“Gorgeous? Try sexy as hell!” Lilly pushed me away from the mirror, handing me a clutch that matched the dress. “I just wish Adam were here to see youtonight.”
I couldn’t help but blush, because in all honesty, I had never felt this sexy before, not even on my wedding day. I looked back at my reflection a little longer. My legs looked long with my heels on, even though I was only five two, and my hair looked great, elongating my neck, around which a simple chain necklace with three leaves on it wasdraped.
“Maybe he can be. Here.” I took my phone from the clutch Lilly had given me and handed Erica my phone. “Take a picture and I can send it tohim.
She took a few at different angles and I sent him them all in hopes of a quick response, but when it didn’t come, I put my phone away. Adam and I had been keeping up constant communication lately, but tonight I wanted to not think about how he still wasn’t here withme.
We headed out of the apartment and headed out to the sidewalk. Lilly had on a knee-length dress that was purple with tulle underneath and a lavender cardigan over the top. Erica had a navy-blue dress that went to the floor; it was an A-line style dress and fit her so well that it made her look like a moviestar.
Max’s place was only a block down from the office, so we walked. I hadn’t known that he was so close. The other night when I had seen him, he was getting in a truck to leave but offered me a ride home. If he was so close to work, why wouldn’t he just walk? Those thoughts escaped my mind when we walked into his condo building, though. It was magnificent. A door man let us in and directed us to the first gallery door, where the party was being held. The music was already loud, and the smell of fresh seafood filled theroom.
We were only a few minutes late, but everyone else had gotten here early. They were all dressed to impress, and everyone had at least one glass of alcohol in their hands. Max definitely knew how to throw a party. Greg came up to usimmediately.
“Hello, ladies. I’m happy to see that you made it.” He was carrying a tray of wines and handed us eachone.
“Good to see you, too, Greg.” It was Lilly who piped up. I was shocked she had even said anything to him. He didn’t stay long, bowing away fromus.
“Don’t scare the poorman!”
I laughed at Erica’s comment because it was true. It seemed that even though they tried to act like nothing was happening, you could totally tell there was tension between Lilly and Greg, but we all just let them keep ignoringit.
We made our way over to where the food was. If there was going to be alcohol, there needed to be carbs in my stomach. We looked before deciding to grab plates to fill all the way up. I turned around at the end of the table but was confused by the look on Lilly’s and Erica’s faces, their wide-eyed gaze reaching over my shoulder. I turned around to see Max standing behind me, and understood immediately why they were staring sointently.
He looked fantastic in his black and white tuxedo, his dark green tie the only hint of color. It matched my dress, but I had to remind myself that it was only a coincidence. All four of us stood there in a silence that I didn’t want tobreak.
“You look stunning, Alexa.” Max took a step closer, placing a hand on my arm. I didn’t move it right away, though; a warm sensation went up my arm to my neck. It was suddenly a sauna in the galleryroom.
“Thank you, Max.” I finally took a step back. “Happybirthday.”
“Thank you, and thank you, ladies, for coming tonight.” He was bringing Lilly and Erica into the conversation now, but he didn’t look away from me. He had taken a step back from me, putting his hands back into his pockets. It almost made him look smaller, but I knew deep down inside that it was so he wouldn’t touch me again. I didn’t even think he meant to a second ago. The girls moved to stand beside me, both wrapping one arm around my waist on each side. “I have to make my rounds now. I hope to see you alllater.”
Max was already walking away before I got the nerve to stop him. I left the girls where they were, both with shocked expressions as I walked after Max. This was definitely a first for us, me the one chasing after him. “Max, wait.” I grabbed for his wrist and he stopped dead in his tracks, staring down at where we connected. I ripped my handaway.
“I have something for you.” His eyebrows scrunched together like they had the first day I met him, not in confusion but in question. His eyes got wide. I could see his face as the thought formed, and a smirk slowly inched along his face. I realized then that the way I was acting was probably sending the wrong signal. I pulled a folded piece of paper out of my clutch. I had sneaked it in here when Lilly and Erica weren’t looking earlier. “Here.”
I handed Max my application for The Ink Well, but this time it was for the publishing and editing department. I had woken up yesterday in the middle of the night and wandered around the apartment I had been sharing with Lilly. I couldn’t help but think that if I was here and Max was offering, why shouldn’t I take the job that I knew I already loved? I hadn’t talked to Adam about it, but after him not coming home today, I needed to take this step. If I did this before he came to Atlanta, then there would be no going back. So I ended up filling out the application on my phone and printed it out before we left for the night. Max looked over it for a few minutes, and the silence between us grew awkward. The smirk had left, but a soft smile remained, and I had one to matchit.
“Thank you,” was all he said as he looked down at me, but the smile I had went awayslowly.
“What’s wrong?” Max moved closer to me. “There was a smile there, but then itdisappeared.”
He moved his hand to reach for me, but I pulled away. He flinched and dropped his balled fist to hisside.
I took a deep breath. “Adam was supposed to come home today but didn’t. I didn’t tell him about theapplication.”
Max held the sheet of paper up betweenus.
“Doyouwant this, Alexa?” His question caught me offguard.
“Of course Ido.”
“Then we will get it situated. Whatever it is that you want, I’ll make sure that you get it.” He turned his back to me and only moved a few steps before turning back. “And as far as I’m concerned, no man should ever leave his wife alone for this long. Not even forwork.”
I didn’t know how to respond, because I saw the pained look on Max’s face, and I didn’t know why it was there. He left me alone in the middle of the dance floor, but it wasn’t long until a purple drink was shoved into my hands. Lilly and Erica danced around me, oblivious as to what happened between Max and me. I pushed both him and Adam to the back of my mind and partied the rest of the night. By the fifth drink, I had no care in the world and the girls made the executive decision to finally head home for thenight.
It was pitch black when we walked outside and not much was going on in terms of nightlife. Most people were still inside their clubs or already home. Us girls linked together and safely crossed the street over to Lilly’s apartment. I went to close the door behind me after entering our building, but I paused. I looked back one last time to see Max standing on the curb only a few feet away. It didn’t matter how much I loved my husband or how much I pushed Max away, I knew that there was no getting rid of him. Max would always be there to protect me, and I didn’t care whoknew.
