Page 120 of The Winter of Second Chances
She led Max through to the hallway and pushed the door not quite closed, so she could keep an ear on the cafe.
‘Can we go upstairs?’ Max asked.
‘No,’ said Annie. ‘Gemma might need me.’
‘I didn’t really envisage doing this in a draughty hallway.’
‘I’m sure you’ve done plenty of things in draughty hallways, Max.’
‘I came to tell you that I surrender. You win,’ he said.
Annie raised an eyebrow and waited for the catch.
‘I don’t think there are any winners in this situation,’ she said. ‘I just want what’s mine.’
‘I’ll buy you out. I’ve spoken to my parents and they’re going to lend me the money. It’ll take a few weeks to get it sorted.’
Annie could hardly believe what she was hearing.
‘I instructed a solicitor this morning,’ he went on. ‘There’s nothing to contest. You’re only asking for what you’re entitled to.’
Annie raised her eyebrows.
‘Thank you, Max,’ she said.
She darted a look at him and his eyes were glassy and brimming with tears.
‘I am so fucking sorry,’ he said with a quavering voice. ‘So very, very sorry.’
‘Okay, well, it’s done now. We can both move on.’
‘Do you think we could ever be friends?’ he asked.
‘Don’t push it,’ said Annie.
Max choked out a watery laugh which immediately became a sob.
‘Can I have one last hug,’ he whispered through his tears. ‘For old times’ sake.’
For crying out loud!she thought.
‘Sure,’ she said. ‘One last hug. But no funny business.’
‘No funny business,’ Max repeated like a sobbing parrot.
Max reached out and pulled her into an embrace, clinging to her and making her hair warm and damp as he buried his face and wept into it. Despite feeling mild repulsion at being squeezed by Max, she found herself rubbing and patting his back as though she were soothing a giant child, which she thought just about summed up their relationship. She thought she heard the door creak but when she managed to loosen Max’s hold enough to move her head, there was nobody there.
After taking a moment to compose himself, Max went out the way he had come. Annie nipped upstairs to change her cardigan and spray perfume in her hair. She didn’t want to spend the whole day smelling Max on herself.
‘Max has agreed to buy me out! I can buy Saltwater Nook!’ Annie whispered loudly into Gemma’s ear.
Gemma squealed. She threw her arms around Annie and together they did a sort of jump hug behind the counter, which earned them a few curious glances.
‘Oh my God, I’m so relieved, and excited obviously. I can’t wait to tell John, I wish he’d hurry up!’
‘He’s been,’ said Gemma.
‘What?’
