by Carly Morgan
“There you are,” Max said, tapping her on the shoulder.
Her skin pricked at his touch. “Hey there.”
“You ready?” Max stuck out his elbow, indicating she should take it. She noticed he wore khaki shorts and a light blue tee shirt along with his loafers. They must be his favorite shoes. And that reminded her that he hadn’t been wearing shoes the night she met him. The night they kissed. She felt her cheeks heat and hurriedly pushed the thought away.
“I’m ready when you are.” She took his elbow.
Together they walked outside. As they went, Katie noticed the women noticing Max. She knew how good-looking he was, and everyone obviously saw that, but it wasn’t just his looks that drew people to him. There was something else, some kind of magnetism. He had oodles of it, like a human version of a flame, and everyone else were moths drawn to him. She hoped she wouldn’t get burned.
A girl of no more than fifteen or sixteen cut in front of them.
“Hey. Hi. You’re Max Legend. Lead singer of Look No Further, right?” As she spoke, she twisted a strand of hair around a finger. “Can I get an autograph?”
“Of course.” He took the paper and pen the girl held out to him.
Katie was surprised, taken aback actually. She’d forgotten for a moment that he was more than just magnetic. He was the lead singer of a popular band. A musician. Sure, he wasn’t a rock star along the lines of some of the greats, like the Beatles, but he was still famous. And he was in a band. Katie released his arm and stepped out of the way as more people made their way over.
She watched in awe as he graciously signed autographs and answered questions. He even took a selfie with the teen and then another with her mom. After fifteen minutes, the crowd dispersed and left him alone. He found and held Katie’s gaze. Smiled. He seemed amped up after the interaction with his fans. She looked away, feeling unexpectedly nervous. Surprised, too. He didn’t seem to be anything like the other musicians she’d met.
“Come on.” He took her hand and placed it into the crook of his arm as they meandered along the path to the beach. They didn’t talk much at first. Even though it was barely after nine in the morning, the beach was crowded. She was closest to the water, letting it touch her feet and squish inside her shoes. It felt good. She was from New York; she’d seen the ocean before, been to the Cape with Birdy, but this was different. The water in Maui felt warmer, more beachy, and so incredibly blue.
“So, who are you?” he finally asked quietly.
The question took her by surprise. He knew who she was. “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, what makes you tick? When you close your eyes, what do you see about yourself?”
“Wow, okay. I’ll have to think about this.” She pondered the question, turning it over and over in her mind. She was a woman without a plan. Lost, really. Not that long ago she would’ve had a different answer. One that included a fiancé, a job at a law firm, and plans to become partner by the age of thirty-five. Then kids. She shared those thoughts with him.
“Yes, but that’s what you want out of life, not who you are.” He said it without judgment. His eyes were filled with kindness.
She decided to throw the question back at him. “Well, who are you, then?” She gave him a cheeky smile, hoping it would steer their discussion a different direction.
Max answered right away. “I’m the son of a difficult man, and one of seven children.” He swallowed concentrating on the ocean.
“Seven? Wow. Your house must’ve been non-stop.”
“It wasn’t always. My father has been married three times. My siblings came with the last two.”
“Oh.” Katie had no idea what that was like. It’d been hard when her parents separated when she was younger, but they’d reconciled. Since then her parents had loved each other through all sorts of trials. Instead of selfishly choosing what they wanted, they always thought of the other person first. Since they both had that attitude, it made for a great example of what marriage should be. That was all she knew.
Max gave her a wry smile. “It was hard when it was just my dad and me. He blames me for my mom’s death. He believes I caused the accident.” He paused, his eyes searching the water. Then he went on. “He married Jane not too long after Mom died. They have a set of twins, Thea and Toby. He divorced Jane when I was eleven, I think. A year later, he married Vivian. She already had one child, a girl named Marcy and then they had three more over the next several years, Dean, August, and Matthew.”
“That must’ve been…” Katie couldn’t finish. She was still thinking about his mom dying. “I’m sorry about your mom.”
“Thanks.” He met her eyes a moment before looking away. “I don’t really remember her. I found a box of pictures of her and have kept those. But I was three when she died.”
“How could it have been your fault, then?” Katie already knew she didn’t like his dad.
“The way my dad tells it, Mom unbuckled her seatbelt to retrieve a toy for me. I’d been crying, acting like a baby, throwing a tantrum. My mom wanted to help. A truck hit the car on her side, killing her instantly.”
“Max,” she covered his hand with hers. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. It was rough for a while, once I understood what’d happened. I used her death as an excuse to make bad choices, as well as my dad’s treatment of me. But it’s also because of her that I know there’s more to life.” He squeezed her hand between both of his. “I want her to be proud of me.”
Katie fought to keep tears from her eyes. “That’s sweet,” she said, her voice full of emotion. She also thought it was very brave, but didn’t want to belittle him. She’d searched his name on the Internet and knew he was thirty-three. The accident had been thirty years ago.
“That knowledge directs my life every day. Her memory is another reason I write songs, speak to people, and stand up for God.”
