More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Don’t worry, though.” He flicked his wet fingers at Grady, splashing tiny droplets on his face. “You’re prettier.”
“If I were up to your standards, we could probably have some fun together.”
Max Lockhart—“Hey, I’m Max”—orders a frozen margarita and asks if I want to go halfsies on a plate of nachos.
So maybe Max had had an idle fantasy or three about how to help Armstrong unwind.
Sure, in this hypothetical scenario he’d be dead, but he’d be dead and still pissing off Grady Armstrong. God was good, et cetera.
“Get your own dark corner, Lockhart. I’m meeting someone.” “I mean, I could leave,” Max said. “But then who’s gonna give you that orgasm?”
He rubbed his thumb over the mark he’d made, and Max shivered and flung his arm over his eyes.
“If you can make deductions based on my boobs, I can do it with your vibes.”
Oh Lord, what had Max unleashed? He pulled the towel from his shoulders, suddenly too warm, and cleared his throat. Whatever that feeling was when Grady complimented him sincerely, it needed to go back in the box.
“Is this enough for you?” Grady rasped. He barely recognized his own voice. Blessedly, Max seemed beyond words.
It was probably the romcom talking, but he could deal with next time.
How dare other people notice how good Max’s hair looked.
Time to offer… not a whole olive branch, but maybe a dirty martini.
Somehow they ended up talking about kids’ movies, because Grady had never seen Despicable Me and didn’t get why Max’s dog was named Gru. “You know, it’s the one with the Minions? Little yellow guys, obsessed with bananas?”
With breakfast and coffee taken care of, Grady’s blood sugar went up and a hint of surreality slipped in.
Like Max hadn’t gone and fallen completely in love with him, after sliding into it by reluctant degrees over the past month and a half.
At this point Max might as well own up. “It’s Grady.” “First-name basis,” Hedgie wailed. “This isn’t helping.”
Baller gave him a wry look. “Bro, I didn’t even realize I was bi before Gabe.”
“I hope it works out for the two of you.” Grady’s mouth dropped open. “For who?” David lifted a shoulder, easy nonchalance. “You and whoever you were thinking of when you looked at Starry Night Over the Rhone.”
Grady turned toward him with dazed eyes and smiled a high, uncomplicated smile. “Yeah?” Max was completely fucked.
“Uncle Grady, you can be the lobster cracker.” Nora stifled a laugh, and Logan cleared his throat and looked away. But Grady was torn between a sudden fascination with the redness in the apples of Max’s cheeks and his own complicated reaction. Uncle Grady.
“I should be the lobster,” Grady repeated quietly when Max’s fingers traced down the side of his face. “You crack me open.”
For a long moment Max held his gaze. Then he kissed him softly, slowly, his body braced over Grady’s like a shield. Grady anchored himself with a hand on Max’s shoulder and let the earth spin around them.
Grady let Max pull him up and lead him inside. He left the weight of his shell by the pool with his wineglass.
“Tell you what. If I’m around for Christmas next year, ask me again.”
Grady didn’t know what else to tell her, or how. He feels safe? He’s kind and generous and makes me laugh? He helps me remember what it’s like to be able to rely on someone other than you?
I was looking forward to spending the rest of my life getting you to pretend you’re annoyed with me. I know all this started with a stupid bet, but I think I’m in love with you. I think you’re in love with me too.
“Who just stops talking to someone they—?” “Someone they love?” Grady’s voice cracked. Fuck. Fuck. “Now you say that to me?” Max’s hands shook and his eyes burned. “Now?”
“Say it for real.” “Max.” Max swallowed hard and held his breath while Grady paused. “I’m in love with you.”
“How do you feel about rekindling that rivalry now that Max has been traded to the Piranhas?”
Sonia shook her head. “You must’ve missed the news. They flipped him to Anaheim an hour ago.” Grady could not have controlled his expression if his life depended on it.
“How have you kept this quiet for so long when your face does that when you talk about him?”
“They flipped him to Anaheim an hour ago.” Grady rubbed his fingers over his stubble, but it didn’t hide the smile, which crept all the way up to his eyes and made the skin at the corners crinkle. It was such an obviously besotted expression that Max couldn’t help smiling in return.
His heart thudded in his chest. “Hi,” he said stupidly. Max said, “I love you too.”
“Tell you what,” he said instead as he slid his leg between Grady’s. “You prepare for the worst. I’ll plan for the best.” “Deal.”
I have watched this video 27 times and I cannot come up with another explanation. They are in love.
“Max, how do you respond to Armstrong’s comment that you must have missed his face?” Oh, an easy one. Max put on his most innocent expression. “Guess I’ll aim higher next time.”
BYEEEEEEE?????!!!!!!
On the left side of the box sparkled a tiny lobster studded with red and blue gems. On the right, a rose-gold fish with shiny dark turquoise scales bared sharp white mother-of-pearl teeth.
With a history that reads like the first chapters of a romance novel and a smush name, Strongheart, that sounds like a Care Bear, it’s no wonder people are paying attention.
“Besides, you know I can’t resist fresh lobster.”
