by Jordan Ford
Lies. Lies. Lies.
They really are a pain in the ass.
Rubbing the frown lines off my forehead, I start scanning the club for Cairo. It’s kind of dark and hard to see him. The lights flash and move, giving off a sense of chaos within the confined space.
“Symphony” by Clean Bandit is playing.
I love this song.
The music works through me, easing my jitters, and I rise onto my tiptoes to look between Holden and Maddie.
That’s when I see it.
And I freeze.
Cairo has some brunette pressed against him. She’s whispering in his ear and now she’s grabbing his face and…and kissing him.
“Oh, Max, I’m really sorry,” Maddie whispers.
So she’s noticed too, then.
“Do you want me to go pound him?” Holden clips.
I nearly tell him that I’m quite capable of doing my own pounding, but I’m stopped by a sliver of hope.
Cairo pushes the girl off him, looking annoyed as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. He probably wants to tell her to eff off, but he can’t, because Cairo doesn’t speak to people that way.
“Did he just push her away?” Maddie looks at Holden.
Her boyfriend snickers. “He looks pretty pissed right now.”
“I think it’s about time you go claim your man, sis.” Maddie turns to smirk at me.
I snort out a huff and brush past her, anger fueling me forward.
That poisonous little viper is so not making a move on my man.
Cairo doesn’t see me coming until I’m right beside them. His face flashes with pure joy until he sees me glaring at the brunette still attached to him.
His dark eyebrows wrinkle with apology, but I brush my hand through the air and turn my attention to the viper.
“Hi, I'm Max. And you are?”
“Nadia.” Her eyes narrow at me and she rests her hand on Cairo’s shoulder.
He tries to shrug her off but she’s unperturbed.
Her lips curl into a surly smile. “Can I help you with something?”
“Yes. You can stop kissing my boyfriend.” I cross my arms and rise to my full height the way Dad always does.
She blanches before gaining control of her expression and lifting her chin in the air. “He kissed me.”
“No, he didn't. I was watching. You kissed him and he pushed you away, yet you're still standing here.”
“Whatever.” She takes a step back and lets out this scoff like she doesn’t care.
Leaning down to her eye level, I get in her face and, with the steeliest voice I can muster, warn her off for good. “Kiss him again and I'll break your face.”
Her eyes bulge for a second before she lets out a pitiful squeak and spins on her heel. It’s pretty damn satisfying watching her vamoose.
But not as satisfying as the feel of Cairo’s arms snaking around my waist. He pulls me back against him and rests his chin on my shoulder. “I don't know which I like more, the fact that I believe you’d actually break her face, or that you called me your boyfriend.”
I chuckle and spin in his arms, threading my fingers behind his neck before placing my lips on his.
He grins against my mouth and then deepens the kiss, reminding me that being here with him is all that matters.
I glide my fingers into his thick locks, lightly bunching them in my fingers until a forceful tap on the shoulder makes me pull away.
Cairo keeps his hand on my back as he eyes Holden and Maddie with a cautious smile.
“Hey.” He greets them. “Welcome to Club Matrix.”
Maddie cocks her eyebrow at him.
He clears his throat and shares a quick look with me before turning back to the two skeptics.
“You came on a good night. Mario’s up in just a minute.”
Holden tucks his hand around Maddie’s waist and pulls her against him. “We didn’t come for Mario. We wanted to make sure Max was gonna be okay.”
“She is.” He rubs my back, his gaze locked with Holden’s.
It’s getting kind of awkward, and I share a desperate look with Maddie.
She sticks out her hand. “Well, it’s nice to finally meet the guy she’s been lying about.”
I roll my eyes.
Thanks, Mads. Really helpful.
Cairo fights a grin, taking her hand and giving it a shake before snickering. “Well, as much as I’d love for this awkwardness to linger, why don’t we just acknowledge that this is weird, and get on with having a good time?”
Maddie breaks into a grin and looks to Holden, who suffices with a lip twitch.
“Cleo can sort us out with some drinks.” Cairo points over his shoulder and leads us to an open space at the bar.
I’m just accepting a glass of Coke when the lights go down and the announcer introduces Mario Demas!
A roar goes up from the dance floor as a guy with cowboy boots, ripped-up jeans and jet-black hair down to his waist walks onto the stage.
Cairo gives my side an excited squeeze before moving us into a better position.
Maddie sidles up beside me as the guy starts to play. He’s a freaking legend. Like Santana or something. He owns that guitar, and I can’t take my eyes off his fingers as he dances with those strings, creating the kind of music I could only dream of making.
I’m captured.
I’m in total awe.
My insides buzz with that feeling only music can give me.
It must be radiating from me because Cairo leans over and presses his lips to my ear. “You should see your face right now. You’ve never looked more beautiful. I knew you had to hear him.”
I turn to smile at my boyfriend.
“Thank you for coming.” His smile makes my insides melt.
He thinks I’m beautiful.
I look into his brown eyes, the emotion I’m already feeling only amplified by him.
He knows me.
He knows what makes me feel alive.
And he keeps fighting to give it to me.
The lump in my throat is too big to speak past.
