“Alright, bro. What’s the sodding hurry?” I hear Max say fromabove.
Bare feet, followed by legs clad in light blue jeans and a figure-hugging white t-shirt descend. Catching sight of me, Max stops midway on the stairs. He leans his hand against the wall, steadyinghimself.
“You found her?” he says. He looks at me in shock, then frowns when he sees my cut lip, my swollen cheek and the way Bryce is supportingme.
“What the fuck has happened?” He scrambles down the stairs, jumping the last few steps and rushing towardsme.
Bryce withdraws his arm from around mywaist.
“Gently, Max. I think she has a broken rib,” he says, steppingaway.
“Broken rib? Louisa what’s happened, where have you been? Why did you leave? God, I want to hold you. Can I hold you?” His words tumble out of his mouth in arush.
I nod. “Just be careful of this bit here,” I say, my hand hovering over the part that is sore. It occurs to me then that I am still wearing my fluffy Primark pyjamas, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Max steps forward, wrapping one arm around my back, avoiding the sore spot, and with the other, gently guides my head towards his broad chest. I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his waist. Tears prick my eyes as he strokes myhair.
“Louisa, why did you leave?” he asks quietly, pressing a kiss against my head. I can hear his heart thundering beneath his ribcage.
“So, this must be Max, right? The fit blonde one,” Nisha says from behindus.
Max pulls away, looking down at me. “Fit blonde one, eh?” he grins, pulling back. “Yep, that’ll be me. Bryce is the cuddly, hairyone.”
I laugh, just the same as Nisha does. She strides over, her tight curlsbouncing.
“I’m Nisha,” she says, thrusting her hand towardshim.
“Hi, Nisha. Good to meet you.” Max gives her one of his most startling smiles, takes her hand and shakesit.
Nisha turns to me. “Well, aren’t you the bloody lucky one! Where’s Hudson?” she asks. It’s an innocent enough question, but I can sense the change in Max. He glances atBryce.
“It’s alright, Bryce told me. Is hehere?”
“No. He’s out right now. I don’t expect him to be back until the early hours,” Maxexplains.
“But you said he barely goes out?” I say toBryce.
He puffs out a breath. “Hud doesn’t often, but when he does he comes back in badshape.”
“I need to speak to him, toexplain.”
“Why you left us?” Max asksagain.
“Yes.” I press my hand against Max’s face. “I’m sorry, Max. My mum died… I wasn’tthinking.”
Max’s eyes widen. “Your mum’s dead? Damn it, Louisa. You shouldn’t have gone through that alone.” This time he leans in and presses a delicate kiss against my lips, and even though it stings a little, I am more overwhelmed by the sudden desire that tightens mychest.
Bryce steps forward. “There’s more. I’ll fill you in, Max, but before I do I think it’d be best if we show Louisa and Nisha to theirrooms.”
“Rooms?” Max asks,confused.
“Yes, they’ll be staying a while. Is Calhere?”
Max points upwards. “He’s in thelounge.”
“Send him out for the luggage and then ask him to go and find Hud, bring himhome.”
“But what if he’s…” Maxstarts.
“Then we’ll deal withit.”