“He doesn’t need to know this.”
“If she’s going to be staying in town and hang out with us, then I think he deserves to know.” Alexa stomped her foot and pointed at Max. If there was anyone able to put him in his place it was her. I watched them fall in love years ago and ever since, Max has been at her beck and call.
“He’s could hurt her.”
“I think that’s still up for debate.” I raised my hand to interject but neither Max nor Alexa looked my way.
“Give him a chance, Max. I gave you one.”
That was the last thing that Max needed to hear. He turned toward me with defeated shoulders drooping forward and ran a hand through his hair. He refused to look at me as he made us stand in silence until he was able to finally speak.
“I’ll tell you on one condition.”
“Anything,” I spoke a little too quickly and Max’s eyes squinted at me in warning.
“You aren’t allowed to hurt her.”
“I can do that.”
“And I don’t just mean breaking her heart. If youeverhurt her in any way, even if you make her cry one time, that’s it. You’re done and out of her life.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s a grown woman who can decide if I’m allowed in her life or not.” I scoffed at his last statement.
“I mean it, Jack. Don’t fucking break her.”
“Got it.”
Max shot me one last glare before he continued.
“Melanie’s single.”
“I gathered that by there being no wedding band on her finger.” I looked Max dead on, waiting for the rest because there had to be more. If this was this hard for Max to talk about, then this was more than just a divorce.
“Wade died a year ago.”
“What?” The question came out louder than I expected it to but that wasn’t what I was expecting Max to tell me.
“He had a heart attack while at home one day. Apparently, it ran in the family but no one ever expected him to have one at only twenty-five years old.”
“Shit, Max.” My whole body relaxed as solemn air filled the room. None of this was what I was expecting to hear today. My heart hurt for Melanie and what she might be going through. Then I thought about the worst part.
“And the girl?”
“Melanie and Wade’s daughter, Amelia.” Max answered my question and his face turned sour like he didn’t like talking about it. “It’s hard enough that Melanie is going through this but Amelia shouldn’t have to.”
“You’re right. She shouldn’t.”
“My condition is also for Amelia, Jack.”
“What?” I looked at Max confused.
“Amelia comes with Melanie, Jack. They are a pair and if you hurt Amelia, I’ll personally come for you, even if Melanie gets to you first.”
I stood there staring at Max, registering what he was saying. Melanie was a single mother, which meant where she went, Amelia would go. My heart thudded in my chest and for some reason I wasn’t turned off by the idea. Instead, I was thinking of a place I could take them both. To the movies, to the park, to a baseball game, so many places that I could show Amelia around town, and not just her, but her mother as well.
“I promise I won’t hurt her.”
Max nodded his head and turned to leave my office with Alexa under his arm. I stood there in the empty space and looked around the room. Moments ago, it was just my fortress that I worked in and now I thought about if I invited Melanie here, where would Amelia be able to sit and play?
