“Did they think it was me? Is that why they wouldn’t let me see you back then?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I told them it wasn’t you all along, but I don’t think they believed me. When you left so abruptly…I finally told Mom several years ago. I don’t know if she told Dad or not. As far as they’re concerned, his father is dead.”
“Why didn’t you push it? Make him take a test or something? The Jacksons had the money to support him.”
“Cade knew, Max. He knew and denied it.” Her face turned scarlet. “He told me I wasn’t the first piece of tail to try and tie him down.”
All the old anger and resentment came boiling back to the surface in a heartbeat. “I’ll kill him.”
She reached across the table and took his clenched fist between her hands. “No. You won’t because he’s not worth it. It took me a long time to realize that, but I did. Now I don’t want him anywhere near my son.”
Max took a couple of deep breaths before he could speak. “Cade is already deflecting this away from himself, just like always, putting his own spin on things.”
She sat back in the chair and picked at that damn loose thread again.
He wondered if the hem would survive after all this was done.
She glanced around the kitchen. “It’s getting late. I need to find a place to stay.” She stood and gathered her things. “I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of this. I truly am.”
“There’s a couple of motels in town.” He rattled off the names. “It’s the weekend, so better call and see if they have any vacancies.”
She pulled out her phone and looked up the numbers. “Thanks.”
Max hurried to the bathroom while she placed the call, just to put some distance between them. The thought occurred to him she might want to pick things up where they left off, maybe take it further this time. Maybe he read too much into her actions just now. He hoped so. He still cared about her, of course. As a friend. Nothing more. His heart belonged to Sky.
He shut the door and splashed his face with cold water, then canvassed his reflection with candor. Fear, stark and vivid, glittered in the eyes staring back at him. Fear? Of what? Losing something he never had in the first place? Or fear Sky would turn her back on him like everyone else in his life he cared about?
“Embrace the suck.” His mind a crazy mixture of hope, fear, and resignation, he pulled out his phone and dialed Sky’s number. After five rings, her answering machine picked up. Several seconds passed as a cold knot of anxiety formed in his stomach. He hadn’t checked to see if her car was back. What if she knew it was him and didn’t answer? What if something was wrong with Maddie? What if that scene in the kitchen killed any chance he had?
Mouth bone dry, it took two attempts to get past the tightness in his throat and find his voice. Uncertainty rang in every drawn-out word. “Hey… It’s me…Max. I’m helping her find a place to —” The machine cut off before he finished. “Great. Just effing great.” He ended the call and crammed the phone back in his pocket. He knew she had a cell phone but had not asked for the number. And she hadn’t volunteered it, so had no other way to contact her.
His mood see-sawed back and forth from cliff-jumping despair to blazing anger as mumbled curses filled the small room. He wanted to hit something. Hard. Anything to release the tension building inside him like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
“No,” he whispered to the tortured man in the mirror. “I won’t let it in. I am stronger than the anger. I won’t let it in.”
Two deep breaths later, followed by another splash of cold water, and he was himself again. He walked back to the kitchen to find Anna sitting at the table.
“The one near the interstate was full. The other one only had one room with a single bed. Told him I’d be there shortly.” She didn’t look at him as she continued. “I called his cell, but it went to voicemail.”
“Give me his number. I’ll call and tell him he can stay here tonight.”
Her head jerked up.
“You said there’s only one bed. He can sleep on the couch again.” He casually glanced out the window and saw Sky’s car wasn’t there. Concern for Maddie made his voice sharp. “He needs to cool off.”
She flinched but said nothing.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Have you eaten anything?”
She stared a moment, then shook her head. “I got some coffee from your friend at the diner. Planned to take Logan out for dinner later, but…”
“My friend?”
“The pretty girl at the diner. She said y’all were friends and that she lived next door.” She nodded toward Sky’s house.
“We had a date tonight.” Why the hell did he tell her that?
Her face turned a brilliant shade of red. “Oh, no. I ruined it, didn’t I?” She rose and stood in front of him. “Max…” She reached out and touched his arm. “Once again, all I can say is I’m sorry.”
He stepped away, effectively brushing off the hand on his arm. “Why don’t you follow me to the diner. You can get something to eat, and I’ll give you directions to the motel. It’s nothing fancy but will do for tonight.”
She hesitated only briefly before nodding in agreement, then turned in silence and grabbed her things from the table.
Neither spoke as they walked outside.
Ten minutes later, they walked into the diner.
His heart gave a painful jerk when he spotted Billy Ray.
Holding hands with Sky.
Max glanced around the conspicuously silent diner.
The collective group cast furtive glances between him, Anna, and Sky and waited for the other shoe to drop.
Sonofabitch.