All I can do is lean forward and kiss him.
32
The Perfect Ending to Spring Break
CAIRO
“And then she decides to surf down the stairs on a piece of cardboard.” Maddie gives Max a pointed look while everyone at the table starts laughing.
We’re sitting in a quiet diner on the east side of town, sharing lunch on the last day of Spring Break. I can’t believe how fast this week has gone.
Max holds up her hand to silence us. “For your information, I was snowboarding, okay?”
I grin at my girl, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear while Maddie continues with the tragic story about a split chin and a walk to the emergency room while Chloe tried not to pass out from the blood.
Chloe shakes her head. “I really… I don’t do well with blood.”
Maddie gives her a kind smile, revealing just how close these girls can be. They have so much history together and I feel honored to be let in on some of it.
Max was so nervous about telling Chloe about us, but after the night we had with Maddie and Holden at Club Matrix, she knew she had to spill. In the end Chloe had already guessed. Apparently she saw us locking lips outside the music room. I don’t know what she was doing down in that part of the school, but Max and I obviously weren’t as stealth as we thought.
I share a quick look with Holden. It’s kind of weird spending so much time with the guy. We’ve tended to avoid each other throughout most of high school, but here we are, brought together by the Barlow twins.
That’s basically the only thing we have in common…although having spent a lot of Spring Break with the guy, I’m starting to see that maybe we’re not so different after all. He’s sporty. I’m musical. But there’s still some middle ground. He actually loves music and we’ve talked about that a little. He really enjoyed Club Matrix and wants to come again sometime.
The waiter swings past our booth and collects a few empty plates. The diner’s a bit of a run-down dive but the food’s not bad. We mostly chose it because the chances of bumping into people we know is far less likely than eating on Main Street. In spite of the fact that her sisters are clued up, Max still isn’t keen on the students of Armitage High knowing we’re a couple.
I thank the waiter while conversation moves on to the fact that school goes back tomorrow. Chloe and I both frown. I don’t know why she’s frowning, but I’m disappointed that my time to hang out with Max will be cut in half. Thanks to her Uncle Conrad, plus the sisters, being able to see her each day has been easy. She lets me hold her hand and treat her like my girlfriend when we’re hanging out like this. The second we go back to school, that’s going to stop again. Max will avoid school gossip at all costs. She’s paranoid that something will somehow get back to her dad.
I think she’s wrong on that score, but she’s not in a place to listen to reason, so I just have to go with it.
Holden’s phone bleeps and he checks the message. His eyebrows dip into a sharp V. I wonder if it has something to do with Luke Frost. Those two were tight until Luke beat up Maddie and turned out to be the school thief. Holden mentioned that he’s trying to stay in touch, but it’s hard. Luke’s backed away from everyone, refusing visitors and phone calls…ignoring all of Holden’s texts. The latest rumor is that his family is moving out of Armitage. Holden really wants to say a proper goodbye…if Luke will let him. I doubt the guy ever wants to face Holden again.
Max overheard her parents talking and it turns out Luke stole the drugs he planted in Vincent’s locker from Holden’s mom. He raided her medicine cabinet when he was hanging out there one weekend. I don’t know if Holden’s aware of that yet, but it’s just another betrayal—another scar on their friendship.
Luke’s shame must be a pretty big burden to carry.
I think it’s kind of sad.
So he made a mistake. Can’t we just forgive and move on?
I press my lips together as Holden’s frown deepens. Pulling out his wallet, he rises from the table. “I gotta go.”
Maddie glances at him, obviously surprised. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He sighs and puts on a smile. “My mom just wants me to get some stuff done at home.”
Maddie tenses, then grabs her phone and wallet off the table. “I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t have to.” He cringes.
She takes his hand and smiles up at him. “I want to.”
The gratitude on his face is kind of potent, which tells me that whatever his mom wants him to do is kind of serious.
It makes me wonder what he’s hiding, but I’m not about to ask him. Seems like everyone in this town has secrets, and as much as I hate that, it’s not my place to get involved.
“Okay, well, we’ll catch you guys later.” Holden threads his fingers between Maddie’s as soon as she’s standing beside him.
“Have a good one.” I raise my hand in farewell and we watch them walk out the door in silence.
Max’s eyebrows flicker with curiosity but when she catches my eye, she forces a smile. It’s not like she has any right to wonder what someone’s hiding.
Chloe clears her throat, her eyes dancing around the table. “Well, since they’re gone, I might leave you guys to it.”
“You don’t have to go, Chloe.” Max reaches across the table and taps her fingers next to Chloe’s.
She’s still on a mission to find out what her little sister is hiding. When she fessed up about me the other night, Chloe was heading out the door and wouldn’t tell Max where she was going. Apparently she’s been sneaking around most of Spring Break and was particularly irritable and withdrawn this morning. It’s partly why Max forced her out to lunch—to try and cheer her up…and find out the truth.
“We can hang out for as long as you like. Talk about whatever you want.”
“It’s all right.” Chloe gives her sister a pointed look. “I’m not leaving because I feel like a third wheel or something. I just have some stuff I want to do.”
