We move through the room. It is a gauntlet of handshakes and back-slapping.
"They love you," I observe as we grab glasses of champagne from a passing tray.
"They love thestory," Jax corrects, taking a sip. "They love the idea of the rough-and-tumble vet and the posh surgeon. It’s a Hallmark movie, Max. We’re just the actors."
"I am not acting," I say, looking at him.
Jax’s eyes soften. "I know."
"Maxwell."
The voice cuts through the noise like a scalpel.
I turn.
My mother is standing there.
She is wearing a silver gown that looks like it is made of liquid mercury. She is flanked by two Board members and, for some reason, the Mayor.
She looks at me. Then she looks at Jax. She looks at his boots. She looks at his unbuttoned collar. She looks at our joined hands.
For a second, I brace myself. I wait for the criticism. I wait for the "unsuitable."
But then, she looks around the room. She sees the donors watching. She sees the admiration in their eyes. She calculates the social capital.
Catherine York smiles. It is terrifying.
"Maxwell," she says, gliding forward. "And Dr. O'Connell. We were just discussing your... heroics."
She extends a hand to Jax.
"You scrub up well, Dr. O'Connell," she says. "Although the boots are a bold choice."
Jax takes her hand. He doesn't kiss it. He shakes it firmly.
"Tactical choice, Mrs. York," Jax says smoothly. "In case the shrimp cocktail turns violent. One can never be too careful."
The Mayor laughs. The Board members laugh.
Catherine’s smile tightens, but she doesn't let it drop.
"Indeed," she says. "Well. Don't monopolize the Mayor, Maxwell. We need his approval for the new wing."
She turns to go.
"Mother," I say.
She stops.
"Jax is not a prop," I say quietly. "And he is not a PR stunt. He is my partner."
Catherine looks at me. Really looks at me. She sees the steel in my spine that she didn't put there.
"I know, Maxwell," she says, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Your father made that... abundantly clear."
She glances at Jax again.
"Try not to break him, Dr. O'Connell," she says. "He scratches easily."
