It’s Not Home Without You: A Homecoming Novel #1 Read online

  37

  Max

  As soon as I showed up to the factory, everyone’s eyes followed me around. Sandy kept asking me if I was okay. I smiled and told her I was fine. Last week I was a mess. I felt terrible for Sandy. She had to deal with my anger. Being at the factory was better than being at my practice, at least here I could hide and not be in the middle of Main Street.

  “Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Dunnett?” The worry in my secretary’s voice was comical.

  “Sandy, I’m fine. Why don’t you take the day off? I’m sure I can handle the payroll.” I gave her a reassuring smile, but she was still tense.

  “If you’re sure.” She gave up.

  “Go on, I’ll call if I need anything.”

  After she left, I continued to do my work. Around noon, I couldn’t take it anymore and almost gave in and called Freya, despite just having seen her before I came to work. She should be getting released tomorrow, if things went well. My girl was not having it. She hated being cooped up. I was just glad she was fine. I hated that I wasn’t there with her, but changing Freya’s mind would not be easy. Her stubbornness was one of the many things I loved about her, even if I hated it now.

  What to get a woman who hates roses? It’s been so long since I had asked myself that question. I couldn’t deny the way my muscles tighten in anticipation of the challenge. I had just finished the payroll and was debating whether to fuck Freya’s rules and go to the hospital when my brother walked through my office door.

  Prescott glared at me with a fire in his eyes that wasn’t there the last time I saw him. “You couldn’t fucking marry the Newtons’ little princess? They took away my fucking funding.”

  “What did you want me to do, Prescott, marry her when I didn’t love her?”

  Prescott threw his head back and laughed. “Love? Are you fucking kidding me? You could have gotten a divorce, but no, little brother, you had to make a fucking mess. Do you know what a nightmare you created? And all because of that little whore who broke your heart.”

  Instantly I got up. I didn’t care who the fuck was insulting Freya, whether it is a stranger or the Pope, but I would not put up with it.

  “I’ll give it to you. She’s a fine piece of ass.”

  “Shut the fuck up,” I warned.

  “All of it so you could get your fucking dick wet for a bitch that played you.”

  Swinging, I punched my brother in the jaw. He staggered back, looking ready to hit me. I saw it in his eyes; he wasn’t just mad at me. He was jealous. Jealous because I got out, because I had a second chance at love, and he didn’t.

  “If anyone cost you the election, brother, it was you. You’re the one that keeps having affair after affair. Do you think Rachael doesn’t know? How long before she has enough and leaves you? How long until the whole town finds out you aren’t fucking perfect? You hate the fact that I was strong enough to say fuck it. You fucking hate that I will not be caged in a miserable marriage like you are.”

  Prescott was breathing erratically, a hand to his jaw, but he had yet to speak. I kept going because my brother needed to stop being my father's puppet. “It kills you, right? It kills you to see her in town happily married while you’re miserable. I wasn’t going to let that happen to me. Freya isn’t Jana. Brother, if anyone is to blame, it’s you. You think I don’t know you’re the reason Jana and Gary broke up? You had her, Prescott, but you thought you could go away to college and leave her here. You thought she would wait for you and be ready to play house when you returned. It’s not her fault. She would have waited for you had you done her right, but you didn’t. You treated her like crap. Now it kills you to see her with Russell.” I would not be like my brother. I had a chance, and I sure as fuck would not waste it.

  “Tell me, Max, what happens when Freya meets someone who makes her laugh, someone who makes her smile, someone who makes her feel free?” Prescott spat at me, mocking the words that Freya had written—the lies I had believed. It shouldn’t surprise me that Prescott knew about the damn letter. When I was pissed drunk, it was my brother who picked me up from the floor when I couldn’t hold it together anymore.

  “Our father didn’t leave her much of a choice in staying. Juliet confessed what he did on Friday. Even if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have married Abigail. Freya is the love of my life, and I will do whatever the fuck I have to do to keep her.”

