CHAPTER 80: IDIOT

"Yeah, yeah," Zack said, still chuckling. "Go meet your date before another man hits her up."

Maximus ignored him, already rushing upstairs.

Once he reached his room, he yanked open his closet, grabbed a jacket, and threw it over his shoulder.

He had no time to shower or even properly fix his hair.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror — tired, slightly messy, but passable. Good enough.

As he rushed back out into the hallway, he stopped by Dressa’s room.

Without much thought, he swung the door open.

Dressa, who had been lying on her bed scrolling through her phone, sat up in surprise. "Uh — ?"

"I’m heading out," Maximus said quickly. "Keep yourself together."

She blinked at him. "What does that even mean?"

But before she could get an answer, he shut the door and ran downstairs.

It was already dark outside, and a cool breeze hit his face as he stepped onto the porch.

He pulled out his phone, quickly calling Lily.

She picked up almost immediately. "Hey!"

"Hey, sorry I’m late," Maximus said, unlocking his bike. "Where do you wanna meet?"

There was a pause, then a teasing lilt in her voice. "You forgot, didn’t you?"

Maximus winced. "Listen, I have a very good excuse — "

"Mhm, sure you do."

"Come on, cut me some slack. I was buried in work all day."

"Fine, fine," she said, clearly amused. "Meet me at that café near the plaza. The one with the nice lights outside."

Maximus swung a leg over his bike. "Got it. Be there soon."

"Don’t make me wait too long~" she teased before hanging up.

With a deep breath, Maximus started the engine. It had been a while since he rode, and the familiar hum beneath him felt oddly calming.

He pulled out of the driveway and onto the street, picking up speed as he wove through the city roads.

For a moment, he let himself enjoy it — the night air, the faint glow of streetlights, the roar of his bike beneath him.

It was a welcome break from staring at a screen for hours.

But he had a date to get to.

And after forgetting about it entirely, the last thing he wanted was to be late.

»»»«««

Lily stood near the entrance of the café, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she shivered slightly.

The night air was crisp, and though she had worn a coat, it wasn’t quite enough to shield her from the cold completely.

She exhaled, watching as her breath formed a faint mist in the air.

She glanced at her phone. Maximus was late.

She wasn’t mad — yet — but she was definitely thinking about it.

The café was warm and inviting, the golden glow from the string lights outside giving it a cozy charm.

The scent of fresh coffee and baked goods wafted through the air, teasing her senses.

It would be so easy to just go inside, get a hot drink, and wait for him there, but some stubborn part of her insisted on waiting outside.

She tapped her foot impatiently. "He better not have forgotten... again. He just called me."

Just as she was about to call him, the distant rumble of a motorcycle caught her attention.

She turned toward the street and saw a familiar figure approaching on a sleek black bike.

Maximus.

Even through his helmet, she could tell he looked exhausted.

His posture was slightly slouched, his movements sluggish as he pulled up to the curb and turned off the engine.

When he swung his leg off the bike, he nearly tripped, barely catching himself in time.

Lily arched an eyebrow.

Maximus pulled off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply before looking at her. "Sorry I’m late — "

Before he could finish, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Come on," she said, her tone softer than she intended. "Let’s get inside before you pass out right here."

Maximus blinked, surprised, but didn’t resist as she tugged him toward the entrance.

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of warmth enveloped them.

The café was lively but not too crowded, the soft hum of conversations blending with the sound of clinking cups and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine.

The scent of coffee, cinnamon, and fresh pastries filled the air, instantly making the atmosphere more inviting.

Lily felt the tension in her shoulders ease slightly as the warmth seeped into her skin.

Maximus let out a tired sigh, rubbing his eyes as they approached the counter. "Man, I needed this."

Lily smirked. "You look like you need a whole nap, not just coffee."

"I’d love a nap," Maximus admitted. "Maybe even a coma. But here I am."

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

The barista, a cheerful girl with glasses, greeted them with a polite nod. "Welcome! What can I get you two tonight?"

Lily turned to Maximus expectantly, but he just blinked at the menu like it was written in an ancient language.

She sighed. "He’ll take a black coffee. Extra strong."

Maximus made a noise of protest. "Wait, what if I wanted something else?"

Lily gave him a knowing look. "Do you?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it, sighing in defeat. "Fine."

"And I’ll have a caramel latte," she added before paying for both.

Maximus started to protest, but she silenced him with a look. "Don’t even start. You’re too tired to fight me on this."

Maximus groaned dramatically, dragging a hand down his face. "You’re too bossy."

"And yet, I’m your girlfriend,"

The barista chuckled as she handed them their order.

Lily grabbed her latte and led Maximus toward a booth in the corner. He practically collapsed into the seat, taking a long sip of his coffee.

He made a face. "This tastes like burnt disappointment. I guess I deserve it,"

Lily snorted. "That’s because it’s coffee, Black coffee usually tastes like that."

Maximus sighed, staring into the black liquid like it personally wronged him. "I miss my regular coffee."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments. Lily took slow sips of her latte, watching as Maximus gradually relaxed.

The exhaustion in his face was still obvious, but at least he wasn’t about to keel over anymore.

She hesitated before speaking. "So... why were you late?"

Maximus glanced at her before leaning back against the booth. "Work."

Lily tilted her head. "That’s all you’re giving me?"

He smirked slightly. "Pretty much."

She huffed, but before she could press him further, he added, "It’s the resort. The registrations are piling up. Like, insanely piling up. Zack and I spent the whole day trying to verify them."

Lilys eyes widened. "That’s good, right?"

"Oh, definitely," Maximus said, though his expression was a mix of excitement and exhaustion. "But it’s also a nightmare. We’ve got over 150,000 people trying to register. Zack thinks the website’s gonna crash at this rate."

Lily let out a low whistle. "That’s crazy."

"Tell me about it." Maximus took another sip of his coffee, wincing again at the bitterness. "I was so buried in work I almost forgot we had plans."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Almost?"

"...Okay, completely," Maximus admitted, looking sheepish. "But I remembered eventually!"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."

Maximus grinned. "You still showed up, though."

Lily took a slow sip of her drink, avoiding his gaze. "Maybe I just wanted a free drink."

Maximus chuckled, leaning forward. "Or maybe you just wanted to see me."

She scoffed, but her cheeks warmed slightly. "Don’t push your luck."

They fell into an easy conversation after that, talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

The café buzzed around them, but it felt like they were in their own little world.

After a while, Lily noticed Maximus’s eyes drooping slightly.

His coffee was half-finished, but the exhaustion was catching up to him. She sighed, shaking her head.

"Alright, you look like you’re about to pass out on the table," she said. "I’m calling it. We’re heading out."

Maximus groaned. "Five more minutes..."

"Nope. You need sleep. Let’s go."

She grabbed his arm and hauled him up, ignoring his protests.

He was tired enough that he didn’t put up much of a fight, just muttering about how unfair life was as she led him toward the exit.

Outside, the night was still chilly, but it felt a little more bearable after being inside.

Maximus stretched, yawning as he walked over to his bike.

Lily hesitated. "You sure you’re okay to drive?"

Maximus smirked. "Are you worried about me?"

She rolled her eyes. "I’m worried about you crashing, dumbass."

"I’ll be fine." He put on his helmet and swung a leg over his bike. "Besides, if I crash, at least I’ll go out looking cool."

Lily gave him a deadpan stare. "Not funny."

Maximus chuckled, revving the engine. "I’ll text you when I get home, alright?"

She sighed. "You better."

With one last smirk, Maximus took off down the road, the roar of his bike fading into the night.

Lily stood there for a moment, watching him go before shaking her head with a small smile.

"Idiot."