Max felt like a hypocrite when he woke on Saturday morning with two full days stretched ahead of him. He hadn't slept in, in fact he hadn't slept well at all. Tossing and turning had never been his problem until he found out Olivia was pregnant. His life was not going as planned. He hadn't expected to live in a constant state of guilt. The ball in his chest kept growing. After promising to support her through her father's death, he failed her. She deserved someone so much better than him. Even the life she carried needed a better father. More guilt as his thoughts were no better than Charles Browning's actions towards his daughter, too little too late.

The one thing he agreed on was he fucked up royally. Unfortunately, his uncle was not content with that admission. "Boy, you had better do right by Olivia."

If he were a boy, he wouldn't be in trouble. Was doing right enough? Marriage wasn't the be all and end all. Even Uncle Kurt had an awful marriage. Did he do right by his first wife? Max was old enough to remember the messy divorce. Everyone knew Charles hadn't. The man who stood out was Andrew. Max could pull off being a decent father a couple weekends a month.

Kurt kept asking if he loved her. Fuck. That was the hard part. He loved her too much, so much he hurt her over and over.

Groaning, he pulled his tired body out of bed and pulled on swim shorts. Maybe the exercise would clear his mind. As always, the first wave of chlorine transported him to Olivia. He could taste her in his mind, not just her mouth, but her skin and her feminine musk. Her wet secretions had been his alone. Just the thought made him hard even in the cool water. He imagined taking her on the pool steps; the same ones they played on as children and lounged around talking as teens. By rejecting her, he was allowing another man to give her pleasure like Zach had threatened. She was so different from the girls at school who had sex with every dick attached to a decent smelling guy. Olivia had only had him. The thought was heavy and added to the guilt.

Max felt a little better when he finished his swim until he walked into the kitchen. Like a naughty preschooler, he avoided eye contact with his parents. The look of disappointment added more guilt.

Lois said, "You both like to swim. See you're a perfect couple."

More guilt who would watch Olivia's baby so she could swim.

Michael wore his weekend uniform meant for eighteen holes, but the man planning to enjoy his favorite pastime was not as subtle. "You need to talk to Olivia and start making plans. You have responsibilities. It's time you act like an adult."

Max's jaw dropped. An adult saved lives and delivered grim news to loved ones. He hung his head. Hadn't he moved out of the flophouse, so he could live like an adult. He had felt stagnated socially in the college bubble.

He retreated upstairs with a cup of coffee to shower. Even the hot steam held memories as his fist encircled his dick and he shut his eyes. It was always Olivia who filled his vision. His wrist flicked faster as he remembered her tightly around him and the spasms of her orgasm. He shot his load, but felt anything but satisfied.

As a punishment and out of necessity, he grabbed his laptop and went to work documenting his cases. He had power bars and could easily stay in his bedroom all day.

Max was just about to stretch out for a nap when his phone rang. He looked at it like it might explode. There would have to be a major catastrophe for the hospital to call. He would rather that than a personal call. Emma Sumner.

"Hey Max. Are you free to stop by to see my designs?"

"You could send them."

"You're paying for a consultation, you deserve one. I'll throw in dinner."

Maybe a meal with Oliver and his kids would be better than his parents. "Yeah. Okay. What time?"

After Emma hung up, she texted her address. Max had never visited their home. As he drove, the neighborhood reminded him of his own. The older homes were all pristinely preserved. They weren't cookie cutter like newer developments with each house identical to its neighbor.

In front of the white house were beautiful gardens, but also a bike and a scooter were left haphazardly on the lawn. He stood on the front step and rang the bell. Emma answered the door with a glowing smile, as she ushered him in.

"Oliver is out, so we might get interrupted. Come on up to the office."

The wide staircase had detailed wooden rails polished to a shine. He followed her upstairs. The hall had five doors, and he glanced in one to see a truck themed room. It looked like it should be in a magazine.

The office was small. On the desk were paint swatches and fabric samples. "Um, it's a rental. You can't paint."

"I know this is for a different job. So I have narrowed most things down to two or three choices."

Max spent the next half hour choosing his furniture. She had been very thorough. She even had dishes and duvets. The faint sound of the TV must have been responsible for no interruptions.

"How stocked do you want the kitchen?"

"The basics. Nothing fancy."

"Coffee machine?"

"I drink straight coffee, no froth or whatever."

She nodded, as the patter of feet went down the stairs. "Sounds like Oliver is home. I'll order the furniture. They will deliver most of it quickly. You should have a bed by the end of the week."

"What about a place to sit?"

"Bar stools. The sofa might take longer. We could get lucky. Although you already did." She snickered at herself.

"Not funny."

Oliver cleared his throat. "I came to see how it's going."

"Great. We're done. How did your thing go?"

"Surprisingly well."

Emma smiled, and Max felt sour in his gut. Something felt fishy. Oliver stuck out his hand. "Candy?"

Max shook his head. He didn't need to suck on lemon. Emma looked at her husband. "What's with you and these candies?"

Oliver waved his hand. "Old story. Ancient history right, Max?" Oliver pounded him on the back with manly affection.

He followed the couple downstairs, but thought it odd Oliver went first. When Emma's sock slipped on a step and she used Oliver's shoulder to right herself, Max was glad Oliver was there. As they moved towards the kitchen, he stopped frozen in his tracks. Laughter floated towards him.

