“Haveyouworn them to work?”
This time Max chokes for real—and very badly. A mouthful of coffee ends up on her sweatshirt. “Oh shit. Fuck,” she mutters. “No.Hellno. I’d rather die a virgin.”
I laugh at her scrunched face. “A little late for that.”
“Okay, fine. I’d rather give up sex for the rest of my life.” But even as she says it, a strange redness suffuses her face. Not like a flush of interest, but not quite from humiliation, either. I can’t put my finger on it, which makes me want to probe, in case she needs to get something off her chest.
“Did something happen between you and Jeffrey?” I say, bringing up her boyfriend.
Her eyes narrow. “Yeah. He’s been cheating on me. Caught him red-handed.”
I blink. It takes a moment for me to process. “What the… I’m so sorry.” Max didn’t say a word, and I feel like a horrible friend for staying ignorant. Was she consoling me about Chad when she was grappling with Jeffrey’s betrayal? “When? What happened?”
“I ran into him and his side chick. InTokyo! He had his tongue down her throat so far, I’m surprised she didn’t die. But then, his tongue is even shorter than his dick.”
I nod in shock. Jeffrey seemed like a great guy. Guess you can’t judge someone by their smile, no matter how friendly.
“Do you know that asshole told me he didn’t havetimeto go on a long vacation with me? Then he had the gall to tell me we’d always had an open relationship—which was news to me—and I was the stupid one for ‘not taking advantage.’” She bares her teeth in a rictus of a smile. “It was just fucking fantastic because mydadwas there too and sided withhim.”
“Your dad?” My tone says,You have a dad?
“Yeah. That cheating scumbag. I hate him. He’s been dead to me since he turned his back on me and Mom when I was a kid. He can go to the ninth circle of hell for all I care.” The fire raging in her eyes says if he doesn’t get there himself,she’llsend him there. “But that wasn’t even the worst part.”
I blink. “There’smore?”
“Oh, yeah. Of course there is! Rhys saw the whole thing.”
That would be the cherry on top of the crap cake. She isn’t fond of her boss.
I cover my mouth. “I’m so sorry,” I say again. “You deserve better.”
“Goddamn right I do. And I want to sue that hotel in Tokyo for saying there was only one room available during our stay.”
“Want me to check?” I offer. “I’m sure Huxley & Webber has at least one lawyer who specializes in that sort of thing.”
“No.” Max sighs, shoulders sagging. “I’m sure there was a liability clause somewhere in the thick stack of papers Rhys had to sign to check in.”
“You didn’t have to share a room with him…right?”
Max sniffs, then takes another bite of her scone. “I’m just unlucky in relationships. I need to find myself someone like Josh. Honorable. Smart.Hot. But not my boss. Never the boss.”
“Definitely not.” I nod, wondering if Max was forced to share a room with her boss. That’d really suck, given how much she dislikes the man.
She swirls her coffee morosely. “Too bad his twin’s taken. What was his name…?”
“Bryce. And heistaken. But so what? The firm has plenty of great associates. I’m sure I can play matchmaker for you and some hottie lawyer. Trust me.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ailee
After offering to find Max a new man and chatting with her about finding a new place—which we aren’t going to yet—I head to a cute little Japanese style parfaiteria of Akiko’s choosing. Himeko opened a couple of months ago, and there’s a line wrapping around the block.
–Me: Are you already here?
–Akiko: Yes. And I have a table. Come join me inside.
I peer through the window and see somebody waving. Feeling very self-conscious, I walk up the line and step inside. A sweet melody is playing on the sound system, and the décor is all cute Japanese dolls in gorgeous kimonos arranged along the high shelves. An overwhelming aroma of chocolate, cream and sugar hits me. Maybe the place sells more than just parfaits.
