Page 12 of Maximum Dare
He seemed to know I was avoiding the truth. “It’ll work out, Daisy. It always does.”
“I know.”Another lie.
“Is that his laundry?” He pointed to the linen bag in the corner.
“You don’t have to…”
Max strolled over and picked it up.
I hurried across the room and grabbed the other end. “Really, it’s no problem.”
He gave a tug. “It won’t be a problem for me either.”
I tugged back. “I insist on taking care of it.”
Another tug from his end. “No, really.”
“It’s no bother.” Another yank from me.
He pulled harder and the drawstring at the top of the bag loosened, spilling dirty clothes all over him as he staggered backwards into the wall. His face contorted into a mask of horror when he looked down to see a soiled sock stuck to his chest. The rest of the smelly laundry had landed on the hardwood floor.
I stared on, embarrassed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Where’s that HazMat team when you need them?” He peeled off the sock and threw it down in disgust. “That’s going to take years of therapy to get over.”
“You’re in therapy?”
He laughed. “No, Daisy.” He stood up straight and glared down at the offensive pile of clothes. “Maybe burning them in the garden isn’t such a bad idea.”
“It’s all I have left of him.”
My words surprised us both. Max’s eyes filled with sympathy.
Keeping hold of Nick’s unwashed uniforms had been a new low for me.
“You’ll find someone special.” Max shook his head. “I know that’s the wrong thing to say in times like these, but it’s true.”
“Nick and I never got the chance to talk,” I admitted. “He left and didn’t give us a chance to work things out.”
“Did you try calling him?”
“He’s blocked my number.”
“Why?”
“I might have drunk-called him.”
“Don’t worry.” Max sighed. “It’ll all work out. One day you’ll find your happily ever after.”
Silence filled the room as his words echoed in my mind like an impossible promise.
“I don’t think that someone exists,” I mumbled.
“How about I talk with Nick? Get him to call you.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“It’s a better idea than keeping his laundry here waiting for his sorry ass to pick it up. It might give you some closure. I’ll tell you what, I’ll take his clothes and you watch over Pelé.”
