8 - Max.

In the end, I barely have time to twist myself in knots over Daniel's reaction. We smooth our clothes into place, exchange hushed words and soft promises, then wander out of the hospital in search of decent coffee. And there, between two rows of glossy cars...

"Max? Theresa?"

The man I grew up with grins broadly, waving from twenty feet across the parking lot. He's standing with a tall, strong-looking young lad who's got his eyes on Theresa like a hawk's. Daniel heads toward us now, worry visible in the tired lines on his forehead. "Good Lord. Is everything alright? Casey told me you've been in there a while..."

It takes a few seconds for him to notice, but I see the exact moment something clicks in Daniel's brain. It clicks the same in Casey's, the lad's mouth falling open. Daniel's frown deepens; his steps slowing down. His eyes flick between his daughter and I, measuring the distance between our bodies and scanning the flush on both our cheeks.

We're both rumpled. Disheveled by our office interlude. But there could, theoretically, be other reasons for Daniel's daughter and his best friend to be strolling out of the hospital together on a Sunday afternoon, both looking well-fucked and guilty, while his daughter's picture perfect boyfriend waits in the parking lot. Can't think of any right now, but surely they exist.

"Uh," I say. Words have never failed me, until now.

Daniel's lips thin. "What the hell is going on here?"

There's deathly silence, one that crawls up my skin as Daniel and Casey watches us, waiting for something — an explanation, anything. Theresa's eyes flicks to mine, devoid of the panic I'm feeling. She takes a step forward, towards her father. "Dad..."

"You two are fucking each other?"

"Jesus Christ, Dan," I look around frantically, thankful that the parking lot is emptying out. It's way past six, so people are returning home. "Let's talk about this at home. Please."

"Dad, please," Theresa pleads. "It's not Max's fault. I wanted it. I wanted him. He didn't force anything on me. Please, listen."

"I can't believe it," Daniel says, shaking his head slowly. "So all those falls, all those random illnesses, those late night visits to my place...it was all a lie?" He glares daggers at me. "You were fucking my daughter right under my nose and roof? I trusted you, Max! I fucking trusted you! Theresa is only nineteen! She's a baby!"

"I'm not a baby!"

"Shut up." I've never seen Daniel look so furious. "He's twice your age, you fool. Casey is the only man I approved for you. He's well within your age range, respectable, loving, calm, and has a great future ahead of him. Max has lost half his golden years..."

"Dan..." I say slowly, a lump forming in my throat. He's hurt, I'm hurt. "Please forgive me. I never intended for things to turn out this way."

"You failed me, Max. Go to hell. I don't want to see you even breathing ten centimeters close to my daughter. From now henceforth, you're dead to me. I mean it. Stay away from Theresa and Amelia."

"No," Theresa grips my white coat, shaking her head. "No, Dad. You can't do this. Please... Just listen..."

"Casey?" Daniel turns to the lad. "Please take Theresa back home." He looks me up and down, his lips turned up in a sneer. "I've got unfinished business with my so called best friend here."

Casey nods, and gently takes Theresa's hand. She tries to resist, staring into my eyes and shaking her eyes, but I nod for her to go along with him. "Please go. This is not the end. I... I will come for you. No matter what, Theresa. You are mine. Never forget that."

—

"For how long were you holding it off, Max?"

Daniel stands on the other side of the table, his shirt ruffled, and his tirade worn out. We're sitting in my office, alone, hours past whatever the hell went down at the parking lot. Shame is like a chainsaw, clawing on every part of my body. Since I gave in to Theresa's advances, I'd somewhat looked forward, as well as dreaded this day. The day I finally come clean about my feelings. About these bottled up emotions. About the truth.

I'm in love with Theresa.

And I don't intend giving her up for anything.

Or worse, anyone.

"I just can't believe you right now. Even if Theresa was making moves at you, you least you can do is inform me. I would know how to handle it. Allowing it get this far? It only shows that you wanted it as much as she did!"

"Yes," I manage, looking up from the desk. At him. The man — no, the father who's hurting for no reason. "I want Theresa. I've always wanted her ever since she became of legal age."

"And this is how you go about it? Sneaking around and touching her right in my property? Come on, Max! You're better than that. You should've told me!"

"And then what? Have you take my head off? Have you separate us? Change schools, and cities, just so you can keep her miles away from me? Have you think that I'm a predator? A pedophile?"

"Theresa isn't a minor. And you said it yourself that you only began looking her way when she clocked eighteen."

"That's true, no doubt. But the age gap between us kept me away. Trust me, I never wanted to indulge her whims. Not until yesterday, that is."

His jaw drops. "This started yesterday?"

I nod slowly. "Yes. Yesterday, while you were asleep, she teased me again, and I fell. If you'd asked me in the parking lot, I would say I wished I had refused her yet again. But now, after all that went down out there, I don't care anymore. I won't stay away from Theresa."

He blinks, his expression incredulous. "What has come over you?"

I know I'm acting strange. I'm sick of lying. Sick of pretending that my feelings are wrong. That they're not valid. "I'm in love, Daniel. Don't you get that? Or has the long, dry years you've spent alone, since Olivia's death made you forget what love once felt like?"

"Don't bring Liv into this." His tone is icy.

"The hell I will! She would have wanted the best for Theresa. Wanted her to be happy, regardless of how skewed her choices might be. Theresa is no longer that little girl you always shielded. The little girl who always runs to you whenever she has a problem. Whenever she needed help making choices. Theresa is now a woman. A woman capable of making her own choices. Let her be."

We stare at each other for what feels like hours, breathing hard, not backing down. Eventually, Daniel hisses, and picks up his wrist watch and other things he dropped on the table, making his way to the door. "Have a good day, Max."

He didn't wait for my response. Just banged the door shut, leaving me in the cold, dreary silence.