“Thanks, El. You’re the best sister in the world. You know that?” I wrap my arms around her.
I follow her out to the living room, where the girls are engrossed with their dolls. Tilly looks up, her eyes widening when she sees me.
“You look pretty, Momma,” she says, and I smile.
I walk over to her and lean over to kiss her on the cheek. It’s amazing the effect the words of a five-year-old can have on you.
“Thanks, sweetie. You be good for Aunt Ellie, okay?”
She nods, and giggles as I kiss her again. I glance at my watch and see it’s almost time for him to arri
ve. I don’t want Tilly to see who I’m going out with, so I kiss Ellie on the cheek and wait out the front.
My heart pounds as the seconds tick down. God, why am I so nervous? Because date or not, this is the first time I’ve been out with anyone other than Ellie and Grant since the accident. Date or not, I can’t deny that this is a huge deal for me.
I step forward and hold onto the railing that surrounds the veranda. My knees buckle as my head begins to spin, and I know I need to breathe. A car pulls to a stop outside the house. It’s too dark for me to make out anything other than the headlights, but I know it’s him. Who else would it be?
Taking a deep breath, I make my way down the path. Max meets me at the gate. My heart flutters as I take in his appearance. He stands casually with one hand in his pocket. The black suit he wears hugs his tall frame perfectly. I have to drive my eyes away from his athletic body and up to his face, where he grins at me, amused.
“I want to tell you how beautiful you look, but it’s not something I’d generally say to my friends. Unless Grant is wearing a particularly eye-catching outfit.”
I giggle, heat rising to my cheeks. I reach for the gate and let myself out, following him over to the car.
“I’ve known Grant a long time.” I laugh. “He’s not usually remembered for his fashion sense. Usually, it’s his lack of it.”
“Oh, he was so much worse in college.” Max chuckles. He reaches for the passenger door and opens it for me. “I’m glad you decided to come tonight. You’ll like Andreas. He has one of those personalities that is impossible not to enjoy.”
He is right. Andreas is loud and happy, and you can tell how much he loves his work. We walk around the gallery studying all of his pieces, I’m in awe of his talent. I could never do any of this.
“He’s amazing,” I mumble, memorized by a particular portrait of a crying woman lying in a pool of water. The pain in her eyes tugs at my heart and I wonder what she went through to get to that point.
“He is,” Max agrees. “I’m so happy for him that his talent is being seen. I’ve been telling him for years that he needs to break out of his comfort zone.”
The same as Ellie’s been telling me.
Is that what I need? To break free from everything that’s been holding me back for the past few years? I glance up, locking eyes with Max. I could so easily see myself with him ten years from now.
We move along to check out the rest of the exhibition, sipping champagne and just enjoying being out with Max. I’m having such a good time that when comes time to leave, disappointment fills me.
“So,” he says as I put on my jacket. “Home? Coffee? Late night burrito?”
“Burrito?” I laugh, checking my watch. “And it’s not even ten. You consider that late?” I tease him.
His jaw drops open as he stares at me, his expression hurt. The twinkle in his eye gives him away, though. “Hey, I have a very tiring day ahead of me tomorrow. I have meetings all day and into the evening, which means I have to get up extra early to walk Lance or he’ll destroy my house in protest.”
“Lance?” I ask with a smile.
“My dog,” he says. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his phone. “This is him.”
I lean closer and look at the image on the screen. It’s of Max crouched down with his arms around a lanky, skinny dog.
“He looks like he’s a lot of work.” I grin. “I love dogs, but life is difficult enough looking after myself and Till. Though I’m sure she’d love a pet.”
“I know of a cat, if you’re interested,” he says with a straight face.
I crack up laughing. “A cat?” I sputter. “Whose cat?”
“Yeah, a student tried to smuggle a cat home and somehow I’ve ended up with him. You saw him in my office that day.” He rolls his eyes. “All he does is sit there and glare at me for breathing in his air.”