Julian: Max, do you read me? Over.

 

Max: I read you. Over.

 

Julian: Have you checked the results? Over.

 

Max: No. Been at work and about to go have drinks with some of the lawyers from the office. Over.

 

Julian: Want to know? Over.

 

Max: You’ll tell me regardless. Over.

 

Julian: Very true. Over.

 

Max: This is the part where you tell me if my best friend is the world champion. Over.

 

Julian: Oh, yeah! Over.

 

Max: Julian, seriously. You seem not to know the concept of telling people information. Over.

 

Julian: Settle petal. Rob’s the WORLD CHAMPION! Over.

 

Max: FUCKING KNEW HE WOULD BE!

 

Julian: You forgot to say over. Over.

 

Max: Shit. Sorry. Over.

 

Julian: And get this, HE’S MARRIED! He and Ally eloped last week while they were in New York seeing her specialist. Over.

 

Max felt his jaw drop. His best friend, the recluse in the group, was not only the Men’s Single Scull World Champion but was now a husband. Max had been so busy with clients that the only time he’d seen them was when Ally had moved to Melbourne after being admitted to the hospital for kidney failure. Because of his heavy workload, he wasn’t able to travel to France to see Rob’s race. But his best friend had done it. Robert Moors was now the world champion and husband to a beautiful and sweet wife. The same wife Max had flirted with many times before. The jealousy he felt engulfed him. Sure, he was happy Rob married the love of his life, but for Max, he wanted that. Rob had always shied away.

For Max, that was all he wanted.

Real, honest, truthful love.

No manipulations like with Sarah.

And no bullshit games like with Andrea.

Unfortunately for Max, neither of the two warranted his interest right now. Work was overwhelming, and Andrea had made it easy by never returning any of his calls or emails. Some days, he hated her. Hated that she didn’t act on her attraction the moment she had broken up with Noel. All Max had gotten was a message from her that read: I broke up with him. And that was that. He’d messaged her that he’d take the next flight out to her, but she had said no, that she needed to be alone. She was confused and wasn’t even sure she had any feelings towards him. After several attempts to contact her, Max had given up. He had thought he’d go running back to Sarah, but he hadn’t. And for that, he was proud of himself. Instead, he had submerged himself in work rather than sex.

He had a habit and was working his way to correcting it.

Sarah had left his system months ago.

Eight, if he were honest with himself.

He’d forgotten all about her the moment he’d stood on that bridge with Josephine Faulkner. She’d been hard to forget. He’d promised to dance with her at Noel and Clara’s wedding, but a call from Sarah had interrupted them. Then Julian had arrived, and suddenly, she was gone. When he had asked Clara where she had gone to, all Noel’s wife had said was that she had to go back to the city. He hadn’t pressed for more, refusing to show his concern and his interest in Josie. But he was curious. He hadn’t seen her since the wedding. Not even at Noel and Clara’s goodbye dinner several months back. It seemed she had vanished. With his growing list of clients and pressure from his father, he had no time to learn more about her.

Work consumed him.

Work set him on the straight and narrow.

Shaking his head, Max pulled the key out of his Porsche’s ignition and got out of his luxury car. It had been an unnecessary purchase, but with money sitting in his account, he splurged. He represented men, women, and companies he despised. Truth be told, if it hadn’t been for his father, Maxwell Sheridan would have never become a lawyer. When he locked his car, he noticed several of the senior lawyers already gathered in front of Pa La Blue on Lygon Street. The Michelin star French restaurant was one of Melbourne’s finest—add in the bar, and it was Gordon Sheridan Lawyers’ favourite after-work places to go.

Upon reaching the group of men in expensive tailored suits, Max felt his phone vibrate once more. He glanced down to see that Julian had messaged him again.

 

Julian: Are you okay? Upset that Ally’s off the market or something? Over.

 

Max’s brows furrowed. Sure, he had flirted with Ally and thought she was beautiful, but he was in no way interested in being with her. He had sworn that Andrea would be his last. That he’d never be with any of his best friends’ girlfriends or exes. Andrea had left him scorned when she wanted to brush that kiss under the rug. Gripping his phone tight, he began to reply.

