earlier, kendall texted me saying that she was holding a small get-together at her place.

even though i debated that i'd rather just stay in with jack, she insisted and said that i should bring him along too.

"so, who else is coming to this?" jack asked, as we stepped out of the car and he pressed the car key button to lock it.

"theo, ryan, nova (promo to natemaloley's book 'roommates') and two other people that you haven't met".

"what about max?".

"uh, i don't know, kendall never mentioned him" i quickly brushed off, pressing the doorbell and waiting for an answer.

the door eventually opened and kendall greeted us with a smile, "hey! you both made it" she said, stepping aside to let us in.

"only because you're a very persuasive person" i corrected with a laugh.

i handed her the bottle of wine that we brought and she gestured for us both to go into the living room, where everyone was having various conversations and drinking.

"so, where's theo?" i sat down on the couch and asked kendall before she walked away.

"i'm pretty sure that he's on his way" she told me and as if on cue, the doorbell rang.

"hey guys" i heard kendall say at the door, and she didn't even have to go any further for me to already guess who theo bought along with him.

"...i thought you weren't coming?" she questioned.

"i wasn't but then again, i wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun" max's voice echoed in my ears.

great.

theo came into the living room saying a quick hi to everyone, then max walked out from behind him, doing the same but leaving me until last.

"hey" he said with a small wave.

i vaguely smiled up at him, then turned back to talk jack and my friends.

i didn't mean to be harsh, but i haven't spoken to max since last night.

he's tried to text me a few times, but i just feel so uncomfortable since then that i barely even remember how to act around him.

throughout the rest of the night, i could every now and then feel max's eyes piercing at me from across the room.

we were all trying to listen to the crazy story that theo was partially telling and reenacting for us, but max's staring was completely throwing me off.

jack suddenly squeezed my thigh lightly, "hey, are you okay? you seem really tense?" he whispered and i briefly glanced at max.

"no, i'm good" i nodded.

"are you sure?".

"yeah, why wouldn't i be?" i told and flashed jack a quick grin, before pecking his lips.

+

as everyone continued to drink, eat and enjoy themselves, i was doing the same except for times when mine and max's eyes would diverted to one another.

i was in desperate need of a break from this, so as soon as kendall stood to go to her kitchen, i instantly followed behind her.

"oh, hey. are we out of wine already?" she asked, trying to check back in the living room but i shook my head.

"no, we're fine" i sighed deeply, then held my palms against the counter behind me. "i just need a break".

"does this have something to do with max?" kendall suggested and i looked at her with confusion.

"how did you-".

"i mean, you guys are usually inseparable lately, so i sort of figured" she elaborated. "what happened?.

i looked down at the half empty glass in my hand, being hesitant to answer.

"is it last night?" kendall asked. "you know, when theo and i left you both at work?".

i used one hand to push my hair back as i breathed out deeply, "max tried to kiss me last night" i whispered.

her eyes widened, "no way, and did he?!".

"no, that's why i said tried, i didn't let him".

"so now it's awkward?".

i raised my brows to agree, "very".

"well, you've got to talk to him. you two work together, you can't avoid him forever" she advised.

"i know, i know" i sighed as kendall poured herself another glass of wine.

"how about jack? have you told him?.

i scoffed, practically smirking at the idea, "you should of seen how hard he clenched his jaw when i told him that max tried asking me out. imagine how he'd react to this".

kendall cocked her eyebrow at me, motioning that she was being serious.

"...i just don't think it's relevant" i added. "jack and i are in a good place, we don't need to go through the whole trust issues bull-".

i stopped talking and turned my head to the kitchen doorway - max entered and fixed his hands into the pockets of his trousers.

"savannah," he said, but i gave him an expressionless face and downed the remains of my drink. "can we talk outside, please?".

i looked at the sincerity in his eyes, before placing my glass down and giving in.

i walked ahead of him back through the living room. jack stared at us questioningly as he spoke to theo, but i gave him a reassuring smile before going out of the back door.