  Prescott rubbed his jaw, but he believed me. “This shit keeps getting better and better. I feel like we should have known he’d do something like that. Between you and Juliet, I feel like I have lucked out.”

  I held my tongue before I added that Dad forced him into marrying Rachel. “If you need the money, I can buy you out of the company,” I offered.

  “Nah, this is Dad’s mess. He can pay to fix it.” Then he walked out. Prescott was a lot of things, but at the end of the day, he was my brother and he was there for me when it counted.

  There wasn’t any way I would get work done now. When I got to my apartment, it killed me to not go straight to Freya. I had arranged for her to get a fruit basket and a teddy bear. It was a start. As soon as I opened my door, I gave up and called Freya.

  “Hello,” she answered on the first ring, and it made me smile.

  “Hey, babe, how are you feeling?”

  “I’m better now,” she timidly whispered.

  “Did you not think I’d call?”

  “I knew you would, but it’s also a new day. The shock from your wedding and my accident wore off. I guess I’m afraid things will fall apart.”

  “The only reason I’m not there with you is because you asked me not to. Say the word, and I’m there.” I grabbed my keys from the key holder. I stopped for a second, looking at the black key rack. It was simple; it even had a box to put my mail.

  “Will you give me a ride home when I get released?”

  “I’ll be there,” I replied in an instant. One more day. I could do it. I could go two days without seeing her.

  “Max?”

  “Yeah, babe?” I was looking around my apartment at my couches and my kitchen table.

  “I love you.” The breathy way she told me she loved me was my undoing. I felt my chest expand. I didn’t think I’d hear those three words coming from her lips.

  I had to clear my throat. “I love you too.”

  “Tell me how your day was? It has to be better than having Jana momming you. I know I always wanted a mom, but if she was anything like Jana, I have to say I’m glad I missed out. She’s on my ass on what I can or cannot do.”

  I smiled as I made my way to my room. I couldn’t help looking at my bed and drawers. Instead of focusing on all that, I told Freya about my day.

  “Please tell me you have cameras in your office? I bet you looked hot. I mean, I always thought Prescott deserved a good shiner, but the fact you did it for my honor is hot.”

  I laughed. Only Freya would think it’s hot that I hit my brother. After we hung up, I walked around my apartment, thinking about what an idiot I’d been. I wanted to move Freya in with me to a place another woman decorated. It might have been my money, but it was all handpicked by Abigail. My home was all to her liking.

  Grabbing my suitcase, I packed my clothes and left for Lee’s bed-and-breakfast. I needed to put my place on the market.

  I had a woman to win back.

  * * *

  Freya got out of the hospital within three days. It was hell to drop her off at her grandfather’s and to have to come back to my rental alone. I had cracked and asked Sandy for ideas on an alternative to roses, so I went on fucking Etsy.

  Every morning I was the first at the coffee shop, and I left Freya a note, so she’d know she was on my mind. Then at night, I would take food for her and her grandfather. Freya and I talked until she passed out in my arms. Even though their couch was uncomfortable as shit, I would sit there and relish the way she felt in my arms. I talked to Eugene about my game plan, and he told me it was about fucking time. I
figured that was as much of a blessing as I would get from the old man. Freya had asked my opinion on expanding Emma’s Coffee into Emma’s Diner. I thought it was an excellent idea; I even offered to invest. She told me it wasn’t necessary; she had more than enough. I hated the way she saved up money, but I couldn’t say shit; it was hypocritical on my part.

  Freya had fallen asleep in my arms. I was playing with her hair and thinking about having brunch with my mother tomorrow. I was tired of ignoring her calls.

  “You’re leaving,” a sleepy Freya whispered.

  I bent down to kiss her forehead. “Sweet dreams.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” I said back. “Oh, and Freya, I’m done pretending. Come tomorrow, you’re mine.”

  “I’ve always been yours,” she mumbled before falling back asleep. I stood there watching her. She was mine. It locked in place, and I was able to leave her for one more night.

