Page 115 of Don't Quit the Day Job

My phone beeps and I see that Max is five minutes away. I smile as I look at his name on my screen. Max has grown into the most important person in my life and it's scary. I finish my espresso, fold up the little paper cup, and put it into the trash. I grab my suitcase and roll it toward the front so I can jump into whatever car Max is arriving in.

I wonder if Henry is surprised about our relationship. He's always very polite and nice to me, but I wonder if he feels like everything has moved so quickly.

My phone rings and I answer. "Hey."

"I'm pulling up right now."

"Okay. I'm standing outside," I say. I look to the left and I see a bright red Mercedes pulling up. "Nice car," I say as I stare at the G Wagon.

"Hey, that's me," Max says, grinning.

"You're in a Mercedes?"

"Yeah, I rented one to pick you up."

"You're picking me up without Henry?"

"Yes, I do know how to drive, you know."

"I know, but you always have the driver."

"I wanted to pick you up myself," he sounds emotional and I’m not sure why. I’ve never heard his voice this deep before.

I watch as the Mercedes pulls over, stops, and Max jumps out of the car. He comes running to me, and because I'm stupid and girlish, I run to him too. He lifts me up and swings me around and kisses me as if he hasn't seen me in years. And I kiss him back, holding on to him like this is the last time we will ever be in each other's company. I kiss him as if he's going away to war. I kiss him as if I don't know if I'll ever see him again, and then he sets me back down.

"I like what you've done with your hair," he says, grinning.

"It's just a ponytail. I've had it in a ponytail many times."

"I know," he says, grabbing my hand and squeezing. "How was the flight?"

"Not bad. Long, but I guess not as long as an international fight."

"True." He walks over to the car and opens the passenger door. "In you go, my dear."

"Thank you. You're such a gentleman."

"I try. It's the southern man in me."

"I guess I should have dated more southern men in my life."

"Well, you won't be doing that anytime soon, I hope," he says, though, there's a concerned look in his eyes.

I just grin and he slams the door shut. I watch as he grabs my bag and puts it into the back of the car, then slides into the driver's seat.

"So congratulations again. You're going to have to tell me all about this role. What's the movie about?”

"It's called Animals Behaving Badly," I say, staring at him.

"What?" He raises an eyebrow as he starts the car and pulls out. "Animals Behaving Badly?"

"Yeah." I laugh. "It's not really about animals. It's about men and women, because at our base we're all animals."

"Okay, and what's your role?"

"I'll be playing the role of Lisa. She's just graduated from college and she is dating a middle-aged man who's married."

"Ouch," he says.

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