“What kind of stuff? Do you want us to come?”
Chloe brushes her fingers over her lips and hitches her shoulder. “It’s just…shopping stuff, and not in a secondhand clothing store, so I know I’ve lost you already.” She winks at her sister and bites the tip of her tongue when she smiles.
It looks forced to me. Am I reading too much into it?
What is she hiding?
Chloe nudges my elbow. “Cairo, you can drop her home, right?” she asks.
I nod. “Absolutely.”
“Just make sure you do it down the road or my paranoid sister might freak out on you.”
Max snickers and gives her a droll look.
Wiggling her fingers in the air, Chloe asks for the car keys.
“Be good.” Max hands them over, worry skittering over her expression.
Chloe snorts and averts her gaze. “Like I know how to be anything else.”
I would have believed her if she hadn’t ended her sentence with a guilty swallow. My eyes narrow as she bolts from the table and out the diner door.
“She is just going shopping, right?” I murmur.
“I hope so.” Max grimaces. “She does love to shop, but she’s been acting weird for a while now. I want to know what she’s hiding, but what right do I have to call her on it? It took me weeks to tell the truth. She said she’d tell me once she had it figured out, so I guess I just have to wait for her to come around.”
I look to the ceiling. “Man, your family has serious communication issues, you know that?”
She nudges me in the stomach and mutters, “Your father’s not the chief of police.”
I shake my head. “But you girls seem kind of close. I figured you tell each other everything.”
“We used to.” Max’s bottom lip sticks out.
“So what happened?”
“We moved here…and things just aren’t the same anymore. It’s strange. I thought this whole thing would bring us even closer together, but instead it’s been like this catalyst for change. Maybe it’s some weird prep for graduation. Do you think we’re all subconsciously creating distance between us so that when we leave for college it won’t hurt so bad?”
“Maybe.” I play with the end of Max’s hair, curling a lock around my index finger. “So, you’re not going to the same college as Maddie?”
Max’s sigh is heavy and defeated. “She wants to study business and has applied for USC, plus some school in Ohio. Now that we’ve shifted here, she’ll be crossing her fingers for USC, I’m sure. They do have one of the best business studies programs, apparently.” Max purses her lips. “I wonder where Holden’s going. That might play a part now too.”
“I’m going to Berkeley,” I murmur. “At least I hope I am. I’m still waiting on that acceptance letter, but my parents think I’m a shoe-in. Dad’s got friends in the music department there.”
She blinks, giving me a weak smile before choking out, “I’m probably headed for Ohio University. They’re open to taking on a female baseball player, if I prove to be good enough. Dad’s trying to score me a scholarship or some financial aid. They’re really depending on that to get me through. It’s pretty pricey trying to fund three daughters through college.”
“Ouch,” I whisper.
Her eyes start to glisten. “Ohio feels so far away now.”
I’m so tempted to launch into my standard speech about the fact that she doesn’t have to play ball at college and for God’s sake tell your father the truth!
But I don’t want to fight on our last day of Spring Break.
Instead I surprise us both by saying, “Hey, instead of dropping you home now, do you want to come to band practice with me?”
She chokes out a shocked laugh before shaking her head. “I’m pretty sure Latifa will kill me if I show up.”
“No way. I’m not going to let her touch you. Come on
, I want you to watch us.”
She looks interested but nervous.
Cupping the back of her head, I invade her space and whisper against her mouth, “Please come with me, baby. It’ll be the perfect end to our perfect Spring Break.”
She chuckles against my lips and then gives in with a murmur. “Okay, but if Latifa draws any weapons, you have to promise to take me home.”
I laugh, wrap my arm around Max’s waist, and start dragging her out of the booth.
“Thanks for coming.” The lady we paid when we first ordered our food waves goodbye.
I wave my hand and smile at her before heading out the door.
Max goes really quiet on the way to the car, and I’m sure it’s just nerves trying to demolish her stomach. She’s seriously got nothing to worry about. Yes, Latifa can be bitchy, but once she’s playing, everything will be cool. Plus, Roman and Austin will be there to back me up. They’ve seen how happy I’ve been with Max. They don’t hold that against me.
Opening the door for her, I wait until she’s settled inside before walking around to the driver’s door. Mom’s been letting me borrow her car for most of this week. I have to make sure I fill it with gas and maybe buy her some flowers to say thank you.
Sliding in, I grin at Max and fire up the engine.
She gives me a tight smile so I get the radio going and try to distract her as best I can.
“Everything Is Alright” fills the car and I grin. Perfect. It’s a great song, and the wicked beat should be enough to ease Max’s nerves.
Reaching for her hand, I pull it to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
She smiles. “I think this is the best vacation I’ve ever had.”
“Really?” I’m skeptical. “You haven’t even gone anywhere.”
“I know, but I’ve been free. With Mom and Dad busy and Uncle Rad covering for me, I’ve hardly played any ball, plus I’ve been able to hang out with you way more than I thought I could. We’ve played guitar, watched movies, eaten junk food. I’ve never been happier.”
I grin. “Thank God for Uncle Rad, then, right?”