up and cups my cheek, his fingers shaky but his gaze firm. “What you did—turning yourself in like that … How much trouble did you get into?”
My wildly spastic heart pounds in my chest and makes the monitor beep like crazy. “A months’ worth of afterschool detention, but it was totally worth it.”
He smiles. “So a whole month after school without you? What will I do?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe build me a machine that will help block out this machine’s effects?”
He glances at the screen then gives me a look that makes my pulse skip a beat, which then makes the machine quiet for a micro of a second.
“I don’t know about that,” he says. “I kind of like knowing what you’re feeling.”
“You don’t know exactly what I’m feeling,” I reply, my pulse quickening with doubt.
He chuckles at the sound. “Okay, maybe I don’t.”
“But if you want to know, I’ll tell you what I’m thinking,” I dare say, my heart soaring so swiftly the beeps have become a steady hum. When he nods, I wet my lips. “I want to kiss you. Or you kiss me. It doesn’t really matter which way. Just as long as—”
He cuts me off with a brush of his lips, and the heart monitor either dies or my heart literally stops beating. Whatever the reason, it grows quiet.
I let out a sigh before pulling him in for a deeper kiss, our tongues tangling, his fingertips delving into my thighs. I groan, pushing closer to him, but the cords keep me trapped against the seat. Finally, he jerks back, yanks off the straps, then crashes his lips against mine again.
We kiss for what feels like hours, moving from the chair to the bed, our bodies melding as our hands wander all over each other. He never crosses any lines, moving cautiously, tentatively while kissing me more wholly than I’ve ever been kissed.
And that’s how our moms find us when they show up for Friday night wine, tangled up in his bed, clothes crooked, but thankfully not off, our lips swollen from kissing for so long.
Instead of getting upset, though, they both giggle and crack jokes that make Maxon’s face go Elmo red. Me, I play all cool, even laughing with them, which kind of takes their fun away.
In the end, everyone seems pretty happy about the situation. We do get handed a punishment, though.
No more closing the door while we’re alone in the bedroom.
Epilogue
One month later…
“Will you chill the eff out?” Lucky chucks a chip at me as I pace the living floor, the carpet dotted with the ten other chips he already threw at me. “You’re making me nervous, and all I’m doing is sitting on my ass, watching Gilmore Girls reruns.”
I glance at the television. “Why are you watching Gilmore Girls reruns?”
“Um, hello, because it’s awesome.” He pats the cushion beside him. “Now, please sit the heck down so I can stop throwing chips at you.”
“Or you can just stop throwing chips at me.” I plop down on the sofa beside him, anyway, figuring my legs could use a break from the pacing marathon that’s been going on for two hours.
I can’t help being restless. Maxon was supposed to call over an hour ago to tell me if they made it through entry one of the science fair. I wanted to go, but we all agreed that might not be the best idea since the administrator isn’t a huge fan of mine. Neither is Kinslee, although she has toned down the I-wish-I-could-zap-you-to-the-moon stares a bit after realizing I wasn’t going anywhere. And since it was her day to shine, I volunteered not to go. That doesn’t mean I’m not totally bummed out.
I really wanted to watch my boyfriend participate in a science fair, way more than I’ve ever wanted to watch Knox play football. I even had a little cheer I was going to do for him. However, he assured me I could show him the cheer later, when we go to his bedroom and he shows me his science project after he gives me a quick peck on the cheek. And no I’m not kidding. That’s all we’ll be doing, thanks to the whole door-open-at-all-times rule.
Well, until later tonight when we sneak outside with his telescope and go stargazing, something we’ve done every night for the past two weeks after I admitted I liked kissing under the stars.
“Has anyone seen the batteries to my remote?” Dad hobbles out on his crutches, his knee wrapped up in a brace.
He’s been able to move around more over the last month, and even started physical therapy. Because he’s been doing so well, they’ve decided to put the other surgery on hold for now and see how things go. According to my tarot cards, he’ll do great.
“No.” I aim a finger at Lucky. “But I’m betting he stole them for his Xbox paddle.”
