Chapter 14: Just Do It

AJ’s POV:

“Holy shit.” Maxx said, once I was done explaining it all.

I grimaced. “I know it’s a lot to go into when we only just barely met.”

“You think?”

He didn’t need to be so short with me, which is something I think he understood, because he followed up right away.

“Sorry.” Maxx said. He took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to respond like that. It’s just a lot to take in. How old were you when that happened?”

“I was about four.”

“Jesus. I’m so sorry that happened, AJ.” He pulled me into a new embrace. “But I don’t think you should blame yourself. You were a kid, you didn’t know what you were doing.”

“I know that. But, I killed my best friend. That isn’t the sort of thing you can exactly forgive yourself for.”

“No you didn’t.”

I was taken aback by how plainly he’d said it. So matter of fact. He had been holding me while I told him my story, but I pushed out to arm’s length to be able to fully see him.

“I didn’t?”