The Bucket List Boyfriend (Boston Love #3)

Chapter 7

Maya

THE KARAOKE bar buzzes with energy, a lively mix of upbeat music and cheerful chatter filling the air. There’s a live band playing in between karaoke sets. Probably to give patron’s ears a break, judging by the voices we heard in the first set.

Max is involved in an animated conversation with Ben and Alex about investment properties. I’m honestly quite relieved that Max is getting on so well with Ben and my co-workers.

I even heard him arrange to play Call of Duty with Alex one night next week. Who would have thought Alex would be into online gaming? Good luck to Max at trying to understand his thick French accent through headphones.

Ben and Max are laughing at something Alex said when suddenly Alex’s buzzer lights up and starts vibrating across the table.

“Ooooh. It’s my turn.” Alex jumps up and runs towards the stage as the live band finishes their set.

This karaoke place has only been open for two weeks and Alex is already a regular here. This is a first for the rest of us.

Thank goodness I booked in advance because this place is packed.

“Mes amis!” Alex’s voice booms through the speakers, his thick accent cutting through the chatter.

I turn to see him strike a dramatic pose on the tiny stage. And the crowd goes wild. He clearly does this every time he comes.

Kate, Viola, and I can’t help laughing at our extroverted coworker. Of course they would love Alex here. He’s a real showman.

Our mouths drop open as Alex launches into an over-the-top rendition of I Will Survive , complete with exaggerated dance moves, that has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

His voice is…well, let’s just say it’s an acquired taste.

I catch Max’s eye, and we both burst out laughing. Alex may not have the best voice, but he has the confidence of a rock star, and it’s impossible not to be entertained.

I nudge Max and lean closer to talk in his ear.

“See? Alex is proof you don’t have to be good. You just have to entertain them.”

Max chuckles nervously, and wipes his hands on his jeans.

“I’m not sure I know how to entertain.”

“You may not be an extrovert like Alex, but you just need to smile at them and you’ll have the crowd eating out of your hand just like he does. Well, the women at least.”

A curious look flits across Max’s face.

“You think the ladies will like my smile?”

“Max, you have a killer smile and the sexiest dimples I’ve ever seen. Of course they will,” I tell him honestly.

Even in the dim light of the bar, I can tell he’s blushing. He’s so cute.

When Alex returns to the table, after a standing ovation, we all congratulate him on his enthusiastic performance, before the guys get right back into their conversation about investment properties.

Kate leans over to me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Your friend is a hit,” she says, nodding toward Max.

I glance at him, chatting comfortably with Ben and Alex, and feel a wave of relief.

I’d been worried about how he’d fit in, being an introvert. Thankfully both Ben and Alex are really good at making people feel at ease. Max seems to be doing just fine—better than fine, actually. Everyone likes him.

“I told you he’d get along with you guys,” I say, a smile tugging at my lips.

“Speaking of getting along, I need to hit the ladies’ room,” Viola announces, standing up. “Kate, Maya, you coming?”

“Yeah, sure.” I push my chair back and follow her, with Kate trailing behind.

The bathroom is mercifully empty, a small respite from the noise outside. I take a moment to check my reflection, smoothing a stray hair behind my ear.

I turn, but before I even get a chance to close myself in a toilet stall, I’m ambushed by Kate and Viola.

“So,” Viola says, leaning against the sink, “how come you never told us Max was so hot?”

I almost choke. “What?”

Kate nods, crossing her arms. “Yeah, seriously. You’ve been holding out on us, Maya. That guy is gorgeous!”

I feel my cheeks heat up.

“Well, I did tell you he looks like Clark Kent with his glasses.”

“Yeah, but uber hot Clark Kent! Like Henry Cavill hot. Max has the sexy nerd look down to a fine art,” Kate says.

“He’s—he’s just Max. He’s always been like this.”

I can’t deny that the last couple of weeks I’ve been noticing the little gold flecks in his eyes, and the way the muscles in his arms go taut when he’s stretching.

Max doesn’t go without a shirt very often and at Bluebird Cottage, when I got an eyeful of his six-pack at breakfast, I thought I’d pass out.

Max is way more ripped under those button-ups than I ever gave him credit for. He must work out a lot more in that home gym than I thought.

“Uh-huh,” Viola says, her tone skeptical. “And you two have been best friends since you were kids?”

“Since we were seven and eight,” I confirm, though my voice is a bit weaker than I intend.

“And you never thought about dating him?” Kate asks, her eyes narrowing as if she’s trying to solve a puzzle.

I hesitate, suddenly feeling like I’m under a very bright spotlight.

Do I confess that I had a massive crush on him in high school? No way. They’ll latch onto that like a dog with a bone.

“We’re just friends,” I say, forcing a laugh. “Always have been. Besides, it would be weird, right? We know everything about each other. There’s no mystery.”

Viola raises an eyebrow. “Isn’t that a good thing? No awkward first dates, no guessing games. You’ve already seen each other at your worst. You’ve got the hard part out of the way.”

I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. I’m struggling to put my thoughts into coherent sentences because my mind is currently a jumble where Max is concerned.

They aren’t saying anything I haven’t heard before. People used to tease us all the time about being into each other, especially in college.

With the way my body is suddenly reacting to him, it doesn’t seem like such a wild idea.

But that doesn’t mean it’s an idea I should act on. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s an idea I definitely shouldn’t act on.

“Just think about it,” Kate says, a teasing lilt in her voice. “He’s a catch, Maya. And it’s obvious he cares about you. He watches you even when you’re not aware of it. I know a man in love when I see him.”

