CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Max knew she wanted his opinion, but he couldn't tell her to have his child. That would make him look so selfish and inconsiderate of the things she wanted. Instead, he insisted she make the final decision.

Jayde took a quick shower before getting ready for work. When she exited the bathroom, the house was quiet. She did a quick look around before going to her room to get dressed. Max wasn't there. He mentioned meeting with the band today so she assumed he left already. Although, she wished he'd waited and said bye before taking off, she also understood they were on a career path and needed as much time preparing their songs as possible.

When she got to the office, she pulled out her phone and saw she had a text from Max. She quickly opened the text and read the words within with a smile plastered to her face.

"I hope you have a great day at work. I enjoyed yesterday very much. And no matter what you choose, I'm not going anywhere. I wish you'd consider leaving things the way they are. Having a child with you would make me the luckiest man in the world. You stole my heart the first day we met. But I also understand if you want to pick up a Plan B during your lunch break. It's a big change. You'd have to sacrifice. Not only your sleep, but money and your career as well. Either way, I'm happy with what we have. And I strongly believe a child could strengthen our bond. I just want you to know, I'm here. And.... Jayde.... I love you."

Her heart skipped a beat as she read the end again. He loved her? He loved her. Max loves her! Jayde was overflowing with a bunch of emotions at that moment. She felt her eyes well with tears but quickly wiped them knowing she had nothing to worry about. She had Max. No matter what, he was there and he loved her. And she loved him. Oh, how her heart was beating. She heard the pounding in her ears and chuckled lightly.

It had been a few hours and Jayde still hadn't responded to his text, which made Max worry. Maybe he over stepped some unspoken bounds and upset her.

He checked his phone every couple minutes but there was nothing to see. Every time his phone came out, everyone stopped. The guys grew frustrated with the interruptions but never said anything.

Yet again, they watched him return his phone to his pocket with a look of concern on his face. Clay finally spoke up. "Max, dude. What's going on? You seem distracted today. Should we call this a session so you can go do whatever you're doing," Clay gestured to the phone in Max's pocket.

Max shook his head and apologized. "Nah. Let's continue. I'll put my phone elsewhere and only check it when we take breaks. Sorry, guys," Max walked away, putting his phone on silent and came back looking like he was in a better mood. But they could read through his facade. Max was miserable but didn't want to draw attention to it.

They made it half way through a set and began running into some complications. "No," Max barked. "This isn't right. It's too short. Why don't we add a solo of some sort right after the second verse?" The band mates listened and contemplated.

"Well, that could work. But... Let's try this," Jon interjected, playing out a solo of his own and blowing the minds of everyone there. When he finished, he looked up at everyone who was staring at him with various readable expressions plastered to their faces. They knew he could play, but they didn't realize he could play like THAT.

They burst into an approving fit of laughter, voices overlapping one another. Jon took a cocky bow and pointed at them all, nodding before throwing up devil horns and sticking his tongue out, a low growl escaping his mouth.

"Thank you, Garage! I'll be here all of forever!" They guys joked around for a while and decided to take a coffee break. Max took that as his cue to go check his phone. Still nothing. He let out an irritated sigh and walked away, leaving the putrid device behind.

"Where's that cup 'o Joe," he huffed as he joined up with the guys again. They patted his shoulders and pulled him out of the garage, to the truck. Loading up they decided to check out a mom and pop coffee shop nearby.

Jayde had been suffocating in paperwork since she arrived. Mr. Oniko had her neck deep and she hadn't had a chance to check her phone or respond back to Max. She looked up at the time. It was already 6PM and she wasn't even close to being done!

Jayde sighed as she grabbed another stack of papers, taking them to the copy machine and running each sheet through, twice. She hoped Max wouldn't be too upset with her. Would he come over again tonight? How was practice going?

As she stapled the papers together, she sighed again. Jayde missed him so much already. She felt ridiculous thinking that, because she'd just seen him this morning, but she wanted nothing more than to come home to him waiting with that handsome smile spread across his face. To cuddle up in his chest and melt the stress of the day away with every kiss he placed to her forehead.

"Oh, Max," Jayde whispered under her breath as she left the machine with various stacks of stapled papers. "I love you, too." Her heart ached within her chest as she thought about those words she never had the chance to send back.

It was midnight before she knew it and Jayde took her phone out of her purse to check it now that she was alone in the office. Max didn't text anything but she had a couple missed calls and a few voicemails from unknown numbers.

Putting in the pin, Jayde listened closely to the first one.

"Jayyyyde. This is Clay. I just want you to know I'm disappointed in you. How could you make our Max so love sick and-" He was cut off by what sounded like a drunk Max in the background.

"Dude! Hang up! Don't piss my girl off!" Jayde giggled at that and saved the voicemail. Moving to the second one, she took out a pen to take a quick note if need be.

"Hello, this is Max's lover, Phil. I have a bone to pick with the woman who stole him from me. Call me back, biotch! Also, don't be mad at him. We stole his phone and got your number. We're those friends. Buh-bye, Pretty Lady!" Jayde laughed at these ridiculous voicemails. Saving it, she quickly moved to the next one.

"Jay-Jayde! What it do, mami?! So, listen... Max is a great guy. He has his flaws, but when he loves, he loves with everything he is. I just want you to know, that we all approve of your relationship, so please, text the man back. He's been sappy drunk all night and talkin' about how he misses you."

"Dude! Y'all are gonna get me in trouble," Max shouted from the background yet again. Jayde placed her hand over her heart at the sound of his voice.

"Maxi Pad! Shuuuuuuush yo mouth! I'm on the phone. Anyways, take care of our boy. He deserves a love equal to the one he gives. Jon- out!"

Jayde saved that voicemail as well and felt her heart skip a beat. Max had very supportive friends. And she could tell they cared deeply for him.

She wanted nothing more than to hear his voice again. Looking at her call log, Jayde spotted his name and contemplated calling him.

"I should wait til I get home," she mumbled to herself as she quickly stood up and grabbed her stuff. Jayde ran out of the building and rushed home.