Page 19 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
Rachel frowned. “But you were having such a good time.”
She had been. She’d already finished next week’s book about the two flight attendants who fell in love literally midair, and there were still a few days until the club’s next meeting. Read It and Weep had been her bright spot and something she was genuinely looking forward to. “That’s okay. I can find another hobby. Or maybe there’s another book club in town. I’m sure there is.” She couldn’t imagine one where she fit in as well as she had with the Weepers.
Rachel sat back. “No way. I think you should still go. Max will do her Max thing, and you’ll focus on the books.”
“I could do that pretty easily,” she said, and tapped the base of her glass. “I mean that’s what we’re there for anyway. The books are the main draw.”
“Hold on. Did I ever tell you about the time we were at the movies and she left me there?”
Ella took a fortifying breath. “You absolutely didn’t.”
“And I had been wanting to see that movie for so long, you know how I am when something has me excited, and she justdidn’t care. That was part of our problem.” She leaned in, her emotions escalating. “She thought everything in her life was more important than what I had going on in mine. No one is ever as smart, interesting, or as in control as she thinks herself to be.”
The rest of their night was a lot like that. She cut herself off after one drink, but Rachel pressed on, regaling Ella with stories of how Max had been awful during their time together. With each passing detail, Ella found herself sinking lower in her chair until she finally looked around the mostly empty bar. “You think we should head home?”
Rachel pointed at her. “That’s good looking out. If I have another one, I’ll lose my whole morning tomorrow, and I have Pilates at nine. Get me to the weekend, already.” She tossed in a laugh and slung her arm around Ella’s shoulders as they walked to the car. “I am so glad you’re here, E. You’re an amazing best friend.”
God, that helped. She smiled, and warmth enveloped her. Rachel’s words helped pull her out of her doldrums. “I’m glad I’m here too and feel the same about you.”
Rachel linked her arm through Ella’s. “Let’s make popcorn and veg on the couch until we fall asleep.”
She rested her head on Rachel’s shoulders as they walked, grateful and satisfied. It was easy to reach for more. Perhaps this was a valuable lesson to approach life at a slower pace. She’d look both ways before she crossed next time, and protect herself and those around her with more vigilance. “You have discovered the key to my true happiness. Speaking of keys, I’ll drive.”
As they pulled away from the bar, Ella watched through the windshield as the night blurred past. The ache inside her wasn’t sharp. It was quieter than that. More like a hollow space she hadn’t known existed until something had briefly filled it. Whatever spark she’d imagined with Max had been built on an illusion, and now that it was gone, she couldn’t help but mournit anyway. Not the woman, but the possibility. The connection she’d let herself believe in, even for a little while. And losing that? Somehow, it still hurt.
For someonewho’d been valedictorian of both her graduating classes and the fastest ladder climber at her law firm before going into business for herself, a night like Friday should have been something that Max could bounce back from easier than she had.
She’d been grumpy all weekend, not understanding how the intelligent, kind, and funny woman she’d met at book club was tied to Rachel, who’d been one of the worst dating experiences of her life.
She’d decided to take it out on her workout, landing one hit after another on the boxing bag at the gym. A right hook.But why Rachel of all people? Why not someone else from her past? Anyone. Left cross.Thud.And the look on Ella’s face when she saw Max in this whole new light. Right cross.Thud. She wasn’t even given a moment to explain or defend herself—cross, hook,thud. After fifteen minutes, she grabbed the chain above the bag, steadied it, and stepped back, sweat running down her neck to her chest.
“I could watch you do that all day.”
Max turned and found Amanda, a towel on her shoulder, grinning at her with a hand on her hip. “And I could lose myself in that for another hour.”
“I certainly wouldn’t want to be whoever you were imagining. Bad day?”
“Bad week.”
“Tell me so I can watch the little droplets on your collarbone.” Amanda was out in full force today, but Max knew she meant no harm.
“A woman I met, who seemed pretty great, turned out to be best friends with my ex.”
“Ah. The community is so interwoven, it’s criminal.” She softened. “But you had something shiny and exciting and now?—”
“Back to regularly scheduled programming. It’s whatever.” She began to towel off, and Amanda offered a pout. “Do you objectify everyone here?”
“God, no. Just those who look like you.” She fluttered her lashes. “Plus, I know you well enough to show you my playful side. We’re both adults who get the game. At least, I hope.”
“Nah. We have a fun give-and-take.” Amanda was right about them both being adults, and her words empowered Max. Dammit, she was an adult, and if Rachel, that nightmare of a person, wanted to keep her friends on her side of the yard, that was her call. Max would keep walking.
“Where’d you meet her? The woman who finally caught your eye. We all know it’s not easy to do that.”
“Book club.”
Amanda laughed. “I thought you were serious for a moment.”
“I am.”
