Page 24 of The Chase

“Okay, I get you’re from Philly.”

“Born and raised. South Philly represent!”

I laughed. “Dinah’s from South Philly.”

“I didn’t know that. Where at?”

I shrugged. “How am I supposed to know that?”

“Some friend you are. We don’t know each other, though. Well, I know she’s Noah Kennedy’s girlfriend, but I’ve never met her.”

“Really? Even though you’re both from South Philly?”

She shook her head with a laugh. “I don’t know everyone who lives in South Philly! But I also went to a fancy private school.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m so friendly with the bartender at Eileen’s. The Holmstroms went to the same school.”

Ah, that would explain why the bald-headed bartender glared at me when Max was around. Maybe he had an old flame for her or something.

“Did you grow up vegetarian?” I asked.

She frowned and took a sip of her wine.

Shit, how was that the wrong question to ask? I couldn’t back-pedal because then our food came. For vegan food, it wasn’t half-bad, but I would be hungry later.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“Don’t be. I grew up in a very strict household,” she said and took a bite of her food.

Oh, that might explain why she was so reserved.

“Do you have siblings?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Nope. I’m an orphan, though.”

Oh.

Oh, fuck.

I hit the biggest nerve a guy could hit on a first date. What was wrong with me?

“I’m sorry,” I said again.

Christ, I sounded like Noah. I wasn’t a guy who apologized. I wasn’t a Canadian stereotype like my buddy was.

She wrinkled her cute little nose. “For what? You weren’t the drunk asshole who killed my parents.”

Rox mentioned Max rarely swore and usually got embarrassed when my sister did it in front of her. Rox swore worse than any hockey player in any locker room I’d ever been in. The poor girl had to put up with a lot, with Rox being her boss. That Max was swearing meant I obviously struck a nerve.

How did I keep on colossally messing up with her?

“Max, I’m—”

“Can we talk about something else?” she interrupted me.

“Sure.”