“Max,” I blushed as I shot my eyes back to the key, but the thought made me hot. Reaching over, I picked it up and ran my fingers over the engraved words. It was so sweet and touching. Feeling overwhelmed, I felt a pool of tears. No guy had made me feel the way Max did. The insecure part of me wondered if he was cheating on me and how long it would last, but I had to stop thinking such negative thoughts, because I knew it would get in the way of me enjoying the present. “I don’t know what to say…thank you.”

Max’s shoulders relaxed, looked less nervous as he radiated a smile. Perhaps he’d thought I wouldn’t accept it. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he let out a sigh of relief. “Believe me…it’s my pleasure. Don’t forget to use it.” He winked.

After we finished our drinks, I placed the key inside the box and placed the box inside my workbag. Before I had a chance to grab my bag, Max picked it up from the floor and carried it for me. Such a gentleman! It was hard to get used to sometimes, but I had to admit , I loved that kind of attention from him.

Before we parted ways at the office, Max reminded me he would pick me up for Thanksgiving dinner. Though I hadn’t forgotten, I was feeling a little bit nervous. Thanksgiving dinner was meant for family to spend time together, and I wasn’t sure if his parents wanted me there. Though Max had told me they had invited me, I was almost certain he told them he was bringing me.

Chapter 33

“Becky…you sure you don’t want me to take you to the airport tomorrow?” I asked, watching her place items inside her suitcase.

“No, I’ll take the taxi. It’s not a big deal.” Becky paced to the closet again. “I can’t believe I have nothing to wear.”

I started to giggle. “Yup…sometimes I feel the same way.”

Becky turned to me. “Didn’t we just go shopping recently? How is that possible?” She huffed and pulled a black sweater off the hanger. After folding it, she placed it inside her suitcase.

Sitting on her bed, next to her suitcase, I straightened some of her clothing items inside it. “You’re only going to see your parents, right?”

Becky slowly turned. “Yes…but one of my parents’ friends will be there with their son, whom I’ve had a crush on since high school. His name is Ryan. He was in college when I met him so he didn’t pay attention to me. Since the age difference doesn’t matter anymore…just maybe….” Becky paused. “Oh gosh…what if he has a girlfriend? Whatever…I’m just wearing whatever,” she giggled.

After she zipped her suitcase, she placed it by the front door. Then she plopped back onto the bed next to me. “Dinner with the Knight family, huh?”

I arched my brows. “Yeah,” I replied. My tone was half-excited and half-nervous.

“I’m glad you have Max while I’m off to see my parents. I’m sure he’ll take real good care of you.” The last sentence came off too playfully. “We should communicate more often. You’re here during Thanksgiving and I’m not. How did that happen?”

“I’m not sure. I think we didn’t think about it…you know what I mean.” I draped my arms around her.

“Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone, okay?” Becky hugged me back. “You know you have the whole apartment to yourself, so you can do whatever you like.” Her tone was playful, dragging out the word “whatever.”

Giggling, I told her to take her mind out of where mine was.

“You have changed, my dear. Max is bringing out the wild side in you. Little miss angel is turning into little miss devil.”

With wide eyes and stunned by her words, though I knew she was joking, I playfully pushed her off the bed.

**

Becky had taken Wednesday off and left early that morning, the day before Thanksgiving, and Max picked me up Thursday evening. Upon entering his home, his parents and Matthew greeted me with open arms. A few of his uncles, aunts, and cousins had also come to dinner. Max hadn’t told me there would be other relatives, but then again, it was Thanksgiving, so I guessed I should have assumed. But being an only child, and having cousins who were already married and had children of their own, our extended relatives didn’t get together for Thanksgiving.

Since the dining table could not accommodate the number of people in the household, long rectangular tables were set outside with outdoor heating lamps. Though it was dark, the pretty white lights that were hung in the surrounding area, like the ones you would hang on a Christmas tree, gave it a lovely ambiance, especially against the dark sky.

A table adjacent to where we sat was filled with plates full of Thanksgiving food—the biggest turkey I’d ever seen, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, Caesar salad, cranberry sauce, gravy, and others I couldn’t remember from a quick glance. Being the eldest, Max was in charge of carving the turkey. Instead of being social, I stood around the corner where he couldn’t see me.

My eyes were set on his biceps. The way they flexed as he stretched his arm and pulled back, slicing through the turkey with the knife, while he bit down on his bottom lip as if he was concentrating, was too hot. I never thought carving a turkey could look this hot, but who was I kidding? Max could make just standing there look hot. Being hungry, I should be drooling over the turkey, but I was drooling over Max instead.

“Hey, Jenna. Are you going to fill your plate, or are you going to stare at my brother all night?” Matthew teased.