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“You think if I offered her free tickets, I could convince her to come see me in Les Mis?” Max jokes.
“If you found her a sitter, I think she’d do anything you asked.” I laugh.
The boat ride ends sooner than I expect, and before long, we’re stepping back onto the sun-warmed dock. We fall into step together, taking the longer path along the boardwalk, where the ancient oak trees provide some much-needed shade.
“This place is so peaceful,” Max says, taking a deep breath of the cedar-scented air. “I’m glad you brought me here, Katie. It beats being stuck in a crowded, noisy theme park any day of the week.”
My stomach lurches. “So you’re, uh, not interested in visiting a theme park at all?”
He glances over at me. “No, not really. This is perfect. Honestly, I could spend all day right here.”
“Right,” I say, the word coming out entirely too flat. I try to mask the disappointment. Theo went to an incredible amount of effort to arrange that backstage tour at Neptune Bay, but the last thing I want is for Max to spend his day off doing something he’s going to dread.
“You’ve gone quiet again,” Max says, stopping in his tracks. He studies my face, his head tilted slightly.
“I’m just thinking about the rest of the day.” I hesitate, twisting the strap of my bag. “I’d planned to take you to an aquatic theme park this afternoon, but now . . . I think it would be better if we made some new plans.”
Max blinks, caught off guard. “Oh. Right.” He doesn’t sound disappointed so much as surprised. “I’m sorry, Katie, it sounds ace, but I meant what I said the other day. Those long days on my feet always come back to bite me. I really don’t fancy doing a load of walking.”
“I know that,” I say gently. “That’s why I wasn’t planning on doing the actual park.”
Max looks curious now. “What do you mean?”
“A friend of mine works there,” I explain. “Well, technically he’s one of the engineers. He managed to pull some strings and arrange a backstage tour.”
Max’s eyebrows lift. “A backstage tour?”
“Yeah. You get to see how the whole place runs, spend some time with the animals, and check out all the behind-the-scenes stuff regular visitors never get to see.”
His expression shifts. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Right. Well, that’s different. How much walking are we talking, exactly?”
“A fraction of a normal park day.”
He considers that for a split second before nodding decisively. “In that case, count me in.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. I’m a theatre person. Getting to see how the magic happens behind the scenes is half the fun.”
Relief washes over me so fast that I almost feel dizzy. “Okay, then. Neptune Bay, it is.”
Nine
On the drive from Blue Spring State Park to Neptune Bay, it’s my turn to select the music. I opt for something that I can sing to without having to think much. The winner? The Phantom of the Opera.
As the last notes of the “Music of the Night” fade away, I risk a glance at Max. But he’s already looking at me.
For a moment, neither of us speaks. Then he finally says, “You really do have a lovely voice, Katie. If you ever wanted to have a career outside the shower, you could seriously audition for a spot in the West End. I’m not just saying that.”
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear and focus back on the road. “Thanks. But as tempting as that sounds, I think I’ll stick to tennis.” I shrug. “I have zero dance skills. Unless you count the Mommy and Me tap class, I took when I was three. And I stink at memorizing lines.”
His smile widens. “I don’t know about that,” he says, shifting slightly in his seat so he’s angled toward me. “You’re an athlete. I’d wager you’re a proper natural once you’re on the court or the stage.”
“Not these days,” I mutter, tightening my grip on the wheel. “Lately I’ve felt like that hippo from Fantasia. Ever since my ankle injury, I haven’t been able to move the same. It’s part of why I’ve been struggling.”
A beat of silence passes.
“If you don’t mind the audience asking, what happened?” Max asks gently.
