“She doesn’t get out much. I promised to save her a cupcake,” Maxsaid. “Which is why this’d mean so much to us. She deserves to be able to comeand see things like this, but it would’ve been too much for her.”
Max and his mom had debated the possibility of bringing Zoe along,but decided that they didn’t want to get her hopes up and put her through theexhaustion of having to leave the house and sit up for an extended period. Shehad enough trouble getting down the stairs for a glass of water, a weddingwould have been way too much for her.
She’d find out about this if they won, and it’d be a secret ifthey didn’t.
“I’m so sorry,” Kelsey said, reaching out to squeeze Max’s arm.“I’m gonna get some shots of the guests, you two take a little time to bask inbeing newlyweds.”
Max laughed softly. “Thank you. For everything. I was so afraidgoing into this, but you’ve been awesome.”
“Anytime.” Kelsey winked, turning and walking away to take otherpictures.
“Declan brought the cake over,” Max said once Kelsey was out ofearshot.
“I was wondering,” Connor responded, moving to stand beside himand watch their guests laugh and talk. “Itoldyou you’d make a goodwedding planner. At this rate, you’ll put me out of a job.”
“Nah,” Max said. “Improvising has always been one of my skills,but I couldn’t have done the rest of this. Not the way you did.”
“I can’t wait to go home and sleep until Wednesday,” Connor said.
Max chuckled. He was at least planning on sleeping through Sunday.
“You’ve earned it,” he said. “Thank you. I know I keep sayingthat, but… thank you. For everything, regardless of how this turns out.”
“It’s been fun,” Connor said, squeezing Max’s hand.
“Yeah,” Max agreed. “It has.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
Connor’s lungs burned as he ran toward the bowling alley, hisheart pounding in his ears. His legs hurt, protesting at having to carry himall this way, but nothing could wipe the grin off his face.
He almost crashed into the automatic doors, barely managing tostop himself in time.
The smell of floor wax and popcorn hit him as soon as he wasinside. There was a reason he’d met Max in the bookstore, and not here.
But Max could quit this job now. He’d never said directly that hehated it, but he didn’t love it the way he loved working for Ash and Declan.
Connor spotted Max behind the shoe counter, just as Max looked upat him. He looked surprised to see Connor, but offered a tiny wave and a shysmile.
Connor strode over, taking his phone out of his pocket andunlocking it on the way. He handed it to Max without saying a word, letting himread silently.
The way Max’s eyes lit up made Connor’s heart swell. He watchedeverything about him change as he read the email from the magazine, as thoughthe weight of the world was finally lifting off his shoulders.
“Really?” he asked, his voice tiny but full of awe, like a childon Christmas morning.
“Really,” Connor said. “I called to double-check.”
Max set the phone down, tears glistening in his eyes.
Happy tears, though. Connor could tell the difference by now.
He walked around the counter, lifting the board that allowedaccess behind it to get in and wrap his arms around Max, squeezing tight.
Max squeezed back, his strong arms crushing Connor against him.
“We won,” Connor murmured. “I promised you we would, right?”
“You did,” Max said, sniffing. “I didn’t doubt you for a second.”
