Max chuckled and shook his head, taking off his glasses to clean them on a handkerchief. “Anna gave me a high-level overview of your business plan and decision about deciding to stay here in Charleston. I have to say, not only am I extremely impressed with the depth of the plan, I’m happy you’re staying. I’ll always remember how you helped with Baxter.”
“Thank you, Max,” I said, side-eyeing Baxter, who was lying on his dog bed in the corner staring at me like I had a vaccine in my pocket.
“I’ve never shared much about my parents, but they’re assholes. Rich assholes.”
I nodded, remembering when we had aSouthern Charmsintervention for Annaleigh and learned about the depth of Max’s rightful hate.
“The point is, Jenna,” Annaleigh said, interrupting Max, squeezing his knee in a sweet gesture. “The fact that your business plan revolves around partnering your shelter with drug rehabilitation clinics is brilliant, and we want to donate. I mean, training rescues to be therapy dogs? Jenna, it’s genius, and it aligns with my big picture forB’s. Oh, I’m sorry Broody. I stole your thunder.”
“You could never,” Max said, picking up the manilla envelope and passing it over. I opened it, and my mind short-circuited looking at the enclosed papers. There was no way Max had access to that many zeros.
“Max—” I started, but he cut me off before I could offer a word of protest. I couldn’t let him do this. Even if he and Anna were married, this was absurd. I had to raise funds the right way.
“The money is not for you, Jenna,” Max said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.
“Max, be tactful, you ass,” Annaleigh said, slugging him in the side. “Jenna, listen. Look, it’s all broken down here. Max is working with your brother’s law firm, setting up a trust. The first check is made toAMCto help with the buyout, downsize the practice, and reassign the staff. Those kinds of things. This isn’t a favor. We believe in you and want this money to help you fulfill your dreams.”
“Anna. There’s a part in here about partnering with you,” I said, scanning over the pages.
“Yes,” she said, nodding and shoving her thumbnail into her mouth. “I was going to leave that up to you. I’d love to work with you once you’re up and running and I’m fully immersed inB’s. We could bring fosters into drug treatment centers as well as musicians. Think of what we could do together, Jenna. Think of all the people and animals we could bring together and heal.”
“I’d love to. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t….” My voice suddenly got tight with the enormity of the situation. I looked at the light blue carpet and blinked, taking off my glasses and laying them on the table. Max stood up, giving us space, and I watched Baxter’s feet trot out behind him. Anna scooted closer on the couch and put her arm around me, pulling me close.
“Let it out. You’ve been brave too long, babe,” Anna said, and it was her sweet words that started my tears. I cried for falling for a stupid man who wasn’t available and for never being able to say goodbye. I cried because everything professionally I’d wanted was happening, and it almost seemed too good to be true, and I cried because sometimes it just made you fucking feel better, snot-bubbles and all.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, my voice sounding steadier as the sobs slowed down several minutes later.
“Duh, you dragged my drunk ass out of the tub when Max and I broke up. Have you talked to Mark at all?”
“Not a peep and Phoebe has a vaccine appointment Wednesday.” I sniffed and grabbed my glasses, wiping my face before putting them back on. I clutched the manilla folder to my chest like it was a lifeline, nervous at the thought of seeing Mark.
“What are you going to do?”
“Honestly, he’ll probably ask to see Dr. Duvall or send his mom. I can’t think about that anymore. There’s too much to do.” I thumped the folder and stood up, pulling my best friend in for a tight hug.
“Just so you know, this was all Max’s idea.”
I squeezed her harder and closed my eyes, wondering how the hell I got so lucky.
“Let me ask you one thing before you leave,” she said as we moved to her foyer. “If he was waiting for you in your driveway when you got home with some grand gesture, what would you do?”
“Grand gesture?”
“Yeah. You know, letting you lay on the door while he freezes his ass off in the water, standing with a boombox over his head professing his undying love to you, grand gesture. What would you do?”
What would I do?
I thought back to all I’d learned in the short time I’d known Mark. Sure, there was fear of relationships, but it was based on some pretty heavy stuff he needed to work through.
“I’d let him inside and hear what he had to say,” I said, nodding to myself as much as I was to Annaleigh.
For as angry and as hurt as Mark made me, the prickly idiot had my heart, and I wasn’t going to give up on what we could have if he would admit what he wanted. After all, wasn’t I a better person with him by my side?
“So good news and bad news,” Melissa said, catching me as I walked out of one of our exam rooms. “The good news is there are three tall, tan, and gorgeous men waiting for you in the next room. The bad news is, Mark’s not with them.”
Three guys?
“He’s not?” I said, not bothering to hide the disappointment in my voice. I kind of figured Mark wasn’t just going to stroll up intoAMClike all was right in the Universe, but a girl could dream. “Thank you,” I added, swinging by my office to chug the rest of my sugar-free energy drink.
