Page 75 of Tide and Seek

“Stop,” I said angrily, fury overriding the guilt.“You’re out of line.”

“Come on, Max—”

“For the last time, get your hands off me.”My voice was cold and harsh, and disappointment in James made my throat ache.Never in a million years would I have envisioned James acting like this.

When he made no move to back off, I shoved him hard and he stumbled backward, his face flushed with embarrassment and alcohol.“I just thought...the way you were looking at me...”

“Bullshit.I was looking at you like a friend,” I said sharply.“Nothing more.”

“Max, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“Yes, you did.”I moved toward the door, heart racing.“You meant exactly what you did.You thought you could use my guilt to manipulate me into something I’ve made clear I don’t want.”

“That’s not...I wouldn’t...”

I turned back to face him, and he must have seen something in my expression that made him stop talking.He sat down on the edge of the mattress as if his legs had given out.

“Get help, James.For the drinking, for whatever this is.But don’t keep using me as an excuse to wallow.I’m not the reason you don’t get everything you want in life.That’s ridiculous.You want that promotion, fight for it.Don’t turn into a drunk because you’re too scared to even try in case you fail.”

I left him sitting on the edge of C.J.’s bed and walked back out to the party, shaking with anger.Royce was standing by the railing, and when he saw my face, he immediately moved toward me.

“Everything okay?”he asked quietly.

“Not really,” I said curtly.“Can we please go?”

“Of course.”He was frowning as he studied me.I could see he wanted to ask me what had happened, but he stopped himself.

We sought C.J.out so we could say our goodbyes and one look at my face wiped the smile off hers.

“Oh, no,” she said.“Was James an asshole to you?”

I gave a hard laugh.“You could say that.”

“I’m sorry, Maxwell.”

“It’s okay.”I tried to smile, but my face was too stiff to accomplish the task.“Thank you for the party, C.J.”

Her mouth drooped.“You’re welcome.”I knew she wanted to say she was sorry again, but she held it in.

We escaped into the cool night air, and as we walked the short distance back to my house, I wrestled with whether to tell Royce what had happened.As we climbed the steps to my deck, James emerged from C.J.’s house.He didn’t glance over.He walked unsteadily toward his own place, head down.Watching him go, I felt a complicated mix of anger and disillusionment.

As we entered my home through the back, Royce said quietly, “You okay, Max?If you tell me you are, then I’ll leave you be.”

“I’m fine.”I closed the door behind us and said hoarsely, “But people can be so goddamned disappointing.”

He didn’t speak, he simply pulled me into his arms and held me tight.I leaned on him, needing his strength to center me as I inhaled his familiar, comforting scent.I was flustered by how James had acted.I already had a deep distrust of people, and tonight James had done more harm than good.

“If you want to talk, I’m here.”Royce’s voice was gentle.

“I don’t want to talk.”That had nothing to do with trusting Royce and everything to do with being confused.I’d probably end up telling him everything that had happened, but at the moment my thoughts were too jumbled.“Can we just go to bed?”

“Of course.”He let go of me and we made our way upstairs.

Once in the big bed, we moved together.Because our bodies were so close, I could tell that he was aroused.But he made no attempt to push for sex.He simply held me and stroked my hair.Eventually, my anxiety calmed and my lids grew heavy, and listening to the steady beat of Royce’s heart, I finally fell asleep.

Chapter Fourteen

Royce