I stayed quiet and waited with bated breath, desperate to hear his explanation. He ran his hand through his hair as worry seemed to fill his face.

"The truth is, I cannot tell you everything my father said. Maybe one day I will be able to but not now."

So that was what he had to say? I wasn't letting him off that easy.

"Did you text Chase today?"

He hesitated for a moment before he confirmed that it was him that sent Chase running out of the diner.

"So, he gets to be enlightened but I am left in the dark? That's how it's going to be?"

Max put his hand on the top of my leg. Even though my frustration with him was building, I was hyper-aware of where he was touching me. He had never touched me like that before. I don't know why but it felt so intimate considering the nature of our relationship.

I watched his brow furrow as he responded to my question. "It's not like that Lillie. I wish I could tell you. Honestly, there's nothing I want more."

"Then why don't you?"

"Because what he told me is something that's better-kept secret."

I was growing weary of our conversation that was going nowhere. If he wanted to tell me, he could.

"There is something I want to talk to you about though. I want you to move to my father's house with me. Chase is coming too. It will be mine soon anyway and this way I can keep an eye on dad and .."

"And what Max, finish that sentence."

"I literally can't but it is important to me that you come there with me."

I looked at him like he had lost his mind.

"So you just waltz in here ignoring the fact that I have a stalker on the street, tell me absolutely nothing and then ask me to move in with you."

He scratched his neck and I could tell that his tension was building as well.

"That's just it Lillie, I need you with me so I can keep you safe."

"Safe from what?"

"You know I cannot tell you that but we are involved now and this thing affects you too."

Okay, I had to admit that he was freaking me out.

"Is that who those people are outside? Are they here to hurt me?"

"No, they are here for your protection. I'm sorry they weren't more discreet. The intent was not to scare you."

I just stood up and paced around the room for a minute trying to process everything he was telling me. At that point, I was so confused that I felt like my head was going to explode. He was telling me everything and nothing all at once. If I was in trouble, I had the right to know why. Was he even telling me the truth or was this one of his juvenile games? There was one way to find out.

"I don't think so Max, I like my apartment. Besides, you are paying me well enough that if I wanted to move, I would. Staying here is allowing me to save money and that money will help me start a new life one day."

Max's expression changed from desperate to angry with one response.

"This is not an option Lillie. You are not safe, do you understand that? You are coming with me right now and that is final!"

He was beginning to shout and I wasn't just going to let him talk to me like that. My mother may have been a horrible one but she taught me to stick up for myself.

"You do not own me, Max. I am not leaving my apartment and I would appreciate it if you would just leave."

My arms were crossed over my chest and he could tell by my stance that I wasn't playing around. Once he got that through his head he decided he could be a little nicer. He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulder taking me off guard.

"Look, I am sorry that I got angry. I shouldn't have, none of this is your fault. Lillie, you are in danger, we all are and I cannot just leave you here. I am begging you, PLEASE come with me?"

"I don't know Max, I would have to uproot my entire life and leave the only place I have known since I left the wreck my mother called home."

Looking around I realized how odd that statement must have sounded to him. I was sure he couldn't imagine how any place could be worse than mine. If he only knew how bad it could get.

He practically had tears in his eyes as he was pleading with me and something told me he was being sincere. If he was, the thought of staying alone was scaring me out of my mind. I didn't want to leave but I didn't want to stay either. I decided to go but resolved to make him tell me what was going on, even if it took time.

"Okay, I'll go," I finally relented.

A huge smile formed on his lips and I could tell he was relieved. That only further convinced me that there was truth behind his words.

"Let's grab what we can for now and I will send someone to get the rest of your things tomorrow."

"Okay," I agreed as the reality of what I had just agreed to began to sink in.

He followed me into my bedroom and I realized that it was the first time he had been there. I grabbed a suitcase and began packing my clothes but couldn't help but notice him out of the corner of my eye. He was wandering around touching everything I owned and even had the nerve to open one of my drawers. That drawer just happened to contain my unmentionables.

"Umm, excuse me, sir!" I shouted. It seemed to startle him as he turned to look at me.

"Sorry, I just find it interesting."

"You find what interesting? How the common folks live?"

He laughed but I was only half-joking.

"No, how you live and everything that makes you, you. It just makes me feel like I know you a little better. "

I shook my head.

"Okay weirdo, well since you are already snooping through my bras and panties, do you want to bring them over here?"

He looked at me as if to ask if it was okay even though I had just told him that it was. He eventually eased open the drawer and grabbed my most private pieces, bringing an armful to me. Once he laid them on the bed he could really get an eye full and began picking them up staring at each one.

"Perv much?" I questioned.

"I am not a perv, I just didn't envision you wearing things like this."

"What did you envision me wearing? Granny panties?"

He was really laughing at that point. I was kind of glad he was making a really hard situation a little lighter.

"Something like that," he replied with a wink.

I, of course, snatched them out of his hand and threw them in the suitcase. I grabbed a bag and threw all of my toiletries in next.

When I came out of the bathroom he was staring at the photos stuck in my mirror. They were of me as a child, me and piper, me and the gang at the diner, a little bit of everyone.

"You were a pretty cute kid," he commented.

"Thanks, now can you grab those so we can get going?"

I watched as he began carefully removing them one by one. Taking a minute, I looked around my room. I wasn't sure if I would be back there and it felt like an ending of an era.

As we pulled out of the driveway a few tears crept from eyes and he placed his hand over mine to comfort me. We drove for a while and I actually dozed off for a few minutes. When I woke, we were pulling up at his father's mansion.

"Home sweet home," he said.

I let out a long sigh and climbed out of the car, retrieving my suitcase from the back. I didn't get very far before one of the many people his father employed grabbed my bag and took it inside.

Max led me upstairs and showed me to a beautiful room. Perhaps suite would have been a better description since it had a bathroom and balcony. It was bigger than my entire apartment.

"You should be comfortable here," he said as he began to walk toward the door.

Just before he opened it, he turned to me and said, "Thank you for agreeing to come, you have no idea how much it means to me."

"It wasn't like I had a choice," I quipped back.

He shut the door chuckling and suddenly I felt very alone. The house was so enormous and it certainly did not feel like home. I snuggled into the oversized bed and realized that the old house felt downright spooky.

I pulled the covers up to my neck and shut my eyes, trying to think happy thoughts.

It was only a few minutes before I heard a knock at the door. 

********

A/N

Thanks for continuing to follow Max and Lillie's journey. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Who do you think was knocking at the door? What do you think the big secret is?