Into My Heart
By: Izabel
Chapter 15: Hard To Say I'm Sorry
*~*~*~*
Once home, she collapsed on her bed and sobbed into her pillow. She lifted her head and smelled. The pillow's scent was full of Jason. So this was their first fight—and it was horrible. Max felt like she would be ill—physically ill.
She sat up as she heard the door open to the penthouse.
"Max?" a voice called.
Max sighed. "In here, Kekoa," she yelled, forgetting she'd given Kekoa and JD a key last week.
Kekoa came into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. She handed Max a tissue from the night table. "Want to tell me why Jason's at the training center beating the hell out of a punching bag and you're in here crying?"
Max laughed bitterly. "We had a fight."
"Any idiot could have guessed that much," Kekoa swiped at her long black mane of hair, pushing it back. "What about?"
"JD needed help on a rescue and Jason and I went to help—"
"But you not supposed to—"
"I know," Max groaned. "Jason yelled at me to stop, I got mad because I couldn't help, and I took off. Jason thought I'd tried to help and was floating unconscious in the water somewhere and freaked out, but Carrie told him I was at the Training Center," Max paused, taking in a long breath. "He found me and yelled at me for scaring him, I yelled back, and took off." She leaned against the bed frame and sniffed. "He was right—I push myself too hard. He was just worried."
Kekoa smiled wanly. "I know that. You always do that. Remember when we went skiing a few years back and you hit your head on that tree?"
Max laughed. "That tree hit me!"
"But remember, you were right up on the hills the next day—against the doctor's orders, and you hit the same tree."
"I'm telling you—that tree was out to get me," Max protested. She watched as a sick look passed across Kekoa's face. "K? You all right?"
Kekoa eyed her with a shrug. "I feel sick."
Max sighed. "K, you've gotta tell JD."
Kekoa glanced away. "I know." She squared her shoulders and shook out her ebony mane. "We're supposed to be talking about you and Jason, not me and JD."
Max looked at her hands and back up into Kekoa's eyes. "Do you think Jason's still at the Center?"
Kekoa's face smiled slowly. "JD said he'd send Jason over, about now."
Both girls turned as the bedroom door opened and Jason stepped into the room. He held a single white rose in his hand. Kekoa gave him a reassuring smile and left the room.
Max looked at Jason. "I'm sorry," she said. "I…You were right—I was pushing myself too much."
"No," Jason said gently, sitting beside her. He tucked a piece of dark blond hair behind her ear and traced his fingertip along her jaw. "I was wrong. I never should have called you stupid. You're one of the most intelligent, sensitive, sweet people I know. Forgive me?"
Max grabbed his hand lightly and pressed her warm lips on his palm. "Of course I do."
Jason handed her the rose and Max look at it. She smiled back at Jason. "Thank you." She leaned over and pressed her lips against his.
Hours later, Max sighed contentedly in Jason's arms. "This is perfect," she whispered gently against her pillow.
"What?" Jason asked softly, his breath tickling her ear.
Max shivered and twisted her body against his, meeting his lips again. "I said, this is perfect."
"I know," he replied, a smile tugging at his lips.
A sudden thought occurred to Max. "Have you ever been in love before?"
Jason drew back in shock. "What?" he asked, unsure he'd heard her correctly.
"Have you ever been in love before—I mean, before me?" she repeated, trying to clarify her answer. She looked deeply in his eyes. A flicker of uncertainty passed through them.
"Why does it matter?" he said carefully.
Max sat up, wrapping the satin sheet around her naked body. "Why is this such a hard question?" she countered.
Jason sighed and flopped back against his pillow. "Once."
Max swallowed. "What was she like? What was her name?"
"Why do you care so much, Max?" Jason asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
"I was just curious," Max replied defensively.
After a moment of silence, Jason said," Her name was Mya. She played professional volleyball. She died of a heart condition almost a year ago."
Max shut her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Jason responded evenly. He turned to her. "While we're on the subject of unanswered questions—I have one for you."
Max smiled openly. "Ask away."
"Where does all this come from?" he questioned, sweeping an open hand across the room. "No regular lifeguard salary could afford all this."
Max sighed. "I was afraid you'd ask this." She thought for a minute, not sure where to begin. "You know Kekoa and I have been friends for years, right?" Jason nodded. "The reason is because our fathers did business together. My father is the founder and CEO of Stiler Enterprises—as in Stiler Electronics, Stiler Designs, and Stiler Cosmetics. The designs and cosmetics are huge with the royals and in New York, LA, and Chicago. The electronics are used world-wide."
Jason sat there stunned. "So your…"
"A multi-millionaire. Well, billionaire, I guess." Max looked at her hands. "When my father died two years ago, I inherited everything. My mother died when I was a baby, so everything went to me. I was technically the president of Stiler Enterprises, but I didn't want the job—it wasn't me. So I sold almost all of my shares to the company, and one of my close friends is running the company now. Needless to say, I made a few fortunes," Max finished. She gave Jason a sideways glance, wondering what would happen next.
Jason slowly climbed out of bed and pulled his jeans on. "I need to go."
"Jase," Max pleaded. She stood up, clutching the sheet around her. "Please don't leave."
He shook his head. "I just need to clear my head," he said placidly. He went to leave and looked back at Max where he noticed her eyes filling with tears. He leaned over and kissed her. "I promise I'll be back in an hour."
Max felt the tears well in her eyes for the second time that day as she heard the door shut. She couldn't ignore the permanent sound it made as it resounded in the hall.