Imagines and One-Shots (Book Three)

High Noon (Maxx Danziger) - Part 7

Two months later

"Y'sure y'don't wanna come with, darlin'?" Maxx asked you. He was about to head out to help Asha at the general store with stocking the shelves since her nephew was out of town.

"Help you work in a small store with the one girl in Sweetridge who literally can't stand my guts and would probably try to murder me with a box cutter if I were alone with her?" you hummed, "Gonna give that one a hard pass."

"Bein' a little dramatic, aren't ya, darlin'?" he laughed, "Kayleigh's a lotta things, but she ain't a murderer."

"They still don't know who the Zodiac killer is," you shrugged, making him smile and shake his head as you went on, "I've got stuff around here to do anyway. Your dad needs me to gather up the eggs from the chicken coop before I start the laundry list of work I have to do to prep for school starting next week."

"Really don't know why ya want to go back to school," he mentioned, "Glad I'm done with all that nonsense."

"I guess some people just weren't made for hard work," you teased, squealing when Maxx grabbed your sides and started tickling them. You quickly took his hands to stop him, earning yourself a kiss to the forehead.

"I'll see ya in a few hours, darlin'," he told you, "Try not t'a overwork y'rself."

"I won't, Maxx," you promised him, making him squeeze the hands still holding his.

"I'll miss ya," he said, smiling when you laughed.

"I'll miss you too," you assured him, "Now go! Don't wanna keep Asha waiting!" 

You released his hands and nudged him toward his truck so he would leave. He rolled his eyes fondly, sneaking another forehead kiss before doing just that, tipping his hat to you as he backed out of the driveway and headed into town.

~

Maxx's POV; Seven hours later

"I'm headin' out, Asha!" Maxx called into the backroom, seeing her head pop out from behind a stack of empty boxes.

"Thanks for all y'r help today, Maxx! Couldn't have done it without ya!" she said, "Say hi to everyone for me!"

"Will do! Later!"

After a short drive, Maxx returned home. He was incredibly tired from the past few hours of work and heavy-lifting, so he was excited to just lounge around with you for the rest of the day. He pulled into his driveway, smiling when he noticed you sitting on the front porch steps.

"Howdy, darlin'!" the cowboy chirped as he got out of the truck, "Everyone missed ya today; Asha says hi – even sent me home with y'r favorites for ya to make up a snack drawer at school." He headed to the passenger side and opened that door, peering into the box on the seat. "Ain't too sure what all'a this is," he said, "But Asha said it's all stuff ya get when ya go into the store, so-" 

Maxx cut himself off when he finally looked over his shoulder at, freezing in his tracks when he saw the tears in your eyes – what happened while he was gone?

"Hey, darlin'..." he said, leaving the box and tentatively approaching you, "You okay...?" 

Once he got to the porch, he sat beside you. He put his hand on your knee, only to have you jerk it away from him and scoot so he was as far as he could be. His heart sunk at the action – you were never in the same place as him and not wanting him to touch you. 

"I thought you liked me," you whispered, staring down at your hands as you ignored the drops of tears falling onto them, "I thought you wanted to be with me."