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Christ, he has another story? First AddUp and Vikki, then the Connor thing. And now I also can’t date Charlotte because of a fucking bus accident?
“What crash?” Dad was a Boston city bus driver all his working life. “I don’t ever remember him having a crash.”
“No, he didn’t. But he came home from work one day all shaken up.” He studies the ceiling as if the memory is written there. “Maybe you were in your room doing homework. I mean, that’s usually what you were doing.” He looks back at me. “Anyway, for a while they’d had a young guy who’d had a few minor crashes driving, and Dad kept saying he shouldn’t be allowed on the road anymore, because one day something bad would happen.”
“Let me guess.” I stroll over to face Max across his desk. “Something bad happened?”
“Yes. He had an accident that killed someone and about…” he shrugs like he can’t remember the details, “…twenty or so others were hurt.”
“That’s terrible. But what’s this got to do with not mixing business and family?”
“The driver was the son of some big boss. So even though all the warning signs were there with his spate of smaller accidents, no one felt they could fire him or put him on a desk job. So there he was, out on the roads. And someone died.”
Good God, Max is like an elephant—when things get into his brain, they never leave. “I’m fairly sure that me seeing Charlotte wouldn’t have fatal consequences.” Fuck. That was supposed to be an inside-brain thought. “Not that I want to date her, or anything.”
Max chuckles. “You honestly think you have a shot with Charlotte?”
My brother is not a cruel man. I know he won’t mean those words to be as mocking as they sound—but to me, history makes them a punch to my gut.
Suddenly I’m seventeen again—the skinny, four-eyed, nerdy kid to the older jock brothers and cousins who always get the girls and find the concept of anyone being interested in me beyond hilarious.
I clench my jaw to hold a poker face and not reveal how wounding Max’s comment is. “It’s not about that at all. I just think it was an agreement for a one-off circumstance that no longer applies, so we no longer need it.”
“You know she’s obsessed with work, right? And that’s why her boyfriend dumped her.”
More like she wanted to help Max as much as she possibly could, and he took advantage. “I thought that guy was a lawyer or something. Aren’t they the ones who’re always workaholics?”
“Well, not anymore he isn’t. He also told her all her rigid scheduling and planning ways had sent him in exactly the opposite direction. He quit his job and went off to India to learn how to be a meditation instructor.”
Okay, that part is news. What a jerk. Why didn’t Charlotte mention it?
And what an ass that guy must have been. “Total dick move to blame her.” I grip the door handle and force myself to push back against Max one more time. “Anyway, the subclause seems silly and childish now. Let’s strike it.”
I pull open the door to find Charlotte staring at me, fury burning behind her eyes.
20
ELLIOT
Charlotte’s cheeks flame, her lips clamp together in a tight line. She’s breathing so hard it vibrates her arm enough to rattle the ice in the half-full cup of green sludge she’s holding.
“What’s wrong?” Max arrives behind me and sees exactly what’s wrong from over my shoulder. “Oh.”
Thankfully, Charlotte’s fierce gaze darts from me to him. “You told Elliot my private business.”
“How did you hear that?” Max asks, like that’s the point. “How long have you been standing there?”
“I heard it all.” Her eyes flick to me for a microsecond then back to Max. Shit. Maybe I’m not out of the woods here.
“That’ll teach me to leave the blinds down,” he says.
She swallows hard, her eyes filling. “I trusted you with what Greg told me about why he left. I expected you to treat that with the strictest confidence. I did not expect you to go blabbing to all and sundry.”
Max rests his hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t think Elliot was all and sundry. I actually thought you would have already told him. Since you’re pals and everything.”
“Well, I didn’t. And I only told you because you caught me crying. It’s the last time I tell you anything personal.”
“Sorry.” There’s a trace of genuine remorse in Max’s voice. “If I’d known it’d upset you, I wouldn’t have said anything. But you know Elliot won’t tell anyone. You know he’s trustworthy.”
