Page 25 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
Max straightened, showing off the three inches she had on Ella. “I agree with you. That’s why I took an Uber here.”
“You planned to drink too much?”
“You don’t ever do that?”
She shrugged. “It just sort of happens to me organically.”
“What can I say? I’m type A. I plan most of my choices.”
Ella still felt off-balance and knew why. Even Max in an Uber when she wasn’t fully herself still made Ella decidedly uncomfortable. What if something happened to her? It was a stranger’s car after all. “Follow me, Type A. I’m giving you a ride.”
“Pftt. No.”
“Stop!” Ella huffed in frustration. “I don’t want to argue. I’ve spent the whole night doing that. Just get in my car, tell mewhere you live, and we’ll spend the whole ride staring at the road in silence.”
“God, your sales pitch could use work.”
“I’m about to save you twenty bucks and small talk with a stranger who may or may not smell like peppermint Fritos.”
“Well, when you put it that way.”
“Smart decision.”
After a round of goodbyes, they shuffled grumpily and individually to Ella’s Mini, which happened to be freezing. “It’ll warm up in about five minutes. Seven tops.”
Max nodded, and the small cloud of her breath disappeared in the frigid interior. She lifted her shoulders to her ears and tensed as Ella backed out.
“What are you doing over there?” Ella asked.
“Me? Just trying to stay warm.”
“I think you’re trying to crawl into your own ears.” She glanced behind her. “Here.” She located the blanket she kept in the back seat, in case she ever found herself in a natural disaster, and tossed it onto Max’s lap.
“Thanks. If you give me your phone, I’ll type in my address, and Waze can do the rest.”
“Perfect.” Ella handed over her phone and kept her eyes on the road as Max offered interim directions, like “Turn right at the stop sign” and “You’ll want to be in the left lane.”
Apparently, Max lived in a condo in a more urban portion of the city. The closest thing that Everly Springs had to a downtown district. That fit what she knew of her. Seemingly sophisticated and lawyer-like. Of course she lived in a high-rise. Of course.
“How long have you lived in your building?”
Max looked over at her, her brows raised. “So, we’re not doing the silent ride thing?”
“No. We’re not,” Ella said. “Change of plans.”
“Four years. When I left my firm and started my own business, I needed to simplify as much as possible. I didn’t have time for yard work or home maintenance.”
“You don’t miss nature?”
“I know where to find it, Ella.”
The sound of her name on Max’s lips was not at all satisfying. Except it was. She squeezed the steering wheel, and pin pricks of heat saidhello, we’re here now. The drive to Max’s place wasn’t a long one, and when they pulled up to the tall, thin gray building, Ella exhaled. Relief swarmed. The drive was over, and she would soon be able to clear her head and regain her rational trajectory. Max was a disrupter, plain and simple.
“Thanks for the ride.” Max eased a long leg out of the car and flicked Ella a look. “Did she tell you we dated for exactly twelve and a half weeks?”
Ella frowned. “I feel like it was more than that.”
“You can feel all you want, Ella.” Max sent her a smile that was probably meant to be knowing but just read as sexy. “In fact, I encourage you to feel. But I’m quite capable of reading a calendar. Maybe I’ll see you at book club next week.” She didn’t wait for a response and closed the passenger-side door with a thud.
