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“This is the second time you’ve mentioned destiny. I never took you for a spiritual guy.”

“This ain’t about being spiritual, Ada,” he says, giving me a steady look. “It’s just about what is. There’s destiny in all of this. I’ve always believed in it. Now I know for sure. That’s why I’m sitting here right now.”

“But how can you be so sure?”

His green eyes look exhausted for a brief moment before they sharpen again. “Because I have to believe it. I have to believe this all makes sense. You have no idea what I’ve gone through, what I’ve seen…to be back here like this…it’s for a reason. I just don’t know what that reason is. But I have no doubt I’ll find out.”

I guess I can’t argue with that. The man definitely deserves to believe in something that makes sense for him, especially when there’s nothing about his situation that does.

“So, I guess you’ll be bunking here for a while,” I tell him. “Don’t feel bad, I’m on holidays for the next week so I’m doing the same.”

“Is it too much to ask for a ride back to Portland when you go?” he asks me.

“Sure. But I thought you’d stay here with Dex and Perry.”

He runs his hand through his thick red hair, the color of late autumn leaves. “No. There’s nothing for me here.”

“And there is in Portland?”

“I used to live there, remember? I could get my old apartment back if I needed to. And, besides that, there are answers in Portland.”

“Answers?” I frown.

“Jacob,” he says. “He got me as far as the Veil, but not the rest of the way. Why?”

I snort, picking up my dish and reaching over for his. “You have another thing coming if you think Jacob is going to give you answers.”

“He will,” Max says as I take the dishes to the sink to rinse them off. “Don’t forget, we go back a very, very long way. I’ve paid him many favors, and he’s done the same for me.”

“You Jacobs are a confusing bunch,” I tell him. “Redheaded enigmas wrapped in a ginger puzzle.”

When he doesn’t say anything, I glance at him over my shoulder. He quickly looks away, picking up his mug. Was he just staring at my ass? Granted, my ass does look banging in these pajama pants, so I guess I can cut him some slack. Besides, I’m pretty sure the gentle giant hasn’t been around women in who knows how long. Three years for sure, but I’m sure time runs differently in Hell.

I’m about to ask him how he’s doing mentally, after all that, when the door to the bedroom opens and Perry comes out in her house robe, padding toward us in her slippers, her dark hair a wild mess.

“You’re up,” she says to me, then looks at the plates. “And you’re doing the dishes. Quelle surprise.”

“Why is everyone so shocked that I’m up?” I tell her while waving at Max. “It’s noon.”

“I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck and I barely did anything last night,” Perry says, heading to the Keurig. She pulls out a pod and looks over at Maximus. “And honestly, I still feel out of it, like last night didn’t happen. But there you are, Max.”

“Here I am, little lady,” he says, giving her a soft smile. “Guess I should tell you again, in case I didn’t enough last night, how grateful I am that you got me out.”

Perry waves him away, turning her attention to the coffee streaming into her cup. “It was nothing.”

“Can I at least make you and Dex some breakfast?” he asks, getting to his feet. “If you’re going to let me crash on your couch this week, I could become your live-in cook.”

Perry laughs and brings her coffee to her mouth, facing him. “Sounds like a plan. But do you really think you’re going to find a place—and a job—in a week?”

He glances at me before looking back to her. “Actually, I’m getting a ride back to Portland with Ada when she leaves.”

Perry’s brows knit together as she gives me a suspicious look. “You’re going with Ada? Why?”

“I have business there.”

“What business? Why does it have to involve Ada?”

Max laughs, running his hand over his chin. “I can’t tell if you’re looking out for me or looking out for Ada.”

“Both of you,” she says. She shakes her head, putting down her coffee. “And I’m not…I’m just surprised. I didn’t think there was anything for you there.”

“There’s nothing for me here, Perry. I have you and Dex, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want me crashing here forever. In Portland I have Jacob. That’s enough to get me back on my feet.”

“You think Jacob can give you a job?”

He gives her a funny smile. “You never wondered how I had money, when I never seemed to do anything but watch over Dex, and you? Perry, I’m a survivor. I’ve been around for a very long time, sometimes in my role as guardian, like for Dex or for Rose, sometimes just as a mere mortal. But I’ve always been taken care of. Don’t you worry about that.”