"I am also not going to ask you questions I am afraid of the answer to."
"Okay."
"That is tonight."
"Tonight."
"Tomorrow I might."
"Tomorrow you might."
"All right."
She lets her forehead drop to mine.
She lets it stay there a count.
"I was worried about you today," she says.
"I was fine."
“I’m glad.”
"Max."
"Yes."
"I'm not leaving."
She closes her eyes.
She does not answer. I put my hand on the back of her neck. I feel the breath go out of her into the space between our foreheads.
"Say okay," I say.
"Okay."
"Say it again."
"Okay."
"Look at me."
She looks at me.
Her eyes are wet at the corner, which I did not know Max Hale's eyes could be. I do not point it out. I kiss the corner of one and then the corner of the other. I kiss her mouth once and press my tongue between her lips.
"Make me dinner," I say.
"Yes."
She picks me up off the counter like I weigh nothing and she sets me back on my feet.
She crosses the kitchen to the stove. She stops.
"Evangeline."
"Yes."
