Page 17 of Destined To Fall

“But still just as raw?” I finish for him, removing my hand.

His jaw tightens as he nods.“Time may heal our wounds, but the scars in our souls live on for eternity. That kind of pain, you never forget.”

I swallow hard, but the lump in my throat remains. Neither one of us says a word for the rest of the car ride. The silence is deafening, but I have nothing to offer. I’m way out of my element here. I couldn’t begin to understand pain like that. I’ve never been in love, not even close. And my parents’marriage, I’m sure, was one more of convenience than the kind of soul-crushing love Maxwell seems to have had. Sometimes I wonder if my folks could even spell the word.

The car eventually comes to a stop, pulling up to Plainridge Park, but it takes Maxwell a minute to notice, seeming to pull himself out of some faraway place.

“We’re here,”he states.

I nod.“Are you sure you’re up for this?”

He jerks his head in response, giving me a small smile, and steps out of the car, coming around to my side to let me out.

“I forgot to mention how ravishing you look tonight. I apologize,” he says, offering me his hand.

“Forgiven.” I smile at him, placing my palm in his, and step out.“You look pretty spiffy yourself. I’ll be beating the women off with my purse.”

He laughs, relaxing again.“Thank you,” he says simply, but the burn in his eyes is heavy, laden with meaning. He gives me one of the most sincere smiles I have ever witnessed, and my heart soars and breaks all at the same time.

I smile softly, wrapping an arm around his, and give what I hope is an affectionate rub as we walk toward the entrance. He’s too nice, too sweet for all of this.

“Oh. Call me Mandy tonight. Yeah?”

“Mandy?”

“You don’t like it? I thought it would go better with the wig.” I giggle stupidly, and he chuckles.

“Candy would be much more fitting, my giggly blonde. Why the wig?”

“Oh. Candy…I like. Done. And the wig is because sometimes it’s a lot more fun to be someone else and go incognito.”

“Who am I, then?” His eyes sparkle with amusement.

“Who do you wanna be?”

His face goes stolid, and he stares ahead.“Just call me Max.” He shakes his head with a lax smile.

“Baby it is.” We both laugh, walking through the doors, and pausing on entry.“It’s game time.” I wink, steering Max to the bar. I know I definitely need a drink, and if Max’s stiff upper body is anything to go by, so does he. Maybe three.

“Hi there, sugars.” The thick southern accent rolls off the bartender’s tongue like honey.“What’ll y’all be having tonight?”

“Candy, baby, what do you want?”

I bite my lip, scrunching up my face in thought, when in fact I’m fighting not to burst out laughing. Oh, he’s good.“Um, oh, uh. Well, dang it. I don’t know. Something fruity? Oh, and pretty.” I force a giggle.

“Coming right up, doll face. And you, handsome?”

“Whiskey on the rocks.” He gives her a little wink as she busies herself making our drinks.

“I didn’t peg you for a fruity girl,” Max whispers in my ear. I laugh stupidly, as if he’s said the funniest thing in the world, and smile seductively at him.

“What, here? Oh, you!” I bat at his hand but make sure I catch his eye and shake my head with a slight cock of my brow. He nods and chuckles, catching my drift.

Fruity has never been me. I’m straight-up dirty and will leave you with a wicked hangover.

Donna, or so her name tag reads, comes back a few minutes later with our drinks. She places Max’s simple whiskey in front of him, and I look at it with longing for a second before she places my beverage down in front of me. My eyes widen in horror before I can rein them in.What the fuck?

“Here ya go, sugar. I hope ya like it. It’s a little something I like to call Rainbow Bright.”

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