Chapter Twenty-Six: We Fight Right Here-4

I raised a brow. "You're right. I wonder why." "Don't mess with my head, Max," Jillian warned before wrapping me in a hug. "I don't need to be seeing Ryan that way." It would probably help both of them if she did but I didn't want to push too hard so I let it go. Jillian turned to both Zoe and Ryan, her tone angsty. "Are we going or should I head out on my own? Max doesn't have a spare bedroom, you know?" Zoe's brows arched in surprise, her lips tightening as if she were holding back a grin. Ryan, on the other hand, frowned at Jillian and scratched his head. "Goodnight, everyone!" I said as I gave each of them a hug before they filed out the door. It took no time to get ready for bed and I dialled Luke as I got under the covers. LA was only a few hours away so there was no time difference but it was late and I wasn't sure if he'd still be up. "Hi, baby," he greeted softly on the fourth ring. "How are you?" "Sad and lonely in my big, silly bed," I teased. He laughed but there was a strain in his voice, like he was exhausted to the bone. "If you're here, I'd hug you." "If I were there you'd get more than a hug," he answered with a long sigh. "There's nothing more than I want right now than to come home. I don't want to be here anymore." "Everything okay?" I asked, deciding that there was no point in pretending I didn't notice that something was off. "Are you okay?" "Not really considering things are not going according to plan," he grumbled and I could picture him out pulling at his hair just now. "But I can fix this, don't worry." As much as I didn't want to talk about Lola, I had to ask. "Do you want to talk about it?" "Not really," he said. "I'm still working on getting everything... settled. It's just more work than I thought." "Are you trying to get her some help?" I asked. "That among other things," he answered. "It's hard to help someone who doesn't think anything's wrong." "That's usually the first sign that something is wrong," I said, taking a deep breath and somehow wishing I could take run my fingers through Luke's hair—a gesture I discovered had some significant soothing effect on him. "Will you be back as scheduled or do you need more time?" "I'm coming back as promised," he reassured me. After a pause, he asked, "About that trip to the Bahamas I got you for your birthday. Feel like taking it anytime soon?" I smiled. "I don't think we've decided yet when we were going to go." "How does this week sound?" he said. "Pack us a couple of bags and I'll come pick you up Thursday and we'll fly there. I'll call Bryce to explain." "Luke, no. You're not calling my boss for me," I instantly protested. "You're not making people do any special favors for me either. We'll decide when you get home and I'll check with the team for a time that will work with everybody." Luke sighed. "How do you feel about abduction? The romantic kind." "Amused when I read it in historical romances where many practices are archaic, if not a bit barbaric. Completely opposed when it comes to real life though," I said, laughing. "Just get your ass home, Luke, and then we'll decide. Okay?" "Alright." He stifled a yawn. "I should probably let you go to sleep. You had a long day." I didn't need to point out that he did too because usually, not much got to Luke. He ran on an incredible stamina—his charm and tendency toward mischief still often in effect even after a stressful work day. "I love you," I told him instead, smiling softly when he murmured the same words back through another yawn. "I'll see you Thursday." "Goodnight, Maxine." "Goodnight, Luke." I was still smiling after we hung up. I was just reading through a few promo emails on my phone when it alerted with a text message. The smile on my face dissolved in seconds. [Unknown Number: He'll never be yours. He's already mine.] Hate mail #1, I guess. Prepare for more.