Kim walks into the break room just as I’m clocking out. She hurries up to me and bumps me with her hip to move me away from the computer. “I take it you had a good time with Poseidon last night?”
Hearing her call Max that sounds ridiculous. I look around to make sure no one is within hearing distance. “I’m meeting him for drinks tonight at The Chandler with his mom and stepdad.”
Kim’s eyes widen. “Wow. Why didn’t you tell me things were that serious?”
I shrug. “I didn’t even know they were. I thought for sure he’d keep our relationship a secret.”
“Obviously, he thinks there’s more to it. The question is, what do you think about it?”
“I don’t know,” I say, wishing I knew the answer. Max isn’t at all who I thought he’d be, but our worlds are completely different. I don’t fit in with his.
Kim hugs me tight. “Don’t worry about it, London. I’m a firm believer in what’s meant to be is meant to be. If you and Max are destined to be together, it’ll work out.”
I roll my eyes and hug her back. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don’t you need to get to work?”
She lets me go and winks. “Have fun tonight.”
Taking a deep breath, I grab my purse off the desk. “Wish me luck.” I head toward the door that leads out to the parking lot. The walk back to our house isn’t far and I really enjoy it at times, except for when it rains. Luckily, today it’s a perfect September day with clear blue skies. I breathe in the crisp, cool air and start on my way home.
“London.”
The sound of my name makes me stop in my tracks. I jerk around and Max is there by his sports car. He rushes over to me and grabs my wrists, pulling me in for a kiss. Stepping away from him, I gasp and look around. “What are you doing?”
He shrugs and smiles. “Kissing you.”
“What if people see? I could lose my job.”
His grin widens. “You don’t have to worry about that. No one’s going to fire you.” He reaches for my hands again and I let him. “There’s something I want to talk about with you later. Right now, I know we have plans, but once we’re alone I’ll see what you think.” Something has changed in him from last night and I like it.
“I’m intrigued,” I tell him.
He nods toward his car. “I can drive you home if you want. I’ll wait for you to get ready.”
I look down at his clothes; he’s wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a simple light blue polo shirt. “Are you wearing that?”
Chuckling, he glances at his attire. “Yep. Just because we’re going to The Chandler doesn’t mean we have to dress up. My mother doesn’t care what we wear. You can go dressed in what you’re wearing if you want to.”
I snort. “No, thanks.”
“Then come on, I’ll drive you. Not unless you’re embarrassed to be seen with me.”
“Terrified,” I tease. “I’m sure your uppity friends will have something to say about you hanging out with someone like me.” Not that I care what his best friends think; they’re asshats.
Max’s smile fades. “I don’t give a shit what they think, London. I have a mind of my own.”
Guess we’ll see when the time comes.
We walk over to his car and he opens the door for me so I can get in. Very gentlemanlike. That’s one of the things I’ve noticed about him since we started sleeping together. He’s different than what I thought he’d be.
It only takes a few minutes to get to my house and the driveway is empty. Holly is spending the weekend with her boyfriend, and Kim is still at work. Max peers up at the house and smiles. It’s a navy blue, old Victorian style house with white shutters. “It’s cute. And you live here with Kim and her sister?”
I open the car door. “Yep. At least until I save enough money to get my own place.”
Max follows me inside the house and to my room. My furniture isn’t fancy, but I have a queen-sized bed with a white lace quilt covering that has small light blue flowers embroidered on it. My grandmother had made it when she was still alive. My ex-husband might’ve taken my money, but he would’ve regretted taking any of my belongings. That quilt means more to me than any amount of money.
There’s a picture of me and my parents on my dresser and Max stares at it. “Where are your parents? Are they in Rhode Island?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. I go into my closet and pick out a khaki skirt and a silky floral top. “They moved to Maine a few years ago. I work all the time, so I don’t see them much.”