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“Just put the tailgate down on the truck and we can sit here and eat.”
He did as she instructed while she held their food and drinks. She made a face as she realized hopping up onto the tailgate wasn’t going to be easy but Max didn’t hesitate, just put his hands around her waist and lifted her up. She set their food and drinks down before he could move away and put her arms around his shoulders, kissing him slow and deep.
“That’s nice, but some people are trying to eat,” Nico said as he came walking over.
“Get your woman and stop complaining,” Max said as he deliberately kissed Angelica again.
“She’s working and that’s my sister so be the gentleman I know you are and stop,” Nico said.
Max winked at her as he turned to face Nico. The two men shook hands and Nico reached up to give her a hug. “I had a tough time getting up this morning. Heard you did too.”
“Yeah. It was fun though. How’s Cressida feeling?”
“Fine. Seems like it was just us Rossis who overdid it. She’s working and I volunteered to come and grab lunch. What are you two up to?”
“I’ve been drafted into helping select a Christmas tree,” Max said.
“Dude, Angelica picks the best trees,” Nico said.
“You do?” he asked, hopping up on the tailgate next to her.
“I do. I’m sort of the Christmas tree whisperer.”
“I mean I wouldn’t go that far,” Nico said. “But she’s good. Cressida and I will be at the tree-decorating party tomorrow night and I should get back with her lunch. Later.”
Nico turned and left and she and Max ate their lunch, talking about Whiskey River and the progress on the Second Start project in The Barrels.
“I can’t wait to get in there and get the classes going,” she said. Her phone buzzed and she quickly read the message from Cosima. “Sox just stopped by. She’s got some sketches for the murals. Do you have time to go over there and look at them? Then we can get our tree.”
“I’m yours this afternoon,” he said.
“I like the sound of that,” she said, before she could stop herself.
He arched one eyebrow at her and she lifted both shoulders and then wrapped her arms around herself. “It’s the truth. I know we said we’d just sort of wing it but the truth is, I like you and I have a hard time thinking of the new year and you not being here with me.”
“Is that so?” he asked.
She shook her head at him. “Is that Max-speak for you-don’t-feel-the-same?”
“It’s not. It’s more I’m not sure of how that would work but I’m in the same boat,” he said.
*
Why was hetelling her? Because as much as he wasn’t sure of how it would work out, being around Angelica made him want it to. He drove them into town and traffic was much heavier at this time of day. He parked behind the boutique and followed Angelica into her shop.
Sox and Cosima were seated at a round table that had mismatched chairs around. They looked up as they entered.
“Hiya,” Cosima said. “Glad you two could come over quickly.”
Max and Angelica greeted both of them and after they were all seated around the table, Sox pulled out a sketch she’d made. Max saw that love of The Barrels he’d heard in her voice reflected in the drawing. It was larger than he’d expected and more intricate.
“I know we spoke of having you do the side of the community center but I would really like this all along the side that faces the road leading into The Barrels. I think this would welcome people into the neighborhood,” Max said. “The funding would come from my budget, not the community center’s.”
“I don’t mind where it goes. I just want to put it up. Also it might change as I’m working. I told them I don’t usually do sketches but Sully said y’all might need it to go to contract,” Sox said.
Max realized that money was important to her as she’d mentioned it at each of their meetings. He wanted to reassure her that she’d be paid and give her the security she needed. “He was right. I’ll have a contract drawn up this afternoon and we can give you an advance against your fee.”
Max named a large amount that he thought would be fair given the quality of her work. Sox’s eyes sort of bulged and Angelica and Cosima both asked to speak to her alone for a few minutes.
