His gaze drops to it, his expression looking a mixture of pissed and entertained. “Not fucking happening.” He takes the hand that I’m holding out and laces his fingers with mine.
Oh shit.
“Mr. and Mrs. Mayson.” He turns to greet my parents as they get closer. “It’s nice seeing you both again.”
“Oh Lord,” I breathe.
“Again?” Dad frowns while my mom looks up at him with wide-eyed wonder.
“My parents are good friends with Autumn and Kenton. We met years ago when my family was in town visiting them.”
“Your father…. Wait, I know you.” Dad snaps his fingers. “You’re Kai’s kid.”
“I don’t think he’s a kid anymore, sweetheart.” Mom laughs.
“Mayhem,” Dad says, looking proud.
“Maxim,” he corrects with a laugh.
“That’s right.” Dad reaches out to smack his arm.
“Kill me now,” I whisper, and Maxim’s eyes drop down to me as he smiles a seriously attractive smile. Forcing my eyes off his, I look at the bag my dad is holding and feel my expression soften. “You brought me Louie’s?”
“We figured you could use some of your favorite comfort food.” Mom steps toward me so she can give me a hug. “And since we brought extra for you to have leftovers, we have enough for all of us.” She looks at Maxim. “You’re joining us, right?”
“Of course he is,” Dad answers for him, and my heart starts to pound.
“What were you doing out here?” Mom asks, looking at my outfit as she takes my arm and turns for the house.
“Nothing.”
“She’s getting calls from women who are pissed about the fact that she ghosted her ex,” Maxim tells them, and I glare at him over my shoulder as we head upstairs. “They should know what’s going on.”
“Women are calling you?” Mom asks.
“It’s not a big deal.” I shake my head, not wanting her to worry.
“It’s a big fucking deal,” Maxim says, then adds, “Not only could one of these chicks end up being psycho enough to come after you in person, but I’ve only seen you with one phone, which means these idiots got what also happens to be your work number.”
My nose scrunches. I didn’t think about that, and that is an issue, since going through the process of getting a number and making sure that all my clients are updated is going to be a pain.
“How did they find out who you are? And how in the world did they get your phone number?” Mom asks, picking up my cell phone when Maxim sets it down on the counter.
“Women are more efficient at getting information than the CIA and the FBI combined,” Dad says.
“You’re not wrong,” I agree, knowing that if you give me even a couple of details about someone, I can figure out where they live, their number, where they work, and who they are dating.
“Really?” Mom asks.
“It’s not that hard. Everything nowadays is on social media.” I take a seat at the island in the kitchen.
“Maybe you should call Cohen so he knows what’s going on,” Mom suggests, handing me my phone, and I groan when I see all the new calls and texts.
“She doesn’t need to speak to him,” Maxim says, and Dad gives him an approving look.
“I don’t think that’s your call.” Mom plants her hands on her hips, and I roll my lips together to keep from laughing. My mom is sweet, but she is also a woman who will never let a man steamroll her or her girls, no matter who that man is.
“Babe,” Dad says, and she turns to him.
“Yes?” she snaps at him.
“Her talking to him isn’t going to solve anything. If anything, that might make the situation worse.”
“Maybe not, if he tells everyone to leave her alone,” she argues, and Dad gives her a look that I can tell means Really?
“Fine, no talking to him,” she gives in. “So what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, but I obviously need to change my number.” I toss my phone down, then look at Maxim, trying not to overthink the fact that since he came into my life yesterday, drama has started swirling around my life.
Fuck!
Chapter 5
April
I WAKE UP and know instantly that Maxim is not in bed with me. I sit up and look around my room, finding the bathroom door open and the light off. I check the time on the clock and groan when I see it’s already nine. Normally, I’m up by now, especially on the weekend, when I make the most money.
Grabbing my cell, I look at the blank screen, and all my frustration from yesterday comes back. Last night while my parents were over, I was able to call and get a new phone number, which stopped all the excessive texts and calls. It also made it impossible for my clients to get ahold of me. Using my Notes app, I quickly type up a generic message that includes an apology along with my new phone number, then send it out to almost everyone on my contact list.