Dawn helped make tonight a success, and I force a smile for her. I should be walking on air. I got through the speech—but more importantly, we exceeded our fundraising goal. None of that money guarantees the museum will do well, but the funds cover most of the upfront pop-up expenses and allow us to pay off the loan for the renos.
Max and that tall, stylish woman haven’t stopped talking for most of the night. She’s even more gorgeous now that the lights are up.
Shrugging my bag over my shoulder, I say goodbye to Dawn and head outside. I parked my truck on the top level of a multistory garage, underneath the golden gleam of a light post. Max catches up to me on the sixth floor right as I step out of the elevator, hustling to match my pace but not breathless from the flights of stairs he must have climbed. There are only three other vehicles up here, and the evening breeze has accelerated to a steady gust.
“Great turnout tonight, huh?” he asks, an obvious pep in his step.
“Mmm.”
“I had some interesting conversations.”
“Looked like it.”
“You crushed your speech.”
“Surprised you noticed.” I search my bag for my keys, avoiding eye contact. The entire night was full of big moments—some that I surely missed, too. But my moment was more than the hotel orDesert Daze, and the only person I really wanted to share it with spent most of the evening chatting up a leggy blonde.
“Of course I noticed,” Max says.
“You and that woman were in deep conversation all night.”
“She was relentless.” He at least has the decency to sound irritated by her. “Couldn’t shake her. But she’s kind of the whole point of an event like this?”
“What, for you to get a pretty woman’s number?” I joke, glancing at Max to gauge his reaction.
“No.” He tilts his head in amused confusion. “She likes art and design, she’s got cash, and she wasn’t afraid to bid on items.”
As we approach my truck at the far end of the garage, Max follows me to the driver’s side, tugging on my arm to whip me toward him.
“What’s up?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
“We received more money than we can count for the pop-up, and you seem…I don’t know. Did I say something that upset you?”
I look into Max’s eyes, and I can’t hide. When he was living in Europe, it was easier to make a clean break and tell him what he needed to hear. But right now, with him in front of me, I can’t pretend that everything’s okay.
“Tonight was important—for The Mirage and for me and for our project—and you spent half the time flirting with someone.”
“Seriously?” He scoffs and shakes his head. “I’m not sure what to tell you, Daze.” He pauses, his dark eyes grazing over me. “If you thought I was flirting with her, then you haven’t been paying attention at all this summer.”
My skin tingles. The lights of the city around us glow and fade into the midnight blue above, sprinkled with sparkling stars.
“What’s going on? Be honest, Daze.”
“You…” I push down the lump forming in my throat. “You abandoned me tonight. I did exactly what you told me to do and talked to the one person who matters.” I pause, giving him thechance to put the pieces together. “Then the lights came up, and I looked for you, and I…I was alone.”
He doesn’t move, and I feel silly for caring so much.
“I’m…” He scratches the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I watched you every second you were on stage. You were incredible.” Then, more quietly, he adds, “I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
“I kissed you. Yesterday, at the school.”
“Because you said you wanted to. Kiss, bam, that was it. You’ve otherwise been very clear about what you do and don’t want from me, so what am I supposed to think? And even if…even if I feel the same, what could I have done, knowing you’re just gonna push me away?”
Humiliation makes me want to call a rideshare for him so we don’t have to be in the same vehicle for the ride home. I should have told him that seeing him embrace Harlow and bring in students for the pop-up felt almost like a love letter addressed to me. I should have told him everything.
“Why did you shut me out after high school?” he asks, and the question is a dagger to my chest. Things have been good between us since he got back, but I was naive to think this wouldn’t come up.
