After a few minutes, I stretched and yawned, pretending to wake up. He pulled himself away as I began to move and I wondered what was going through his mind. Did it feel as good to him as it did to me when he held my hand? Why did he kiss my forehead? Why did I wake up on his chest?

I was being awkward and I knew it. Somehow, I just couldn't stop myself. I was overthinking every single thing like a crazy person. We had been inseparable for so long and all of a sudden I had no idea how to act around him. I had to get a grip. I had to pretend everything was normal. I scolded myself mentally for not getting a grip and plastered a smile on my face.

"What's on the agenda today?" I asked him.

"Well, my dad's memorial is tonight and the service is tomorrow morning. I was thinking we could get as far away from here as possible and then meet the 'mystery man' tomorrow."

I was growing worried about his determination to avoid saying goodbye to his father. I wasn't sure it was healthy but I knew he had to deal with it in his own way.

"Max, are you sure you don't want to attend at least one of the services?"

"I am positive, I made special plans for us today."

How on earth had this man found time to make plans with everything going on?

"Why don't you ask Piper to come along?" he insisted.

"Oh, about Piper. You should know that she might look a little different when you see her."

He looked at me completely confused.

"She met some guy on the internet and he has apparently been using her as a punching bag. Chase and I saw her yesterday," I explained.

"So you were with Chase yesterday?"

"Yeah, we met Piper at the coffee shop. I left you a note."

He looked so disappointed.

"I didn't realize Chase went with you. I thought you just got back at the same time."

It wasn't the first time he had made a comment about me and Chase and I was becoming convinced that he was jealous of him. I couldn't even conceive that Maxwell Livingston would be jealous of anyone. Maybe I was just reading him wrong.

"Are you okay with us being together?" I finally asked him.

"Yeah, of course," he said in a rushed tone that sounded all too suspicious.

"Okay good because he means a lot to me," I honestly admitted.

When I said that he casually walked out the room without even responding. I followed close behind him and we ran into Chase in the kitchen. He told Chase and me to get ready and asked me to call Piper and tell her we would pick her up.

He didn't exactly tell us where we were going so I had no idea how to dress. I finally decided on something casual because I didn't know what else to do. Hopefully, a gala wasn't in store for us because I would be sorely underdressed.

When we picked up Piper I could see the shock on Max's face. Luckily, preparing him was a smart idea because he didn't comment on her appearance. That would have only made her feel uncomfortable.

We drove for about half an hour and finally wound up at a Marina. When I saw the yacht I recognized it from our trip together.

"Are we going on the yacht, Max?" I asked.

"Yes," he said as a smile filled his face.

Chase was smiling too and it was abundantly clear that the two of them were no strangers to boating.

"Ladies first," Chase said as he held his hand out and helped us aboard.

Once we are all on the yacht, I realized that it was staffed with an entire crew. They showed us to a table on the open deck and began serving us lunch. It was insanely good but the conversation was even better.

I don't know what it was but somehow when we were all together it just felt comfortable. It seemed like we had all been friends for years. No one would ever have guessed that I was once a waitress who moonlighted as a maid. A maid that used to clean their toilets. I smiled inside when I thought about that. How ironic that I was sitting on a yacht having lunch with them.

After lunch, Max insisted that we all go into the pool.

"We didn't bring suits Max because you wouldn't tell us where we were going."

He just laughed at me.

"Calm down Lillie, everything you need is taken care of."

Piper and I looked at each other wondering what he could have possibly provided for us to wear. It suddenly occurred to me that Max had never seen me in a swimsuit. I had never shown that much skin around him. Piper could have cared a less. She was always so comfortable in her own skin.

When we found our suits in one of the cabins I couldn't believe it. Mine was a red bikini that left very little to the imagination.

"Has he lost his mind?" I asked Piper.

"Girl, if you've got it, flaunt it. You have nothing to be ashamed of." That was just like my Piper, throwing caution to the wind and living in the moment.

I reluctantly put the swimsuit on and then stared into the mirror studying every single one of my curves. I was always annoyed by my breasts. I would wear two sports bras to strap them down. In that bikini, there was no hiding them. If I could have cried I would have. I just consoled myself with the notion that Max was here to forget about his father's memorial service not to stare at me.

When we were done we headed out to the pool. Piper led the way as brazen and bold as always. I followed close behind wishing I could crawl out of my own skin.

Max and Chase were drinking bourbon by the pool when we came into view. Max's eyes widened in shock and then the bourbon carelessly spewed out of his mouth. He wiped the liquor off of his lips without ever taking his eyes off of me. I have to admit that I was blushing.

By the time dinner rolled around we were exhausted. We had been swimming for hours and lounged a little too long in the sun. All of us were in desperate need of a shower. When we gathered around the dinner table we were ready for some champagne. After our glasses were full, Chase held his up.

"To Mr. Livingston," he said and we all joined our glasses with his.

Max trailed off for a moment after the toast and seemed distant throughout the remainder of dinner. When we were done I suggested that he and I go for a stroll around the deck. He was gracious to oblige me and I have to admit that I had ulterior motives. I knew he was sad about his father and I was desperate to take that pain away from him.

We wound up on the back deck of the yacht where we could be alone. Beautiful lights illuminated us. It would have been romantic if were not there to forget about his father's service.

Even as we were walking around he still seemed distant, barely saying a word. When we finally stopped he just peered out over the ocean and into the darkness.

"A penny for your thoughts," I asked him.

"Do you know what my father told me the day that he asked you to leave the office? He told me that my entire life was about to change. That everything I thought I knew about my reality would be turned on its head. He told me what was in that box we found but not how it got there."

I moved closer to him until I was able to put my hand on his shoulder.

"I can only imagine what you are going through Max but I hope you know you don't have to do any of this alone."

He turned around to face me and placed his hand on my cheek. His eyes were piercing into mine and it felt like our souls were connected. I was melting under his touch and I felt like I could have asked him anything.

"What are you afraid of Max?"

"Of what our mystery man has to say," he honestly admitted.

*******

A/N

I am absolutely loving how close Lillie and Max are getting. What do you think? It seemed like his eyes popped out of his head when he saw her in that bikini.