Max was so shocked he spat out his sip of mimosa, and it seemed like every server in the restaurant rushed over with a napkin to help him clean up the mess. When the chaos finally cleared, Max was looking at Sadie imploringly. And all Sadie could do was stare down at the stained white tablecloth and shake her head.
She had to hand it to Max. He was a good actor. After the initial outburst, which he pretended was just a bad swallow, he acted like he wasn’t shocked to hear this news. Because, of course, if he really were her boyfriend—which everyone, even her own mother, believed—this wouldn’t be news to him. He would already know that on the night they wonStarmakerand Sadie got the biggest career break of her life, she also suffered the biggest heartbreak of her life.
After the meal, Lynn excused herself to go to the restroom and Max turned to Sadie. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just... couldn’t.”
“But we spent so much time together last week. You couldn’t open up to me?”
“I wanted to. I really did.” It didn’t sound convincing as she said it—because it wasn’t exactly the truth. In Banff, she had been happy for the first time in a long while. She had wanted it to stay that way—and that decision had been a mistake. “It was just too painful,” Sadie began, while Max’s expression remained anguished.
Lynn was already returning, and he shook his head to compose himself, then signaled to the server for the bill.
“Smile for the camera, Sadie!” one of the paparazzi called out as they left the restaurant hand in hand. Sadie did—but she knew there was no hiding it. Her grief had cracked open. It was written all over her face, and there was no going back.
19
Max
Nashville, Tennessee
December 21
By morning Max was still trying to sort through the whiplash of the past couple of days. First, there was the night (and morning) he and Sadie spent at the Opryland Hotel.Heaven.It had been a much-needed boost for Max, after how his and Sadie’s time in Banff had ended. He’d accepted and appreciated her apology, and as far as he was concerned, that was the end of that. Max wouldn’t let Cruz ruin things again. But then things were upended once more, when he learned of Elsie’s death. Max had been both devastated for Sadie and upset she hadn’t trusted him enough to share her heartbreak.
But could he really blame her? Max hadn’t exactly been around. He’d taken off to Banff, not returned a single one of her calls, and acted like a selfish jackass. Max decided he didn’t care anymore about what (or who) may have led Sadie to cometo Banff—ancient history now. All that mattered was she had shown up, they had had an incredible week, and he was crazy about her.
All he could do now was prove to her that he was there for her—that she could count on him, no matter what.
“I have some makin’ up to do, Pats,” Max said to his dog, the two of them alone in the studio. Unable to sleep, he’d decided to head in early, and had been inspired to start a new knitting project for Sadie.
Max started to unwind the yarn, then put the ball down and picked up his phone.
Morning—can’t wait to get our songwriting vibe going.
His finger hovered as he tried to decide which emoji to close with. A heart? (Too much?) A winky face? (Too cocky?) A music note? (He was trying too hard.) He chose the smiley face, then pressed send.
A moment later his phone pinged and he saw her reply.
See you soon.
Max frowned. Sure, it was hard to convey warmth via text, but that was a blunt reply. Something felt off.
What’s going on, Sadie?
—
By eight-thirty Sadie still hadn’t arrived, and Max was concerned. He checked his phone again, but she hadn’t texted since her last message.
Max was sure Sadie knew what time rehearsal started (eight a.m.)—they’d discussed it yesterday after brunch, before she’d left with her mom.
He called, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Hope she’s alright,” Max murmured.
He paced the room, trying her phone again but it went to voicemail again. With a sigh of frustration Max set his phone down and picked up his guitar.
“Morning, doll. Where’s Sadie?” Bobbi poked her head in the studio. She had a meeting with Amalia, Cruz, and the rest of theStarmakerbrass today. Something about the run of the show for the Christmas special, she had explained.
