‘Oh my God,’ she practically breathes. ‘I knew it. I told them it was you.’
She points back to a table of three girls watching us from across the room, half hiding behind menus. They’re all the same age.
‘Hi,’ Max calls, giving them a little wave. They giggle and duck.
‘I’m so sorry to interrupt your dinner,’ the girl says, flushing. ‘I just… Your season meant so much to me. I was going through a break-up, and watching you all every night just… helped. You were my favourite.’
‘That’s really sweet,’ Max says genuinely. ‘Thank you. You’ve made my day.’
‘Could I… maybe… get a photo?’ she says. ‘If that’s okay?’
‘Of course,’ he says, standing. ‘Come on, let’s make your mates jealous.’
He poses with her, one arm around her shoulders, both of them smiling at her phone camera. He tells her to take a silly one too, pulling a stupid face, making her laugh.
‘Cool trainers,’ he tells her as he takes his seat again. ‘Very cool.’
‘Oh my God, thank you!’ She actually squeaks. ‘I’ll never forget this!’
She skips back to her friends, who immediately crowd around her screen to see the photos, like they didn’t witness it in person.
I can’t help but smile.
‘That was sweet,’ I tell him.
He sits, shrugging casually.
‘It comes with the territory,’ he says. ‘You’ve got be nice. They’re the reason I’m here, like I said.’
It was a cool thing to witness, seeing him make someone’s day like that. I don’t make anyone’s day like that!
‘One minute,’ Max says, catching the eye of a man in a black suit loitering near the bar. The guy looks like security, or maybe front-of-house. Broad shoulders, earpiece. He strides over immediately.
‘Yes,’ he says, leaning in so Max can talk to him.
Max leans in too, his voice suddenly much lower. ‘You see that girl who came to talk to me a few seconds ago?’ He tilts his head subtly towards the table of three.
My heart does a little happy flutter. Is he going to send them drinks? Offer to buy their dessert? My gosh, he really is a dreamboat.
‘She’s wearing trainers, which is against the dress code here,’ Max tells the man.
My face falls. Oh.
The man nods obediently.
‘Got you,’ the big bloke replies.
‘So if you let the waitstaff know, they can have her removed from the restaurant,’ Max continues. ‘And you can also let whichever member of my team let her reach my table know that they’re sacked. Thanks.’
My smile freezes on my face.
The big bloke nods, expression neutral. ‘Understood.’
He turns and walks away, ready to do as he’s told.
Max snaps back around to me, expression instantly bright.
‘Sorry,’ he says. ‘What was I saying?’
