“Isthatall you took from everything I just said?”
“No, I heard you… let me get this straight.” He rubs his temples. “Max told you he loves you.”
I nod.
He shifts in his chair. “Then Anna finds you two together and your response was to run away—literally—then he chased after youin the rainand poured his heart out to you a second time.”
I nibble on my lower lip, flinching, because it does sound pretty bad. “Yeah.”
“And your strategic decision was to push him away. Do I have that right?” he asks.
I hum in approval.
He throws out his arms. “You bloody clown!”
“Hey!” I warn him.
“No! Come on, Gemma,” he says, astonished. “The manlovesyou. Are you seriouslythatemotionally stunted?”
My spine snaps straight as my defense kicks in. “Anna’s mybest friend, Henry. You should have seen how hurt she was. She asked me not to touch her brother, she’s been through this with a friend before, and I—”
“Stop. Just stop.” He holds up a hand to silence me. “Have you putyourselffirst in any of this?”
“Henry—” I plant my palms on his desk, leaning in. “All I’ve done these past few weeks is think of myself. I thought of myself when I should have been thinking about Anna!”
“Anna is a big girl. She’ll live. And then what?” He shrugs. “Max goes back to New York, and you stay here, both completely miserable? A true friend doesn’t do that to the people they love.”
I fall silent.
He sighs. “You think it’s always been smooth sailing with me and Nate? We’ve been through hell and back to be together. But it was all worth it. It was never going to be easy, Gemma. But real love never is. It’s seeing someone for everything they are and accepting all of it—fighting for it. It’s knowing that no matter how hard things get, that person is worth every battle, every uncomfortable conversation. Every sacrifice. It’s messy and it’s inconvenient and it rarely comes when we’re ready for it.”
His voice softens. “I’ve known you a long time now. And in all those years, I’ve never seen you light up the way you do when Max walks into the room. And from whatI’veseen during his time here, I’m willing to bet he feels the same. You’ve hit a roadblock with Anna. Fine. Work through it like adults. Talk to her, send a carrier pigeon—I don’t give a damnwhat you do. But don’t use her as an excuse to run away from something that scares you just because it’s real.”
He fixes me with a stern look. “You’ve gotten this far in your career because you’ve never been afraid to take risks. So why is your personal life any different?”
“It’s not that simple,” I protest weakly.
“Whoareyou? Because this isn’t the Gemma I know. The GemmaIknow isn’t afraid to fight for what she wants. The GemmaIknow doesn’t give up. Of course it’s not simple. Emotions rarely are. But are you really going to let him go without even trying? Without confronting Anna? Without even listening to what Max has to say?”
He clasps his hands. “You’ve spent the better part of five years keeping everyone at arm’s length. And that’s worked for you, sure.” He shrugs. “But ask yourself this—ten years from now, twenty years from now, which will you regret more? Taking a chance on something real thatmightnot work out, or never knowing what could have been because you were too scared to try?”
Well, shit.
I know I’ll drive myself mad if I don’t give Max a shot, but the idea of confronting Anna floods my mind with all the worst-case scenarios. Will it make matters worse? Does she think I’m not good enough for Max? What if it gets nasty? What if she’s so mad at me, she refuses to understand?
I want to believe our friendship is stronger than this, but if shedoesforgive me, can she ever trust me again?
“Take the rest of the day and tomorrow,” Henry says unexpectedly. “You’ve worked hard these last few weeks and achieved amazing results. Go have a break. Enjoy April’s wedding.”
My body temperature plummets at the mention of April’s wedding.
Max will be there.
My own heartbreak aside, I need to make things right between me and Anna. I can’t stand between my two best friends and pretend that everything is okay. Regardless of whatever happens with Max, I can’t lose Anna too.
I blink, surprised. “Are you ordering me as my boss or my friend?”
He smiles. “Both. And I’m sorry about Lance. Really, I am.”
