“I have to, uh… pack and get moving if I wanna be in LA tomorrow,”Connor said. “Long drive ahead.”
“Yeah, of course,” Max nodded. “Do you want, like, a giant sodafor the road?” he asked, nodding to the soda fountain.
Connor shook his head. He needed to get out of there before hestarted crying.
He didn’t want to leave.
He’d wanted his career back, and he’d gotten it, but it all felthollow now. He’d found something he wanted even more, something he didn’t dareask for.
Because Max felt he owed him, and Max would have given himanything he asked for. That wasn’t how Connor wanted him.
Max had to ask, and he wasn’t doing that.
“Okay, well… text me when you get there? Let me know you’re okay.”
“I will,” Connor promised. “Goodbye, Max,” he said, biting histongue in the hopes of keeping it together until he was outside.
“Thank you for everything,” Max said. “I won’t ever forget.”
Connor nodded again, then turned on his heel and headed out of thebowling alley and into the cool night air.
He managed to walk ten paces before breaking down, hot tearswelling up in his eyes and then flowing down his cheeks. He sobbed and gaspedfor breath, his chest tight, physical pain at walking away from Max making himnauseous.
He wanted to tell himself that he’d get over this, but right nowhe wasn’t sure he would.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Zoe reached out to take Max’s hand once her doctor had left theroom, squeezing it tight once she’d grabbed hold of it.
She was being so brave about all of this, and Max was impressed.They’d lucked out, getting a cancellation on the Monday after the results hadcome in, and everything between winning the competition and now had been a blurof getting ready.
“Nervous?” Max asked, squeezing Zoe’s hand back. He glanced at theclock. She was due for surgery in about forty-five minutes, which meant they’dbe taking her away soon.
“Excited,” Zoe said in response. “When this is over I’m gonna be acyborg.”
Max chuckled. He wasn’t sure one artificial joint counted ascyborg status, but he wasn’t about to stop Zoe from looking on the bright side.
This would hurt, and the recovery process would be slow andfrustrating. The doctors had said over and over.
But once shehadrecovered, she’d be back to the old Zoeagain. Max could hardly wait to see that.
She’d been in so much pain for so long, with no real hope that itwas ever going to get better. People had been kind, and generous, but they onlyhad so much to give.
Max couldn’t stop thinking about Connor, and how much he’d changedtheir lives.
Or how much he missed him.
“Mom told me what you did for this,” Zoe said after a moment.“Thank you.”
Max shrugged. “It was no big deal. I would’ve done a lot worse foryou,” he said, smiling at her. “You’re my favorite little sister.”
“I’m your only little sister,” Zoe responded. “You know this meansI’m gonna ask you if you met any cuteboysnow, right?”
Max swallowed. He could have denied he was interested in boys,except he didn’t want to lie to Zoe. Keeping the wedding a secret from her hadnearly killed him.
He couldn’t keep anything this big a secret. Not for long.
“Hey, Zoe, uh… this is kind of a secret, but… I’m bi,” he saidbefore he could lose the nerve, his heart racing. “Which means-”