  One last night.

  My mother arrived early for our brunch at Franny’s. Frank already had my mother’s fruit bowl and an omelet ready by the time she came in. My sister and I looked like our mother; she was tall and graceful, with red hair and green eyes. She was kind, and I couldn’t help but think my father didn’t deserve her, but that might be my anger.

  “Hello, Mother. You look well.”

  “So do you, Max.” She cupped my cheek and smiled at me. There wasn’t any anger in her green eyes, and it relieved me.

  “You want to tell me why you’ve been ignoring me?” she scolded me.

  “I haven’t been ignoring you. I’ve just been busy.”

  “Don’t give me that crap, Maximilian. I have been calling day in and day out. Your sister has been trying to make amends with you.”

  “Can we not talk about her?” I bit out. I was still fucking pissed at Juliet. I didn’t care what her excuse was; she should have known better. My mother made a face but didn’t comment. She already knew about Freya, and I swore if she said a word I didn’t like, I was out and I was done with my family.

  “You look happy, happier than I’ve seen you in ages. You no longer have the haunted look in your eyes.” She gave me a small smile.

  “She makes me happy, Mother.”

  “She always did.”

  “Did you know what Dad did?” I asked. Juliet had said my mother didn’t know, but I had to know for sure.

  “No, I had no idea. I know you don’t want to hear this, son, but your father thought he was doing the right thing.”

  “If you want to be in my life, you have to accept Freya. I want you to like her.”

  “I never disliked her. I may have thought both of you were too young back then, but you’re both adults now. She’s a beauty, even more than she was back then. I’m sure it will be easy to love the woman who has my son’s heart.”

  It finally felt like all the pieces were coming together. My mother didn’t push me to talk to my father or Juliet. She knew if she did, she would be out of my life.

  As long as I had Freya, I would not be alone.

  38

  Freya

  When I walked into the coffee shop, the first thing I did was look at the blackboard, and it didn’t fail to make me smile. Every single day it was something different, and every day I looked forward to reading what Max wrote for me. It was foreplay for my soul. The first quote was: You and I will always be unfinished business. When I read the words, my stomach had dropped with anticipation at what those words implied. It would always be Max and Freya.

  The second quote was: A sky full of stars and he was staring at her.—Atticus. And boy did he stare at me every time he came into the shop; he couldn’t take his eyes off me. To be fair, I couldn’t take mine off him either. Then I got a bouquet of beautiful paper roses. The petals were made from poetry books. Max gave me a bouquet of poems and sonnets. All of this just made it harder to resist him. He was still going along to what I had asked of him in the hospital.

  We were keeping our relationship on the down low, way on the low.

  Forty-five days, one thousand eighty hours, and I was head over heels in love again. Max hated it though, and he told me so every night when he came to visit me at Grandpa’s. People assumed I was the reason for the canceled wedding, but no one said anything to my face.

  Cowards much?

  Only those who were kiss-asses to the Newtons gave me nasty looks. Since they weren’t my friends, it didn’t bother me. Today’s quote made my heart melt. We loved with a love that was more than love.—Edgar Allan Poe.

  I had yet to write something down, but I would soon. I just knew the moment I grabbed the chalk and professed my love to him that was it. We couldn't hide anymore.

  “If you don’t date him, I will,” Emma said when Max sent the bouquet. If only she knew. Our relationship was just between us, and it was nice getting to know each other again. We talked a lot, about what happened to him after I left, what I did, and about Abigail and Ashton. Although it was painful, it was part of what made us who we were today.

  I talked to Emma the day I got discharged out of the hospital, and I told her I wanted to expand her coffee shop into a diner. At first, she didn’t want my help; she didn’t want me to invest my money and then lose it. I knew I would not lose any money. It was time for Sunny Pines to grow, and nothing said growth like a bomb diner. Since Max would never cash my check, I had money to spend, plus enough to get a car. My grandpa’s Chevy was dead. D-e-a-d, dead.

