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Her eyes flew to Max. “This is all your fault.”
She launched herself at him, and Max pushed me away. There was a shout behind us, and then Veronica’s foot slipped in some of the spilled food, and she pitched sideways.
Lunging forward, I caught her before she hit her ass.
Stunned, she looked up, her eyes wide. The anger was gone. “You caught me.”
“Head injuries aren’t fun,” I said, moving to right her.
Reaching out, she clung to me, not wanting to let go.
Max pulled her out of my arms, plunking her down on her feet and then stepping between us.
“You,” she spat.
Win appeared, catching her around the waist and lifting her off her feet completely. “Time out,” he told her, carrying her around the counter and into the back of the kitchen, out of sight.
I turned to Max, eyes going to Ryan and Jamie who stood behind him.
“Sure you still want to be out with me?” I said quietly around a grimace.
“One hundred percent.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, boys,” the waitress we only knew as Shirley said. She tsked, staring at the floor. Two other workers came out of the back with bus trays and started cleaning up. “I’ll get another order in for your table.”
“No,” Max said. “We’re leaving.”
Win appeared. “Good idea. Let’s go.”
“Oh, you boys don’t have to do that.” She fretted, wringing her hands.
I slid a glance toward the back where Veronica was. “Maybe we should.” I felt like an asshole all of the sudden. A guilty asshole. “I’m sorry about this,” I told Shirley. “I feel like this is my fault.”
Madison and Rory gasped from somewhere behind the guys. “It is not!”
Max’s jaw jumped. “It’s not your fault she’s crazy.”
“She’s not crazy,” I said. Then to Shirley, “I didn’t realize her crush was so big.”
“Cuckoo,” Jamie whispered.
“How much was this?” Ryan waved at the mess. “We’ll cover it before we leave.”
“You will not.” Shirley seemed horrified. “You didn’t cause this.”
“But it was our order,” I put in.
“Absolutely not. Our customers don’t pay for accidents. Especially our most loyal ones.”
“Thank you,” I said for lack of anything else to say. Frankly, I was still a little shocked.
Glancing at Max, I asked, “Did you see her last night?”
“Briefly,” he replied. Seeing the questions in my eyes, he added, “I’ll tell you later.”
“Come on,” Jamie said, ushering Madison by the small of her back. “Let’s go.”
“You really don’t need to go.” Shirley tried again. She seemed anxious. “Will you come back?”
