The Gamble

He put the knuckles of his fist to the table, leaned toward Niles and spoke quietly, cuttingly, in his rough, gravelly voice. “Fucked her last night, man, and this morning. Five times. Five. It was like she hadn’t been touched in a decade. So fuckin’ sweet. Damn,” he taunted, his eyes locked on Niles. “You’ve had her, you gotta know, not enough money in the world’s worth that.

In my life, I’ve learned when to let shit go and when to fight. This, babe, what we got, I’ll fight for.

Not one fuckin’ thing gentlemanly about protecting what’s yours. Looks like you’re gonna lose it, you do everything you can to stop that from happening.” Max looked back to Niles. “And you didn’t do that. She was a week away from me, she walked into a room I was in holdin’ another man’s hand, I’d lose my fuckin’ mind. Not at her. Wonderin’ where I lost my way and I’d talk to her about how to find my way back.

I was your man, you were halfway around the world from me, honey, I’d fucking phone you … If you told me you needed a timeout, first, I wouldn’t fuckin’ let you have one. Second, I wouldn’t give you reason to fuckin’ want one. And last, you took off anyway, I’d fuckin’ phone.

I looked to the ceiling and told God, “God, next time I want an adventure, strike me with lightning. You have my permission.

Holy crap,” Mindy whispered. “Jesus Christ,” Brody muttered. “Oh my God,” I breathed. “What the fuck?” Max clipped.

Shut up and kiss me, Duchess.” “Max!” “All right, I’ll kiss you.

Learned some things in my life, Duchess, one of the most important, you find a good woman, you take care of her.” “Please” “This happens between us, Duchess, I’d take care of you.” “Don’t” “Die doin’ it,” he vowed.

We girls, we're tough, darling. Soft on the outside but, deep down, we're tough.

Bottom line, you didn’t take care of what was yours. Now, as Nina has explained, you’ve lost it, I found it and it’s mine.

You lose anyone, there’s no replacing them. What you need to get is that’s precious, you get to keep that, you don’t want to replace it. That doesn’t mean you can’t find something else just as good.

Jesus," he muttered, dropping his head. "What?" He looked back at me. "Duchess, you can argue about anything." "No I can't." "So, now you're arguin' about not arguing?" I decided to be quiet.

Sick people are everywhere. Just watch Criminal Minds.” “If that’s their subject matter, I’m thinkin’ I’ll avoid it.

When I met you, my first thought was you were very pretty, great fuckin' eyes, but not my type. High-class which means high maintenance. Then you got pissed and that was it. Even if you hadn't been in that ditch, now you'd still be in my bed. So if you think this attitude is a turn off, baby you're wrong.

Found somethin' I want, don't tend to fuck around when that happens, Duchess. Ever

His back was to me and he was wearing pajama bottoms and nothing else. His shoulders, the smooth muscles of his back, the wide expanse of smooth, tan skin, was all exposed to the naked eye and I was blinded by the beauty of it. So much, it was a wonder I didn't throw out my hand reeling. At that thought, he turned and gave me a view of his chest. At this view, arguably better than his back, I sucked in a breath then whispered to myself, "Oh my God.

You just need to know, I gotta fight to keep what we got so we can build on it, I will. Him, your Dad, you, I don’t give a fuck. In my life, I’ve learned when to let shit go and when to fight. This, babe, what we got, I’ll fight for.

Explain somethin' to me, babe, why is it you always wanna stop talking when I'm winnin' the fuckin' argument?

Told you, something’s good, it’s worth fightin’ for but not if you’re the only one fightin’. Then he opened the door, slamming it behind him and stalked out.

Yes. He. Was. Just. Here. Spreading his goodwill and love all around Max’s entryway. It’s a wonder there aren’t cherubs flying around sprinkling rose petals and rainbows erupting through the windows, an aftermath of his delightful visit.

You’re being domineering again,” I informed him. I felt his mouth grin under mine and watched his eyes do it. “Yeah, baby, fair warnin’, when we’re naked, you better get used to that.” I gasped at his words then he kissed me.

When we faced Mom, we saw she was addressing Max. "We get to know each other I'll get to hug you." "Mom!" I snapped and Mom turned to me. "I get to do it when he doesn't have a shirt on too. I'm calling it now," Mom declared.

Never," Max said, again ignoring me. "Never did I walk into a room and see her dressed to go out and forget how to breathe like I did when I saw you before we went to The Rooster." I felt my eyes grow wide at this admission and I, too, forgot how to breathe.

Babe,” he replies, grinning then said no more. Still being helpful, I explained, “I know you think that word speaks volumes but, I have to tell you, it actually doesn’t.

Forgot about carin’ about someone so much you would do everything in your power to stop them having’ pain.” … “And how fuckin’ shitty it feels then there’s nothin’ you can do to stop it

I need a timeout do to deal with my timeout! that's how messed up I'm.

I closed my eyes and my body settled.Without thinking my body knew it'd do anything,anything, for Holden Maxwell.

I’m tipsy, not blitzed.” Max twisted back and pulled into the road. “What chance I got you won’t pass out on the way home?” I waved my hand in front of me and declared, “Oh, I’ll be fine.” “Right,” Max muttered. “Can we listen to music?” I requested and Max turned on the music. Five minutes later I was dead to the world.