“Well done, man.” Both Jack and War clapped Max on the back.
“Thanks.” But the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“What did they say about your music?” I asked.
His shoulder lifted in a shrug. “Guess I’ll never be as brilliant as my mother.”
“God, I never wanted to punch anyone like I did him when he said that,” I muttered.
“I can do it for you,” War offered.
I gave him a wry smile. “Maybe let the air out of his tires?”
“Done.” War strode off.
Jack laughed. “Never say that kind of thing to him.”
Max said nothing. He opened the Jeep door for me and helped me inside. As I buckled in, he rounded the hood to the driver’s side. “I’ll see you around,” he told Jack.
“Meet up at Mulligan’s later?”
“Yeah… Maybe.”
We headed back to the apartment, but Max’s silence troubled me. I twisted in my seat to face him. “Talk to me, Max. Tell me what’s going on. I sense a distance in you, and feel as if you’ve gone so far I can’t reach you.”
He stopped at a red traffic light and glanced at me. “That wasn’t my intention. I’m glad you were there…I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you disappointed in me—”
“No, Max.Ishould have been more supportive instead of worrying about what people would say if this had turned into a debacle.”
Never again. I had to unclench my jaw to speak, my anger at myself and that stupid director was so great. “He’s an a-hole, Max. You’re an amazing pianist.”
Finally, one corner of his mouth quirked into a smile, and he took off again as the lights changed. “It’s okay. I just wanted that piece aired for my mother.” After a moment, he said, “They want me.”
I blinked then laughed. “Of course, they do. You’re brilliant.”
“I told them I’d think about it.”
I nodded because I understood. The dumbasses were quick to write him off because of what had happened, with no clue as to why it had. “I’m glad you didn’t accept their offer straight off—Max, wait. Stop the car!”
Cutting me a frowning look, he pulled over to the curb. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Won’t be a minute.” I grabbed my purse from my bag and ran to the flower stall outside Liana’s Florist. Selecting a mixed bunch of flowers, I paid for the bouquet and hurried back to the idling Jeep and climbed in.
Max lifted an eyebrow, green eyes teasing now, making my heart feel lighter. “For me? You shouldn’t have.”
Laughing, I shut the door and pulled out the only rose in the lot, a pink one, and handed it to him. “For you.”
“Why the flowers?”
“They’re for your mother.”
His expression shut down. “Thank you for the thought, Logan, but no.”
I studied his grim features. “Do you visit her?”
He remained silent.
“Max?”
