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I make a mental note to call her out on her bullshit tomorrow. Someone is going to tell me what the hell is going on here.
Sloane clears her throat and slowly turns her head in my direction, almost like she’s fighting against a pull so strong, she might have to use her hands to help out. “I, um, I should go. Have fun tonight. Call me tomorrow.” She manages a smile, and with one last, longing look directed at Max, she pulls open the front door, inviting a whoosh of cold air to assault us until she slams it closed behind her.
Max doesn’t say a word. He just stares at the door. It’s not like him to watch things happen. He’s usually the catalyst in all the action, so seeing him like this is a little unnerving.
“Max? Something you want to tell me?”
He turns, and now I see it. Plain as day. Holy crap.
“What do you mean?” He picks a piece of lint off of his black jacket, avoiding my eyes.
“You couldn’t keep your eyes off of Sloane a few seconds ago, and yet you let her leave this house without so much as a smile. What gives? Did something happen while I was away?” I hedge a bet, not wanting to betray my best friend’s confidence, but desperate for Max’s perspective. God, I would love to see them end up together.
“Nothing worth mentioning.” Max pushes past me and heads for the kitchen, but if he thinks I’m going to let this go, he’s more insane than I thought.
“Okay, so something did happen, like past tense?” I wait, but he remains silent as he pulls out a bottle of water from the refrigerator. A loud sigh escapes my lips. “You know, it’d be nice to know what the hell I’ve missed over the past few months. Nobody is talking? Really?”
Max shrugs. “It’s no big deal. We ran into each other before Thanksgiving and went out a few times. That’s it.”
“It sure seems like there’s more to the story.”
“Not on my end.” He gulps the last of the water, my signal that big bro is finished talking. About Sloane, anyway. “Hey, have you heard from Nico today? I know he’s still battling a lot of shit, but he’s been pretty radio silent all day, and we have that New Year’s Eve event at the club tonight. He told me when to be there, but he’s gone fucking dark.”
My throat tightens, and I grip the corner of the granite island in the center of the kitchen to steady myself. “No, I haven’t heard from him at all. Not since the other night. Maybe he’s just working through things on his own. You know he doesn’t like to open up.” Yeah, I’m pretty well aware of that fact, too, which makes me question why the hell I’m even going to see him. He doesn’t do relationships or feelings. It’s just the way he’s built. Maybe it’s because of the family he was born into, maybe because he realizes that getting too tangled up in emotion is the surest way to lose focus or to expose vulnerability. This life has hardened him, made him the man he is today. He used to be different, but that was a long time ago.
Max stares at me and I shift in my boots, hoping to God he doesn’t see right through my lame explanation. “You look nice. Where are you headed tonight?”
“A couple of my friends from school are meeting at a bar in the city, and I’m going to meet them.”
He nods. “And you didn’t invite Sloane? You’re letting her spend tonight by herself?”
“Of course, I invited her, but she’s working on a paper for school so she took a rain check.”
Another nod. “I can give you a lift if you want to head into the city now. You shouldn’t be driving tonight.”
“Oh, um, thanks, but I need to get some work done, too. I’m only dressed now because Sloane came over to do my hair and makeup. I’m not leaving for a while. I’ll take an Uber.” Jeez, can I shut the heck up already because I’m digging this hole deeper with every breath?
“Okay. Well, be safe. I’ll probably be at the club late, but text me if you need a ride home.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably leave earlier than you, but I’ll text you for sure if I need a ride.”
He grins at me and gives me a little punch in the shoulder. “You look pretty good. Sloane did a halfway decent job on you.”
I roll my eyes. “Gee, thanks. What a vote of confidence.”
He leans against the counter. “Do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“Stay away from Lucchese.”
I furrow my brow. “That’s so out of left field, Max. What’s the matter with Rocco?”
“I just don’t trust the guy, and I don’t want you anywhere around him.”
“Okay.” My thoughts rewind to the mall kidnapping incident with Lily. I was so flustered that I couldn’t focus much on anything besides finding Lily and deflecting Nico’s advances. “I did see him the other day at the mall. I ran into Nico and Lily, and he showed up. Said something about a meeting.”
Max narrows his eyes. “What kind of meeting?”
