“You listened to me,” Connor said, shifting a tiny bit closer toMax. “I want to listen to you. If you wanna talk.”
Max wet his lips, unsure where to start.
“I, well… I was born here in Hope Springs. My mom worked in thetown hall, my dad was a mechanic. When I was ten years old, mom told me she waspregnant, and I wassoexcited to have a little sister. And everythingwas fine until I was about fourteen and Zoe started showing symptoms. But wegot it under control, and mom had good health insurance, so we were okay. Andthen dad got sick.”
Max jumped as he felt Connor touch his hand, but let him take itand link their fingers together. He hadn’t realized how tightly clenched hisfist was until he relaxed his hand for Connor.
As much as he wanted to tell Connor all this, it was stillupsetting.
“He had lung cancer. Didn’t notice for a long time, because hekind of always had a cough. By the time they caught it… it was way too late. Hedied the summer I turned eighteen.”
“I’m sorry, Max,” Connor said, squeezing his hand.
Max swallowed, sniffing to keep tears back. “Anyway… we were stillokay for a while, but then Zoe started getting worse, and mom was still onleave after dad died, so… we didn’t have any insurance. By the time mom wasready to go back to work, Zoe couldn’t go to school every day, so… she had tobe homeschooled. Mom got a job working nights at the diner on the freeway exitnot far from our house. And I dropped out of college and took as many jobs as Icould get to hold it all together and start saving for Zoe’s hip replacement.”
“Max, I…” Connor began, his voice breaking.
When Max turned to look at him, there were tears in his eyes.
This time, it was Max’s turn to squeeze Connor’s hand.
“Don’t cry for me,” he said softly. “I’m okay.”
“You’ve been through so much,” Connor said. “I don’t think Iwould’ve had the strength.”
“I’ve just been doing what I have to do,” Max said. “It soundslike a lot, but it’s been happening one day at a time.”
“You have no idea how amazing you are.” Connor shifted closer,resting his head against Max’s shoulder.
Max nibbled on his cracker. “You’re pretty amazing yourself,” hesaid, turning to face Connor.
To his surprise, Connor pecked him on the lips. Max blushed fromthe tips of his ears to his collarbones, the heat of it rolling through him.
“That means a lot coming from you,” Connor murmured. “We’re gonnawin this. We’re gonna change your life.”
“You’ve already changed my life,” Max said seriously. “I meanthat. What you’ve done for me has been huge, and I’ve learned so much, and Iwillalwaysbe grateful for that. Whatever happens. Even if we don’twin.”
If they won, Connor would leave. Max knew that.
And while he wanted to win for Zoe… the thought of losing Connoralong the way was eating at him.
He wanted Connor to know how much he meant to him before thathappened. Maybe he’d be back someday. Maybe they could pick up where they leftoff.
There was no way he could back out now--Connor would hate him forit, and this was his best chance to help Zoe, but…
Right now, he couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that all thiswas coming to an end, and that he still wanted more.
The best he could do was savor what he had, while he had it.
“Ditto,” Connor said. “I’ve had more fun doing this than I have ina long time. You reminded me of what I love about my job.”
“Good,” Max said. “Because you’ve given me so much.”
“Only what you deserve,” Connor said, rubbing his thumb over theback of Max’s hand. “Now eat your other sandwich.”
Max laughed, taking the other sandwich as instructed. “Yes, sir,”he teased, biting into it and making a happy sound as the perfectly-balanced flavorshit his tongue.
He’d never really been on a date before, but future dates wouldhave a hard time topping this one in terms of catering and emotional intimacy.