“Traitor.” Lucky chucks another chip at my head then stands up. “Let me go see if I can find them.”
The two of them leave the room, and worry
comes rushing back to me. I check my phone for the hundredth time in ten minutes, flipping the blank screen on with my middle finger.
“You’re not a very nice phone today, are you?”
I could always text him, but I don’t want to bother him if the competition ran late. I consider messaging Clarissa, but she didn’t enter the science fair this year, so I doubt she’ll have more of an update than I do.
Turns out that Maxon was right about her. She isn’t a huge fan of science stuff. That’s not the only reason she didn’t go to the fair, though. No, apparently Will Ivins is moving in with her mom and her today; a guy who runs with the Judd/Knox crowd. Or well, the Judd or Knox crowd since their friendship is officially buried under the ground with the maggots and worms, which was a great tragedy in Fareland, let me tell you. It made the headlines in the school paper. And no, I’m not kidding. Fareland is that pathetic.
When I asked Clarissa why Will was moving in with her, she said it was her mom’s idea. I didn’t buy into the whole story, and questioned if it had anything to do with the Heartbreaker Society. She shut that conversation down fast, reminding me the one rule of the Heartbreaker Society. I didn’t bother pointing out that I was never allowed to become an official member, so technically, the rules don’t apply to me.
All I can hope is that, if she is up to something, she’s careful.
I stare at the phone, willing the screen to light up. “Come on; will you please text—”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I run for the door, tripping over Lucky’s brand new laptop in the process—a birthday present from Gabby. I catch my balance before I completely do a belly flop, and then pick up the computer.
“Please don’t be broken. Please.” I sigh in relief when it boots up normally.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Coming!” I set the computer down, fix my hair, then throw the door open.
Maxon greets me with a smile that makes my heart turn into a glow bug. “Took you long enough.”
“I tripped over the computer.” I snag the sleeve of his grey thermal shirt and drag him inside. Well, not really so much as drag since he practically rushes toward me and presses his lips to mine.
After kissing for at least a dozen minutes, we pull away to catch our breaths.
“So …?” I ask, clapping my hands together.
“So what?” he feigns clueless.
I lightly pinch his chest, a move that gets him to smile. “Don’t so what me. Tell me how it went.”
His eyes light up like they do every time he’s about to talk about science. “It went well, actually. Well, overlooking a few minor bumps and bruises.”
“Do those bumps and bruises have anything to do with Queeny being there?”
Yes, while life for Maxon and his science nerds has gone pretty much as peachy as a … well, peach, they did have one unfortunate incident that started when someone leaked that Queeny may have been cheating on her exams in science class. And no, that leak wasn’t made by me.
I kept my promise to myself not to stir up any more drama, and surprisingly, Queeny has toned down her rumor spreading. With me, anyway. I still get teased and everything, but it doesn’t bother me as much thanks to my awesome group of friends, who always have my back.
And Queeny never put any rats in my mom’s store, either. But I sometimes wonder if she didn’t because she lost the brain behind her “Destroy Ashlynn” mission, aka Judd. And, yeah, I know how crazy it sounds to put his name and brains in the same sentence.
Who turned Queeny in for cheating is beyond me, though I question if the Heartbreaker Society had something to do with it. I did get sweet satisfaction in knowing she was forced to do something that not only put a dent in her social status, but that she despised. And it didn’t hurt that the school newspaper decided to print an article about the science competition, which included a photo of the Fareland Science Club, starring Miss Bitchton herself. It was such perfect timing. Seriously! Talk about lucky.
Okay, okay, I may have had something to do with the photo and article being printed. After recently joining the newspaper, I suggested to the supervising teacher that doing a piece on the science team instead of the football team might be a good idea. You know, mix it up and do something different from the ordinary blah, blah, blah he threw a touchdown. Which was the truth, but I did have an ulterior motive and that was getting back at Queeny.
I know. I know. I promised I wouldn’t do it, but when Maxon, Clove, and Clarissa all said they’d support me if I went through with it, I caved. And watching Queeny throw a tantrum when she found out about the article gave me the tiniest bit of twisted satisfaction.