  Emma’s Coffee would become Emma’s Diner with renovations starting soon. That also meant more job opportunities for others in town. I totally got the idea the day after my hangover and Jana’s burger sparked a demand that wasn’t available in town. Emma insisted on changing the name to something else since we were co-owners now, but I wouldn’t hear of it. Let’s be honest, I would never be the town’s favorite girl, but I was done caring and trying to make others happy.

  When the door chimed, I felt it in the way my skin prickled, the static in the air, the way my belly fluttered; it was him.

  “May I get a cup of coffee, Miss Pratt?”

  I looked up, trying hard not to beam at Maximilian. He was here, and he was mine.

  “You want me to fix it for him, Freya?” Jess looked warily between us, but I shook my head and bit my lip. No one was fixing my Max shit but me.

  “It’s okay, Jess. I know just how Mr. Dunnett likes it.” I watched with glee as his eyes darkened. The problem with a nonexistent boyfriend, we barely had time for stolen kisses. Jess left, muttering something unintelligible under her breath.

  “Freya,” Max said, his voice thick with desire.

  “Maximilian.” I dragged out his name, letting it roll off my tongue. Something he didn’t have to tell me because I’d known it since we were young, he loved the way I said his full name.

  “I’m two seconds away from not giving a fuck and taking that smart mouth right now,” he harshly whispered.

  And because I still loved to tease him, I said, “Your coffee is ready, Mr. Dunnett.”

  Oh yeah, total foreplay.

  “Freya, tonight, pack a bag,” he stated before walking away, making me shiver all over. Most nights I fell asleep on him, which I felt bad about because the couch was shit to sleep on. Even my grandpa said so. I watched him leave, thrilled and scared at the same time. Max had sold his loft above the practice. I knew he did it mostly for my sake. I didn’t try to persuade him to keep the place. It was nice knowing I would never have to spend the night in the same place he and Abigail had spent countless nights together.

  “The sexual tension was so thick, I think I got pregnant.” Jess’s smart-ass remark interrupted my thoughts.

  “Jess.” I smiled at her. “Mind your own business.”

  “Then you better tell Max to stop professing his love on the board.”

  I stuck my tongue out at her because she had a point. Jess dropped her smile, tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, and looked at the board with longing.
Oh my God, did Jess have a crush on Max?

  “Honestly I don’t understand why you aren’t with him? You both like each other.”

  “It’s not that simple,” I answered immediately.

  “If the love of my life offered to ride off into the sunset with me, my response would be when do we leave and what do I pack?”

  “I’ll remind you of this when you’re in love,” I added dryly.

  Jess turned to me. “Please do. If I’m stupid enough to ignore it like you are, you have my permission to kick my ass.”

  Was it really that simple? How long did one have to wait to date after a canceled wedding? Plus, Abigail left town after Max broke up with her. I felt terrible for her; I wish things would have gone differently, but it was what it was. I told Max I wanted to reach out to her and apologize, but Max said I would be the last person she would want to see. He was right. I knew how much it hurt to lose Max. I hoped she found someone to make her happy.

  I sighed when I thought of the mess my life had turned into regarding my dad bomb. Dex was still AWOL—not that he used those words, but he was on vacation away from Sunny Pines. We didn’t have time to talk. I guess it sucked to find out your dad wasn’t who you thought he was. Just because I didn’t want to talk to his father, it didn’t mean I didn’t want to talk to Dex. I asked Chief Tim, and he said Dex was coming back in a few days. If I had to stalk him, I would.

  I had no family other than Rusty and Grandpa, so this was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. Rusty made me promise he was still my number one brother. I told Rusty that Dex wouldn’t get married without me in attendance. Let’s face it, I would never get over that.

  “Hey, Bear.” I waved at Jake who had just walked in.

  “Freya, looking good.” I went out to hug him while Jess got Emma from the back so she could make him a drink. Bear was her tester in the concoctions she wanted to try. Bear looked at the wall, shook his head, and smiled.