I laugh at that assessment. She’s definitely reading this all wrong.

“Something funny about that?” Viola asks.

“Yes. Yes it is funny, because it’s totally off the mark. There is absolutely no way that Max Fitzgerald is in love with me.”

“And what makes you so sure?” Kate asks, looking very skeptical.

“Because I know my best friend. Sure, he cares about me. We’ve known each other forever. I know he loves me as a best friend. But trust me when I say, there’s nothing more to it than that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“So why does he go all goo-goo eyed when he looks at you?”

I’m about to protest, but the door swings open, and another group of women walk in, laughing and chattering.

The moment is lost but I know they’re going to be revisiting this conversation at work.

Max does not look at me like that.

As we make our way back to the table, their words echo in my mind.

I would know if my best friend was in love with me. Wouldn’t I?

Max looks up as we approach, flashing me that easy smile I know so well.

Nope. That’s just a ‘hello friend I’ve known my whole life’ kind of smile. Not an ‘I’m in love with you’ kind of one.

Kate is way off the mark. What she’s seeing is twenty years of friendship.

Max’s smile transforms into a look of concern when I don’t say anything. He looks like he’s about to ask if I’m okay, but his buzzer lights up and dances across the table.

He sighs and gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze as if to say, we’ll have this conversation later.

“I guess that’s my cue,” he says, sounding very reluctant. “Now I know how you felt at the school musical.”

I give him my best encouraging smile.

“You’ve got this Max. Just keep looking at me.”

Ben gives Max a thump on the back and says, “You can’t be any worse than Alex.”

We all laugh at that, except Alex who feigns indignation, but I can tell he’s hiding a smile. He loves the attention.

Max stands up and adjusts his glasses before making his way to the stage.

I smile, but the truth is I’m feeling a little nervous on his behalf.

Max has always been the type to stay in the background, content to let others take the spotlight. Now here he is, on stage, mic in hand, looking out at the crowd like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Max closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. When he opens them again, his eyes lock on mine and he smiles.

The opening chords of the song start, and my breath catches in my throat. It’s Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things . Not an easy song to sing, especially because of the time signature change.

My chest tightens and my mouth drops open as Max begins to sing, his voice rich and warm, with a depth I’ve never heard before. It’s like listening to Benson Boone in the flesh.

The crowd stills, utterly mesmerized by his voice.

I’m not the only one with my mouth open.

Aside from the professional quality of his voice, there’s a quiet confidence in the way he sings, each note steady, each word clear. Which is pretty fitting considering his personality.

As the song builds momentum and he belts out the lyrics I’m left utterly speechless.

The nervousness I’d seen in him a moment ago melts away, replaced by a quiet confidence.

He looks straight at me as he sings, his eyes locked on mine, as the world seems to slow down. I know I told him to look at me, but this feels…way too intimate. Like he’s singing the words directly to me. Like I’m the girl he thanks God for every day.

The lyrics wrap around me, weaving a spell I can’t shake as heat creeps up my neck.

I wouldn’t think anything of it if it hadn’t been for the conversation in the bathroom.

And now Kate is going to be more convinced than ever that Max wants more than just friendship.

When did Max learn to sing like that? And why has he never told me?

My thoughts race, but I can’t tear my eyes away from him.

My heart pounds in my chest, louder than the music, louder than the cheers from the crowd.

As the final notes linger in the air, the crowd gets to their feet and erupts in applause.

Max walks back to the table, a small, nervous smile on his lips. He looks at me, and his eyes hold something—relief that it’s over maybe, or something more. I’m not sure.

There are congratulations all around. Everybody is blown away by my talented best friend.

Alex pats Max on the back.

“We must do a duet!”

Oh goodness! Can you imagine?

“No!” Kate and I shout at the same time and Alex sends us a dirty look.

“Why not? The crowd loves both of us. Together, we’ll be magic.” He ends his statement with a chef’s kiss motion and Kate rolls her eyes.

“Alex, I don’t think the crowd could handle a second round of you.”

“Yes, I suppose you are right. Too much of a good thing is bad, non ?”

Kate erupts into laughter, showing her perfect rows of pearly whites. “Yes, something like that.”

“That was amazing, Max. Seriously.” Ben is very complimentary.

I nudge Max with my elbow.

“I had no idea you could sing like that. Where did you learn to do that?”

He blinks, his smile turning a bit shy as he rubs the back of his neck and adjusts his glasses.

“I, uh, don’t really do it often. I’m a sing-in-the-shower-only kind of guy.”

“Well, you should sing in public more often,” Viola chimes in. “That was incredible. You sounded just like Benson Boone.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “He sounded like a real pro.”

I’m bursting with pride.

“You’ll have to tell my brothers that,” Max says. “They’ll never believe it coming from me.”

“Don’t worry.” I point at Viola’s phone. “We’ve got video evidence to back it up.”

Max puts an arm around me and squeezes before planting a kiss on the top of my head.

“I knew I could count on you. Maya is my secret weapon.”

“Secret weapon? Against what?” Kate asks.

“Against my brothers. She’s been keeping them in line since she was seven. She’s the only person they’re scared of.”

Everybody laughs and Max squeezes me again before dropping his arm and getting back into conversation with the guys.

Kate and Maya both raise their eyebrows and give me a look.

I know what they’re thinking. But it was just a platonic hug and kiss. Something he’s done plenty of times.

This is just Max.

Nothing has changed.

So why can’t I shake this feeling that I’m playing with fire and somebody’s going to get burned?