"Maybe I'll head out."

Emma grabbed his arm. "No. You aren't. I know you can be in the same room. Unless. Is clothing the problem?"

He glared, refusing to laugh. She tugged on his arm and he followed her into the kitchen. Olivia sat at the table with both children coloring. She looked up and smiled.

Oliver asked, "Max didn't surprise you?"

She nodded. "Until I recognized his car."

She looked like she had a better night's sleep than him. "Were you out with Duff?

"Were you upstairs with Emma?"

The other adults looked like they were watching a tennis match. He cleared his throat. "She's designing my new place."

"I'll even throw in a little cocktail housewarming when it's done. Olivia, you'll come?"

"If I'm invited. I don't fit into his life."

Oliver stepped forward. "Suck on these, both of you."

Olivia took her candy and popped it in her mouth. Feeling pushed in a corner, Max did the same. He loved lemon. Oliver was right they both needed to sweeten up. They could set aside their valid reasons to be upset with the other for one day.

"Livvy, nothing's changed. You're still my friend."

Under her breath, Emma hissed. "More like a friend with benefits."

Ignoring her comment, Max turned to Olivia. Frig! Her breasts were a lot bigger. He pressed his hand into his thigh to stop the itching. He wanted to touch her. "What were you doing out with Duff? Taking up golf?"

Oliver laughed. "She'd be in trouble." He looked at Livvy and lifted his eyebrows.

"What's your big secret? First you disappear to some kind of farm and now what?"

Emma laughed. "It's not a farm."

Even Oliver found his comment amusing. Livvy continued to color and whispered to Teddy a few times. She stood up and walked in front of him in a face-off. Her scent mingled with the lemon tucked in his cheek. Occasionally, he flicked the candy around with his tongue. He thought of some things his tongue would like to flick.

"It's more of a surprise than a secret. Don't tell your brother because I'd like to tell mine myself."

The information highway had an express lane with Lilli and Ainsley. Previously, information would flow between Zach and Livvy. Ian who was always the last to know had become one of the first to know things.

"Fine. Our brothers don't need to know everything."

She nodded. It was one thing they agreed on. "I'm learning to drive. Oliver took me driving."

"She's doing well."

Emma pounced. "Since it's closer to you, Max, take Olivia home after we eat. She can drive."

His eyes drilled into Oliver's face who smiled. "I was never scared. Except... and..."

"He's teasing. I never did anything scary. We even went on the highway."

The image of Olivia behind the wheel amused him. Maybe she was serious about moving. "Ian will be shocked."

"My brother is happy having Ainsley drive him. I'm more independent, especially since I'll be raising a child on my own."

"Come on, kids. Let's play outside." Emma ushered the two kids and Oliver away quickly.

"The house isn't on fire." Max said to their backs. "Liv?"

"Liv, what? It's okay, Max. I know you don't love me or want me and a child. You can't be out of our lives completely, but I won't ask you for anything, not a dime."

"Olivia, you've had more time. It's still sinking in, but I'm not a deadbeat."

"I'm going to go outside. I would appreciate a ride home, but I don't have to drive."

"No, I want to see this for myself. My car is so old, I have to replace it soon."

Safety was already high on his list, but it moved to the top next to four-wheel drive for winter. Max stood alone in the kitchen as Olivia disappeared. She had changed, but it was more than the physical modifications.

After horsing around with the kids, they had a pleasant meal of grilled chicken. It was nice to be with healthy children. He tried out a few jokes on Daphne at the table. Some went over her head.

"More. More!" It was hard to deny anything from her pleading, green eyes.

"Okay." He chuckled. "Did you hear about the guy who lost his whole left side?" She shook her head eagerly. "He's all right now."

The adults laughed sarcastically. "Max, did you take a course on jokes?" Emma asked.

"It was part of bedside manners 101."

"Seriously?" Emma's eyes grew wide.

Before he could answer, Olivia cut him off. "No, he's teasing. His dimple gives it away."

His eyes narrowed. "What? Who told you that?"

She shook her head. "No one. I doubt Zach even knows, but I notice things no one else does."

Oliver patted his back. "She knows you better than anyone. It's the same with me and Emma. Right, Em?"

Emma chuckled. "He knows when I'm gonna trip."

Olivia teased. "That's easy."

Max looked at Olivia when Emma mentioned pajamas. "Ready?"

She nodded, but looked like he asked her to walk the plank. "You can drive, but if you would rather not..."

"No, I will. I don't know my way."

"I'll show you." He silently groaned as he tried not to think about the things he had shown her in bed.

Oliver had been right. She did a decent job at driving. Obviously, she would need practice before she could drive with a baby in the car.

As they approached the house she was living in, he saw it as a sprawling home, not a farmhouse. The barn looked quaint next to it. "Who lives here?"

"I'd like you to meet them, but beware one lacks filters."

"You could give me more than that."

She stopped the car in front of the house and handed him his key. "Fine. This is Shaun's house. She arranged for me to stay here."

"So Emma knew all along?"

Olivia nodded. "Not about the baby."

His eyes followed her hand as she placed it possessively on her abdomen. He shut his eyes and heard her door open. Slowly, he emerged too. Hadn't he heard Josh rode horses?

"Liv, can we talk first?"

She nodded and led him toward the barn.

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