REBORN: MEET MY BROTHERS-Chapter 44: JUST WHAT DID I DO?!

Maximus sat shirtless on the edge of the sofa. His elbows rested slightly on his knees, but that did little to hide his broad shoulders and firm chest. From where Ava sat on the bed, she could see everything, and she quickly looked away. Her cheeks grew warm.

But Maximus’s eyes stayed on her. They had been on her for most of the night. Sleep eluded him, and it wasn’t just because of what happened at the party. No, it was because of her.

He couldn’t bring himself to sleep, not after the whole temptation. To make things worse, Ava had refused to let go of him till she fell asleep, cradling him like a little baby.

Ava shifted uncomfortably and held up the blanked that draped over her laps to her chest. She didn’t like the way Maximus was staring at her. It made it near impossible to ask him questions that bothered her. "Can you stop staring at me like that?"

Maximus smirked, leaning into the sofa. "Like what?" He teased.

"Like," she hesitated, searching for the perfect word. "Like you’re undressing me with your eyes."

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. "If I wanted to undress you, Ava, I’d have done that while you were drugged."

Drugged?

Ava blinked, trying to understand what he was saying, until flashes of last night’s party surfaced. The drinks, the laughter, the hazy blue of faces... The waiter. She frowned. A waiter had drugged her but she knew who was behind everything. She wondered how relentless Sasha could be.

But what bothered Ava was that she couldn’t remember anything that happened after she was drugged, especially how she ended up spending the night with Maximus. How was she going to explain this again to her family without them holding onto this opportunity to descend on her like ravenging vultures?

"Why am I here, Maximus?" Her voice came out softer than she intended.

Maximus didn’t move. For a moment, he said nothing and only continue to stare at her. Then, he tilted his head slightly, "Is that the thank you I get for taking care of you?"

Ava’s grip tightened on the blanket. "You could’ve just taken me home. My grandfather must be very worried right now. How do I start explaining all of these?"

Maximus’s brow arched. "It’s not your fault you were drugged, Ava."

Ava frowned. "I never said that."

"You sounded like it was," Maximus responded softly. He stood to his feet and closed the small distance between them. He stopped at the edge of the bed and looked down at her.

"Regardless, I think I lessened your burden by letting you stay here. If your grandfather knew you were drugged, you’d only worry him, something you don’t want to do, right?"

Her lips parted, but no words came out. He was right, and she hated that he was right.

When Maximus noticed the small frown that was beginning to settle on her face, he smiled. "Let’s go downstairs for breakfast, little one."

"I don’t want breakfast. I want to go home, Maximus," she said dryly.

"William won’t agree with you skipping breakfast. I promised him I was going to take care of you."

"What are you talking about?"

Maximus smirked before walking to his closet, intentionally leaving her question unanswered. When he walked out again, he held a tank top in his hand.

Ava watched him as he casually pulled the top over his toned frame. That sight stirred a memory that made her flinch, but she brushed it off as quickly as it came. "Maximus, what do you mean you promised my grandfather? Did you call him?"

"On the contrary, he asked to meet with me when Ethan informed your family that you’ll be staying over," Maximus said with a small smile.

At the mention of her family’s name, Ava froze. Her throat tightened as she started remembering everything that happened last night. From walking out of the party dizzily, to clinging onto the walls of the hallway for support, and then Maximus’s face appearing before her. She remembered the desperation in her own voice. I need you Maximus.

Ava clung to the blanket really hard until her knuckles turned white in embarrassment as she looked at Maximus again. Her heart pounded against her ribs, but as her eyes traveled down his neck, she felt like entering into the ground when she remembered running her tongue down the length of his neck.

She closed her eyes abruptly as she felt blood rush to her cheeks. Just what did she do last night?! She couldn’t remember everything, not yet, but with what she remembered, she didn’t know how to face Maximus anymore.

But she was glad that her family at least gave him permission.

Knowing the reason for Ava’s new behavior, Maximus grinned. "Let’s go, little one," he said softly. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Ava was too flustered to even argue. She quietly followed Maximus downstairs for breakfast.

As they got to the dinning, the unexpected sight of Evelyn in the room made Ava freeze. Evelyn was the last person Ava had hoped to see because she’d been feeling so guilty about treating her wrong at the party, and misunderstanding her nice intentions. Plus, after her family’s silly charade at the party, Evelyn hasn’t spoken another word again to her.

When Evelyn’s eyes landed on Ava, she smiled and quickly walked up to her. "Good morning, honey." She extended her arms and hugged her.

Ava’s cheeks burned, and she shot a glare at Maximus, who looked far too amused by the situation. Maximus hadn’t given her a heads-up about his mother’s presence, if not she wouldn’t be dressed like this. She’d have at least brushed her rough hair. But no... He’d made her come downstairs for breakfast instead.

Maximus casually stepped past her, pulling out a chair at the dining table.

"Good morning, Mother," he greeted.

"Mhmm." She waved his greeting off with the flap of her hand, solely focusing on her daughter-in-law.

"Good morning, Evelyn," Ava said shyly. "I want to apologize again for what my family did at your party."

She held Ava’s cheek. "Is that why you look so pale this morning?" When Ava didn’t say anything, her thumb brushed her cheeks softly. "It’s not your fault, Ava. And I only let it go because of you. That’s how much you mean to me."