"so did you get my texts?" max began whilst we stood on the patio.

i faced him with my arms folded, "yes, but there's nothing really to talk about max".

"yes, there is. i'm sorry for trying to kiss you, i should have never crossed the line like that".

"yeah, you shouldn't have. i mean, you know very well that i'm with jack" i told him.

"i know, i'm sorry. i just got caught up in the moment, that's all" he shrugged and i sighed lightly.

he took a small step closer, "look, i really enjoy your company, savannah and i don't want my stupid mistake to make things awkward and ruin our friendship".

i nodded my head, "yeah...me neither" a smile began to edge from the corner of my lips as his brown eyes focused on me.

"so am i forgiven?".

i hesitated, watching the guilt and regret in max's face until i opened up my arms.

"come here" i chuckled and he did too, as he wrapped his arms around me.

"so, we're good?" he said over my shoulder, before i pulled away.

"yes, we're good maxwell".

he breathed out in annoyance, "i really regret telling you my full name".

"which is why you will never ever know my middle name".

he laughed, "i have a few very good guesses, and i can easily look at your official files at work any ways".

"i'm pretty sure that's illegal, max".

he gasped over-dramatically, "so you're prepared to snitch on your favourite british person?".

"when have i ever said that you were my favourite british person?".

his lips lifted into a smile, "well, i kind of guessed since you couldn't stay mad at me for more than a day".

i raised my brows, pointing my finger, "don't get cocky, because i could easily go back to ignoring you".

"okay, okay" max held his hands up and laughed, as we both made our way back inside the house.

+

i stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around me tightly then went towards the sink, where jack stood brushing his teeth.

as i took the hair tie out of my hair, he began smirking at me through the mirror then spat into the sink.

"i'd really love it if your towel fell down right now".

i harmlessly hit his arm with a laugh, "don't you ever get tired of seeing me naked?".

he scoffed and wiped his mouth with a towel, "never".

instead of leaving the bathroom, jack's arms curled around my waist from behind. i began brushing my hair with him humming against my shoulder and kissing it lightly.

he then sighed, as his eyes caught mine through the mirror, "wow, my girlfriend is so beautiful".

"how beautiful?" i teasingly questioned, but he groaned into my neck.

"you really don't want to get me started on that" jack stated, planting multiple kisses. "so what are our plans for tomorrow?".

"well, my plan was to have lunch with max".

his figure tensed up and he cocked his head back a little, "really? how come i didn't know about this?".

"we only decided to earlier at kendall's" i explained.

"oh. well, i just thought that we could maybe spend some time alone together, y'know after yesterday and things" he kissed my neck again. "can't you cancel?".

"i would, but max also suggested that you came along too" i said, biting my lip.

"he did?".

i settled the brush down and turned to face him, "yeah, why do you sound so surprised?".

"because, i always thought that he was more of a 'three's a crowd' type guy".

i stroked his bare chest with my hands, "but he really wants to get to know you better".

"i don't know, i don't want to seem like a third wheel" he hesitated and i knitted my eyebrows together.

"how can you third wheel when i'm your girlfriend?".

jack shrugged, "it happens, babe".

i pouted and stared into his eyes with the most convincing and pleading face that i could make. "jack, please".

he threw his head back a little, still remaining hesitant and scratched his neck. but since words weren't going to make him change his mind, i started fiddling with the secure towel around my body.

"please..." i begged again - jack's eyes now glued to my loosening towel. "for me" i leant closer and breathed into his ear.

he slowly ran his tongue over his lips, "one of these days i'm gonna have to say no to you" he muttered.

"no, you love me too much" i stated, pecking his lips.

"sadly, yes" he agreed, lightly smacking my butt as he followed behind me into the bedroom.

this is the good place between jack and i that i was talking about to kendall.

even though there was no actual lip to
lip contact with max and i, if i tell jack about what happened, it'll slowly ruin our relationship and i'm not about to let that happen.

-

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going to try doing more frequent updates for this book