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He shrugs. “I can miss a day or two.”
I go back inside before it becomes obvious how intensely disappointed I am by this information.
I’ve never been so happy to see eight people leave as I am when they shout their goodbyes the following day.
“Good riddance. Now get your shit out of my room,” says James the moment Max walks in from seeing them off.
“When did you turn into such a grumpy fucker?” asks Max, heading into James’s room. “I’m going to have to buy you some female companionship if your dry spell keeps up.”
“Yes,” I grin at James when Max is out of sight. “We wouldn’t want your dry spell to continue.”
He pulls me toward him by my waistband. “My dry spell is about to end in a big way,” he says against my ear, his low voice initiating that small spasm it does in my stomach. “Go get ready.” We are going back to Lewes for dinner, a dinner that will end the moment we’re sure Max has left for work. I run upstairs to shower, and put on the dress I bought at the start of the summer.
I bounce downstairs and come to a screeching halt in the family room. Max sits in the recliner, looking utterly dejected, and James looks distraught. “Oh my God,” I whisper. “Is everything okay?”
James meets my eye. “Max got fired for not going in all weekend,” he tells me. His shoulders sag. I’m a little surprised by James’s empathy, since he’s spent most of the summer telling Max he should be looking for a real job. He looks as depressed as Max.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell Max. “I’m sure you’ll find something else.”
He nods gravely. It’s the longest I’ve ever seen him go without cracking a smile or a joke. “I’m so glad you guys are off tonight,” he says. “It sounds lame, but I just don’t want to be alone.”
Ah. The source of James’s depression suddenly makes itself clear.
I sit on the couch heavily, brain racing to find a way to salvage this evening and knowing there is none. My dress is short, and rides up. James watches it happen, flinches for a moment, and quietly suggests that I might want to change when Max walks to the kitchen. I shrug. “I’m okay.”
“No, really,” he says, something catching in his throat, a small pleading noise. “Go change.”
I sneak down in the middle of the night, after I’m sure Ginny’s asleep. My hand is on James’s doorknob when I hear Max’s voice come from the couch “Hey,” he says groggily as I jump away from the door, crossing my arms over my chest. James warned me about wearing the thin tank. “What are you up for?”
“Water,” I croak. And then I run back upstairs empty-handed.
**
The next morning Max is cheerful again. “We’re having a party,” he announces. “You guys have your early shifts, right? We’ll get things going and by the time you get here it’ll be in full swing.”
This is good news. There are ample opportunities to sneak off during a party. Or even before one, as James suggests. He catches me in the kitchen at work, pulling me around the corner so we’re out of view, wrapping his hands around my waist and sighing against my mouth. “This has been the longest, hardest four days of my life,” he groans.
“Just a few more hours,” I promise. “We’ll stay at the party for a bit and then sneak off.”
“I don’t think I can wait that long,” he says.
“You know, if we just bit the bullet and told everyone, none of this would be necessary.”
“Elle,” he exhales, resting his forehead against mine. “You know we can’t.”
“Fine,” I sigh. “But just so we’re clear, I don’t care if they know. And I’d feel better about it if you didn’t care quite so much.”
**
James is tense as we drive home. “I’ve never been so worked up in my life,” he says. “So I’m gonna warn you right now: the first time is going to be fast and spectacularly unrewarding for you.”
This situation only worsens when we get home and find ourselves face-to-face with Nick The Lifeguard. (I suppose it’s for the best that I never wound up dating him — it’d be awkward to still be referring to him as “Nick The Lifeguard” in bed. Or at our wedding.)
“Who invited you?” hisses James.
“James!” I scold.
Max claps a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “I did. Who do you think I’ve been hanging out with ever since you suddenly became so busy all the time? But now that you’re here I need help. Something’s wrong with the keg.”
