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Chapter 24
Billy stood at the stove stirring the vegetables in a pan. When he heard steps behind him he glanced over his shoulder. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.” Maxi ran her fingers through her damp from the shower hair as she walked into the kitchen.
They’d arrived home half an hour ago from Charlie’s and Maxi had immediately retreated to her room. Whenever she had a long day, she took a second shower at night and then put on her sweats and “slippies.”
Opening the cabinet he grabbed two plates and filled them while Maxi took care of their drinks and silverware. They moved together in the small space like a choreographed dance. And he guessed it was. They fell right back into the routine they’d established before they’d gone to Harper’s Crossing. A routine that he hoped they’d be performing for the rest of their lives.
They sat down and ate in comfortable silence. Billy waited until Maxi leaned back and stretched her hands over her head, indicating that she was done before speaking.
“What do you think about this Tully guy?” He wanted to ease into the subject.
Her shoulder lifted. “I don’t know.”
He moved a piece of chicken on his plate with his fork. “You seemed like you weren’t convinced that he was really the one behind all of this.”
With a sigh, she said, “I’m not.”
“Why not?” It was difficult to keep his tone casual but he tried.
“I’m just…I don’t know…”
“You were sure it wasn’t Carter, and I get that because you knew him. But you said you’d never seen this Tully kid. So why are you so sure that it wasn’t him?”
“I just am.” Her answer was clipped as she abruptly stood and took her plate to the sink.
Grabbing his own dish, he stood and followed her, keeping his tone even and calm as he pushed further. “Okay, what makes you so sure? Is it a feeling or is there something that you’re not telling me.”
Her shoulders dropped and she hung her head down. “I don’t know.”
He knew her too well to think that she was trying to play games, to be coy. She would never do that. So that made him even more confused at her answer. “You don’t know if there’s something you’re not telling me?”
After setting the dish down she turned and he was struck by the sea of confliction swimming in her baby blues. Leaning back against the edge of the countertop, she took a deep breath. “Yes, there are things that you don’t know, but I’m not even sure that they’re related to the case.”
“Why don’t you tell me and then we can figure that out together.”
Pushing off the counter she brushed past him as she crossed the room to the couch. “It’s not that simple.”
Billy was doing his best to stay calm, cool and collected but this conversation was pushing all of his hot buttons. He hated being lied to, even if it was by omission. If it were anyone else he would probably have just walked away. He didn’t want to help people that weren’t upfront and honest, he’d done that enough in his life. But this wasn’t anyone else. This was Maxi. She didn’t pull punches and she didn’t lie. Not to mention the fact that he was so in love with her he couldn’t see straight.
Since asking her questions seemed to be agitating her and it wasn’t getting them anywhere, he decided to try a different tactic. “Something is off with you. Something is bothering you. Something is upsetting you. I noticed it before we went to that poetry thing, in the hospital when we were talking about Samuels, and tonight at the station.”
Maxi didn’t confirm or deny his assessment. She simply crossed her arms and remained silent.
“I know that you don’t want to tell me whatever it is that you’re not telling me and I respect that. I’m sure you have your reasons and I’m sure they’re good ones. But do you remember what you told me at the station when I said that you shouldn’t have seen what you did at my mom’s?”
For a moment her brow furrowed in confusion before a glint of understanding flickered in her eyes.
His phone buzzed in his pocket but he ignored it and continued, “You told me that you were glad you were there because thinking of me facing that alone broke your heart. Well, I feel the same way. Seeing you face this alone is breaking my fucking heart.”
Her lips pursed and her eyes dropped to the floor.
When she looked back up he saw a determination that hadn’t been there before. “Do you remember that cubby that’s tucked in the back corner of the equipment room?”
She was changing the subject. He couldn’t let her do that, this was too important. He started to walk towards her. “Maxi, I really think we need to talk about—”
Her hand rose, and he stopped. “We are. Do you remember the cubby?”