He astonished her. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend already?” She’d blurted the question before she thought about it, and immediately regretted it, covering her mouth. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that.”
He chuckled lightly, giving her a sideways grin. “I don’t mind.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ve dated, of course.” He shrugged. “But it’s difficult in my line of work. Sometimes what is said and what is revealed are two different things. So, I’ve learned to become cautious.”
Katie remembered Birdy’s text. “I texted Birdy about you,” she admitted.
His brows furrowed. “What did she say?”
“Only what you’ve told me. That you used to drink and do drugs, but that you were a good guy under all the other stuff.
He smiled. “She doesn’t know this, but I really looked up to her as a kid.” He stopped talking, glancing out at the ocean again. Katie waited for him to go on. “When I was ten my dad decided to throw me a pool party. Paying attention to me wasn’t one of his priorities so he didn’t realize I couldn’t swim.” Max shook his head, pushing his hair out of his eyes. “Anyway, the day of the party, everyone was playing in the water, except me. I sat on the side, letting my feet dangle over the edge. One of my friends decided to pull me in. I freaked out, clutching the cement edge like it was a lifeline. The boys thought it’d be funny to pull me under the water.” He stopped, facing Katie. “Birdy jumped in after me, wrapped her arms around my chest and pulled me out.” He grimaced. “She was taller than me back then.”
“She was?” Katie watched him, observing his expression, trying to imagine him as a little kid.
“Yes. I didn’t have my growth spurt until ninth grade.” He shook his head, grinning at distant memories. “That’s when all the ladies started to notice me.” He wiggled his brows playfully.
She ignored his comment, pushing back the vibrant tingles he brought out in her. “So, what happened?” Katie knew from personal experience how cruel kids could be.
“Everyone was laughing. I tried not to cry, but the tears came anyway. Humiliated
, I headed inside, but Birdy wrapped an arm around me. Then she yelled at everyone. Told them how rude they were. Said that the pool was stupid. After that, she took my hand and marched me into the house, saying we were going in to watch a movie.”
“What did you watch?” Katie was enthralled by his story. Birdy rarely talked about her childhood.
“I can’t even remember. It’s been too long. But I do remember how she made me feel, like I was special.”
Katie smiled. “That’s Birdy all right. She’s still that way. The champion of the underdog.”
He nodded, his eyes focusing on the sand in front of them. “It’s been a long time since I’ve talked to Birdy, but I still consider her one of my dearest friends.”
“Can you swim now?” Katie asked, eyeing the frothy waves rolling in, tickling her toes.
“Absolutely. After that day, I refused to be caught off guard around water again. Plus, Jane, and later Vivian, had their kids in swimming lessons. I didn’t want to be left out.” He pulled her to him, that twinkle she was quickly becoming accustomed to gleaming in his eyes. “Care to see how well I can swim now?”
“No,” she said, tilting her head up to admire his face. He’d had such a sad childhood. It amazed her he could be so kind and caring now. She thought of asking him how he got along with his siblings, but her stomach chose that moment to growl so loudly, it could be heard over the roar of the surf.
“Fine.” He released her. “Then how about we get you some food?”
“Yes, please,” she said, trying to catch her breath.
Chapter 8
Max and Katie smelled the food truck before they saw it. And it smelled delicious. Katie’s mouth watered and she had to keep swallowing so she wouldn’t drool. When the truck came into view, the sign read: The Shark Pit. It was early for lunch, but there was still a long line of people. She figured any time was food truck time.
“Let’s eat there,” Katie said, rushing forward. The aroma of cooked meat became stronger the closer they got.
“You sure?” Max quirked his head, watching a couple of people walk by carrying paper plates full of food.
“Definitely.”
“Your wish is my command.”
They reached the end of the line.
“Where were you born?” Katie asked while they waited.
He shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “New York,” Max answered. “What about you?”
“Woodstock.”
“As in the Woodstock, home to the 1969 music festival?” He brushed his hair out of his eyes, looking impressed.
She’d forgotten for a moment that he was a musician. “It’s just a stupid small town.”
“Not just a town. I’ve been there. It’s got an unmistakable artists’ vibe. Anyone who wants to be a musician would love to live there or at least visit.”
Katie’s frown deepened. “You’re probably right,” she said, focusing on the food truck.
Max frowned. “What? Something’s wrong.”
She shook her head, trying to force the feelings she held about musicians away. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“It’s definitely something. But if you’d rather not talk about it, that’s fine.”
She gritted her teeth, still surprised by how intuitive and kind he was. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Sure.” He focused on the ocean. “It’s strange, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“The tides. The way they come in and recede.” He pointed at a large rock. From the bottom until a third of the way up clung sea anemones, starfish, and other bright and beautiful creatures used to living in the water. “Those creatures chose that rock to live on. Maybe they knew about the tides. Maybe they didn’t. Still, when the water recedes, they cling to the rock, and wait for the returning tide. Because they know it will return. It’s a little like faith in God. Sometimes it feels like He’s left us, but we just have to hang on, have a little patience.”
