Page 61 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
They shared a moment of eye contact before Ella’s cheeks dusted pink and she shook her head. “Oh, Max Wyler. Where in the world did you come from?”
She slid a bite of salad into her mouth as if to sayI’ll never tell. They took a moment with their lunches as more of the tables around them filled up. Popular place. In the midst, Max ordered herself to truly relax and enjoy the restaurant, the ambiance, and the company the way Ella would. It was … freeing in many ways. And while she didn’t want to allow her thoughts to drift to the stresses at work, there was one topic that begged their immediate attention.
“Have you talked with Rachel yet?”
Ella finished chewing, set down her fork, and met Max’s gaze. “I need to. I think the sooner the better.”
“I completely agree,” Max said. “And it’s not like?—"
“We’re in some kind of committed relationship.”
“No.”
“Or eloping or declaring our love.”
“We’re hanging out.”
Ella nodded. “And she should know that.”
They were on the same page, and Max was relieved to hear it. “Can I offer you some advice?” She moved a pear slice around on her plate.
“Yes. In fact, I welcome it, Counselor.”
“When you loop her in, include your own story in the mix.”
“Oh, this is my first lesson in advocacy, isn’t it?”
“In fact, it is. Let Rachel hear all the things you’ve gone through. The reason you made certain decisions, or acted when maybe you hadn’t planned on acting. Include how it all made you feel. She needs all of the information so she doesn’t jump to conclusions about your motives but can see you as someone in a very human predicament.”
Ella sighed, her gaze falling to the table. “This isn’t going to be easy. I’ll tell you that.”
“No.” Max frowned, wishing she could take Ella’s place. “I’m afraid it’s not.”
SIXTEEN
The Cutest Little Red Car in Virginia
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Perhaps Ella had been on too big of a winning streak, because once she returned to her car after lunch, she was brought straight back down to earth when her beloved Mini made pathetic choking sounds instead of starting. This wasn’t good. After a few more minutes and soft words of encouragement like, “You are the cutest little red car in Virginia, and you definitely have another ride in you. You’ve got this,” Ella had to admit the car was not coming back to life.
She took out her phone and typed a quick message to Max, whom she’d just shared a sweet goodbye with on the corner before she walked back to work.
You know anything about cars?
Her reply came almost immediately.
Incredibly useful. Fast. Can be chick magnets. But not how to fix them, no. Trouble?
Mine gave up on life.
Give me five minutes.
True to her word, Max, in her beautiful black Range Rover, pulled up alongside the small paid lot near the restaurant. “Hop in. We can wait in the climate-controlled splendor for the tow truck.”
“You did not have to do this.”
“I wanted to.” There was something sweet in the way she’d said it, and Ella glimpsed a strand of vulnerability. Rare and a little startling. She had a feeling that the more time they spent together, the more she’d glimpse the Max beneath the ultra-put-together exterior. She couldn’t help but crave just that. She wanted to know every facet of Max.