Blinking back to reality, I wrap my arms around Maxon and pull him closer. “I still can’t believe Mr. Chester punished Queeny by making her help you guys.”
He rests his hands on my waist, his fingers way steadier than a month ago when he touched me. “And she hated it every step of the way.”
“I know but it’s kind of punishment for you guys, too, and so it wasn’t completely fair.”
“What’s done is done, and we survived.”
“Yeah, you did, but only because you’re strong.” Just for kicks and giggles, I belt out the lyrics to “I Will Survive” by Cake.
He chuckles when I’m finished and brushes his lips against mine. “I love it when you sing.”
“Even though I’m tone deaf?”
“I love it more that you’re tone deaf.”
“Liar.” I smile then frown. “But seriously, why haven’t you told me if you’ve won or not?”
He winks at me. “Because I like drawing out the suspense.”
“Hmmm … I guess I’ll have to coax it out of you.” I dive in to kiss him, but stop right before our lips meld. When he moves forward, I lean back a sliver of an inch. “No kisses until you confess. And I know how much of a sucker you are for my kisses.”
“Fine.” He gives in way too easily, a light flush creeping across his face as he stares dazedly at my mouth.
Yep, even though he’s less nervous around me, he occasionally still flushes. And I’m glad. He wouldn’t be my Maxon if he didn’t.
“We won,” he admits with a tiny smile.
“You won!” I jump up and down, letting out a squeal. “Yay! I’m so happy for you.”
“Me, too.” A full-on smile shines across his face as he leans in, resting his forehead against mine. “I wish you could’ve been there.”
My eyelids flutter shut as his comforting, warm breath brushes across my face “I know. Me, too. But I’m here now.”
“And you’re happy, right?” he whispers, his lips grazing mine. “Being here with me?”
I nod. “The happiest of happiest. Like, Happy the Dwarf.”
“And that would make me …?”
“Sexy, Sweet, Cutest Nerd in the World Dwarf.”
“Now that sounds made up.”
“It is. I had to make up a name for your wonderful un-ordinariness.”
He chuckles with his eyes closed. “And now you’re making up words.”
I give him a feather light kiss. “And that’s bad because …”
“It’s not bad at all,” he says. “I love your craziness.”
“I prefer the term awesomely unique.” I seal my lips to his, feeling happier and lighter than I have in a long time. Amazing what telling the truth and making your wrongs right can do for your heart and soul. And it did help that Maxon easily forgave me. Otherwise, I might not be here, kissing the most perfect, opposite of ordinary guy I’ve ever met.
And who brought out my unordinary side, too.
About the Author
Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Coming Soon:
The Heartbreaker Society:
The Heartbreaker Society: The Liar
Other books
by Jessica Sorensen:
Shadow Cove Series:
What Lies in the Darkness
A Deadly Little Game (coming soon)
Standalones:
Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl
Confessions of a Kleptomaniac
The Illusion of Annabella
The Forgotten Girl
The Opposite of Ordinary
Broken City Series:
Nameless
Forsaken
Oblivion (coming soon)
Guardian Academy Series:
Entranced
Entangled
Enchanted (coming soon)
Sunnyvale Series:
The Year I Became Isabella Anders
The Year of Falling in Love
The Year of Second Chances
The Coincidence Series:
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
The Redemption of Callie and Kayden
The Destiny of Violet and Luke
The Probability of Violet and Luke
The Certainty of Violet and Luke
The Resolution of Callie and Kayden
Seth & Greyson
The Secret Series:
The Prelude of Ella and Micha
The Secret of Ella and Micha
The Forever of Ella and Micha
The Temptation of Lila and Ethan
The Ever After of Ella and Micha
Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always
Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always
The Shattered Promises Series:
Shattered Promises
Fractured Souls
Unbroken
Broken Visions
Scattered Ashes
Breaking Nova Series:
Breaking Nova
Saving Quinton
Delilah: The Making of Red