Page 11 of Max

Tears from laughter she was trying to hold in but wasn’t that successful. I focused on her shoulders that were jumping up and down in silent hilarity, making her hair bounce. God, my friend, was pretty. Big green eyes, button nose that had a dust of freckles here and there. And her hair. God, I would kill to have hair like hers. Black, thick, and curly in such a way no hair product or styling tool would ever make it so. She was my height, which put her around 5’3’’ and slim. She was pretty on the outside, but the beauty that resided inside her had no comparison, and it spilled out of her eyes. Every man drooled over her. I chanced a look at Max, who was standing by the kitchen counter to see if he joined that particular club but he was watching the phone with a strange look, and then as if he sensed me looking at him, his eyes met mine. The instant they did, his look changed, and the way it changed made me tingle all over, one place in particular. The feeling was so intense I had to cross my legs and look away.

I couldn’t believe that we were here now. That my life had come to this. The now in which we all listen to Valeria, Nico’s grandmother, calling her grandson a dick and saying I should have left him ages ago since he was a lowlife and a slime.

"You think I don't know, Bambina, but I saw," the weight of Valeria's sigh was heavy, even on my chest. "I saw the way you were walking after you would say something he didn't like. I saw the fear lurking in your eyes. I saw each and every time you bowed your head, and your shoulders slumped when he dismissed you. And my beautiful girl, whenever you came to see me, after you left, your loneliness clung to me like a child would to his mother."

I was giving it my all to swallow down the lump in my throat and not to break. It appeared no matter how hard I tried; I didn't fool Valeria. God, I loved her. She was an eighty-year-old woman who looked like the wind would break her but had a personality of a fifteen-year-old. She was the first one to push Melanie and me into doing something that Nico and his mother would deem beneath them. Whatever was not up to their standards, I was not to do. Unfortunately, that included going to the farmers market or to amusement parks, which were Valeria's favorite. With all those restrictions and with Valeria slowly losing her spirit and will to do something fun, I still went to visit her every week and made sure to call her at least twice a week. Those two didn’t abuse her in any way, I checked. After talking gently with Valeria, I decided to take her to the doctor for a checkup, since I was scared out of my mind, she was lying to me. No, they just ignored her. Except on Sunday, when we were all demanded to be present at brunch so all their friends could see they maintain firm family bonds. I know she preferred it that way.

"Okay honey, you were right. I-"

I didn't get a chance to finish what I was saying because suddenly Valeria started to laugh. That rich sound that instantly brightened up the room, even only coming through a speaker.

"Best moment in years, seeing the look on that dirtbag's face," hearing Valeria say that Melanie doubled down, holding her stomach but not before I saw tears of laughter streaming down her face. "Not to mention that daughter of mine. I was sure the steam would start to come out of her ears."

"Honey, those are your grandson and daughter you're talking about," I chastised her gently.

I always did. No matter how nasty or hurtful they were to me, I didn't like it when Valeria stooped to their level. She was a lady through and through, not to mention a gentle soul. They were her family; after all, I was just someone who came along.

"You're more my family than they will ever be."

"Valeria," I said her name softly. I tried to put everything I felt for her in that one word.

"I know, Bambina," she said just as softly back. "I know."

I didn't get a chance to say anything else because the line went dead. Valeria never was one for the mushy stuff. Whenever I told her how much I loved her, she would blush and put a plate full of food in front of me. That was her way of saying she felt the same.

"We should -" the loud banging on the door interrupted me.

I could not finish a sentence today.

"Max, you motherfucker, open up!" I looked up at Max only to see annoyance washing over his features.

He put the water bottle he was holding on the kitchen counter. His eyes flashed to mine, and he shook his head a little.

"If you don't open up right now, I'm going to call the cops!"

"Fuck," Max sighed and dragged his feet toward the door.

It was comical seeing this big man dragging his feet, almost like a ten-year-old who knew that he did something wrong and was going to get it. I shared a look with Melanie. I'm sure my eyes were wide open with shock and a little bit of fear. Hers? Hers were full of excitement. In the next second, both of us jumped on our feet and ran towards the door.

"I'm going to kill you, you bastard." A small, blonde woman stood close to Max, her finger poking his chest. "Where is he?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he drawled, almost bored.

It was astonishing. This woman was brave. To come up to a mountain of a man and talk to him the way she did, not to mention taking a threatening stance.

"Don't bullshit me. Where is Jason?"

"How should I know? He's your boyfriend, not mine."

"Yes, and you keep kidnapping him!"

Sweet Mary. Did Max keep kidnapping some man? I grabbed Melanie's hand, squeezed, and muttered so no one would hear.

"We need to get out of here."

"No way! This is way too entertaining not to see what will happen."

"Are you serious?" I forgot about being sneaky and quiet. "Didn't you hear, he kidnapped a man!"