He had a point. After her parents separated, she’d fervently prayed that they would get back together. She’d even told her Sunday School teacher she knew they would because God would make them. Her teacher had kindly explained that God didn’t make us do anything. If we followed Him, it was our choice. And it was the same with her parents. If they got back together, it was because they chose to, not because God forced them. Then he told her she needed to have the faith that whatever happened, it would steer her life for good. She’d forgotten that lesson until now, and realized that maybe she’d been trying to make her life turn out the way she thought it should, like she knew better than God. Maybe she should let go and let Him guide her life, but she didn’t know if she could.
“You’re weird,” she blurted.
He chuckled heartily.
After a moment, she joined in.
People kept giving them strange looks, but they ignored them. When they stopped, she went quiet, her mind suddenly turning to Lance. Maxed watched her. She could feel his gaze on her, but she needed to collect her thoughts first. If she was going to tell him about her brother, and about why she kept acting strangely, she needed to figure out where to start.
Before she could, it came her turn to order. She perused the menu and chose the kimchee steak tacos. Max ordered the same and paid for both. Katie thanked him. When their food was ready, they walked silently over to some rocks at the far end of the beach. Once they settled, Katie took a bite. The taco was amazing. The meat melted in her mouth and the kimchee gave it a tang that was just right. Umami. That was the word to describe the flavor filling her mouth.
“It’s good,” she said softly, wondering what Max must think of her.
“Yeah, it is. I think I found my new favorite place to eat.” He smiled and the awkwardness between them dissipated. “I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
Katie shook her head. A dribble of sauce ran down her chin. He reached over and dabbed her face with a napkin. “I’m sorry too. It’s just—” She stopped, unable to express her tender feelings when it came to her brother.
“Hey.” He placed a hand over hers. “We hardly know each other. You can tell me or not, whenever you’re ready. I’ve already decided you and I are going to be forever friends, so take your time.”
Giddy happiness welled up inside her. It felt good to have him there. She swallowed. “Cool.” She took another bite and stared out at the ocean. It was so beautiful and filled her with a calming sense of rightness. Watching the waves soothed her in ways she hadn’t realized were possible. “I like that. Forever friends. I feel the same about you, Max.” Her words came out quietly.
“Good.” He took a seat beside her. “When our band got its first record deal, I was so excited. It was exactly what the guys and I hoped for during those tough first years playing gigs in churches and even bars. Wherever we could. It’d been hard, but we were all so passionate about our music. We loved it. It had brought so much joy into our lives and, we hoped, the lives of others. We were doing something positive, something that brought happiness into the world. I thought my dad would be excited too.”
Katie faced him fully. He sounded so hopeful, yet she felt his dread, his sadness. “But he wasn’t?”
He laughed mirthlessly. “Not even a little bit.”
“What happened?” Thoughts of her brother, her mom and dad came to mind and she was no longer hungry. When Lance had started his band, it’d been such a happy time for the family. Katie had thought her brother’s music to be a little too loud and screamy, but he’d been so content, she put her feelings aside. They’d all been so proud of him. She shook her head, forcing her memories down deep. Max wasn’t her Lance. His choices had been different. “What did he do?”
“He—” Max started, but stopped.
She took in the lines and furrows Max’s trials and sadness had created on his handsome face. While she’d been dealing with her emotional memories, he’d been struggling with his own. She squeezed his hand. “What?” she encouraged.<
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“Slapped me. Punched me. Basically beat the crap out of me. Yelled and said things I’d rather forget.” As he spoke he brushed her hand with his thumb. His eyes filled with tears, but he blinked them away. “Since then, when we speak it’s mostly about nothing. The weather. His favorite sports teams. All the stuff he cares about, but that holds no meaning for me. And once a month we get together for dinner.”
“What’s that like?” She needed to tell Max about Lance at some point. He’s shared so much with her, but she still wasn’t ready.
“Awful.” He paused and thought a moment. “But nice too.”
“Really?” How could anything with his dad could be nice?
“In his own strange way, he wants to see me. In his mind, he may believe it’s so he can change me, or make me become more like him, but I think deep, deep down it’s because he loves me.”
“I think you might have the biggest heart in the whole world.” Katie smiled, watching his lips as he did the same. It was a megawatt smile.
“Thanks.” He took another bite of food. Shrugged. Took another bite. “I just know that when I hold in feelings of sadness or anger or bitterness, it’s affecting me more than anyone else. Doing that makes it more difficult for me to write music or even perform. And my dad may say I’m his greatest regret, but I think what he regrets is how things are between us.” He grinned sadly. “I could be totally wrong, but I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt.”
An overwhelming need to protect him welled up inside her. It was a new emotion and certainly uncalled for. He didn’t need her protection. Still, she couldn’t shake her feeling.
“Max—”
He gave her a big smile, straightening. “Enough of that. I just want you to know you can trust me, Katie.”
She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and tried to squeeze. They were so broad she could barely reach, but she tried to hug him anyway. “Thanks, Max.”
They finished their tacos, each lost in their own thoughts. The quiet wasn’t uncomfortable though.