 

Max: I’m happy for them. Seeing Rob after she was admitted, I can’t doubt how in love he is with her. If giving a kidney isn’t love, then I don’t know what is. Hey, I’d better go. I’m having after-work drinks with some of the guys. Tell Rob and Ally congratulations for me and that I’m happy for them. I’ll call him later tonight. Over.

 

Julian: I’ll let them know. You should have seen her father when he found out they eloped. Best thing I’ve ever seen. Oh! Blondie says hi! We’ll see you next week. Over.

 

Max: Tell Stevie I said hi, too. See you all when you get back. Over.

 

Satisfied with his response, Max shoved his phone into his jacket pocket and nodded at Greg, Harry, and Sully. They were all older than Max was, but they were the more welcoming of the lawyers at his father’s firm. Most hadn’t liked the fact that he was the boss’ son. Max didn’t care. He’d shown he was more than a competent lawyer with his work. He didn’t go around seeking their approval.

“Ready to go inside?” Sully asked, loosening his grey tie as excitement twinkled in his brown eyes. Since his wife had left and then served him divorce papers, Sully had wanted to go out for drinks more often to celebrate his newfound freedom.

Max nodded. “Definitely. Let’s get inside.”

Harry, in his early forties with his auburn hair and green eyes, held open the door, and the men went inside the restaurant. Max couldn’t wait to unwind, have a drink, and forget about his women problems as he cut into a tender steak. He’d charge it to the firm as he always did.

As he passed tables on his way to the bar, he heard a waitress say, “I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Faulkner, but it’s been twenty minutes. Would you like to dine alone, or I could get whatever you’d like wrapped up to go?”

Miss Faulkner.

Max halted.

His heart sped up its beats as he repeated that name in his head.

It couldn’t possibly be Josie …

Spinning around, he noticed Josie sitting alone at a table to his left. She glanced down at her phone and sighed. Her brown hair was curled, and from what he could see, she wore a dark red dress.

“I’ll just go, thank you,” Josie said and began to stand.

His next actions appeared desperate, but she had glammed herself up, and he wasn’t going to let her night go to waste.

“Josie,” Max said as he took a step towards her.

Her vibrant blue eyes flashed in surprise, and his heart filled with that familiar warmth he’d felt on the bridge with her.

“Max,” she breathed, sounding almost relieved. The thought she was happy to see him caused butterflies to fill his stomach. He hadn’t felt that sensation since he was a teenager and had kissed Sarah Collins for the very first time.

“How are you?” he asked as she tilted her chin up at him.

The smile she made was sweet, far sweeter than any other smile ever directed at him. “I’m good,” she said. “But I’m just about to leave.”

“Stay—”

“Max, you coming?” Sully asked, irritated, behind him.

Max had clenched his eyes shut, breathed out, and said, “Sorry, Jos, give me a second.” He then spun around to see the pissed-off expression and stance from Sully. Max ignored it. If Sully wanted to go drink his marital problems away, Max would let him. He hadn’t seen Josie in eight months and wanted to catch up with her. He also wanted to know why she was alone in an expensive restaurant. “You guys go ahead. I’ll see you all on Monday.”

The men from the firm all shook their heads at him and then retreated to the bar. Max turned back to find Josie’s brows scrunched together.

“Can I join you?” Max asked as sweetly as he could. It had been easy. It came naturally to him around her.

She peered past him and eyed his co-workers. “You have plans,” she stated.

“You’re more important.” Three words that freely slipped past his lips. He was just as surprised by his comment as she was.

What the fuck, Max?

Seriously, control what comes out of your mouth.

Josie is your friend.

Josie blinked at him and then sat properly in her chair as she gestured for him to take the seat in front of her. He acted quickly and sat facing her. Her smile was breathtaking and filled with relief and joy. He wasn’t sure if it was his presence that did that, but he hoped so. It was insane how much he wanted to be the reason for that smile.

“That was nice of you to say,” she said, sounding almost unsure of herself. Her gaze fell to the table as she played with the cloth napkin. “I must look pretty pathetic right now, huh?”

His fists became tight balls. It surprised him how enraged he was at her belittling herself. Reactions he had never had before. “Did some guy not show up?”

She let out a small laugh, and her eyes met him. “Yes and no.”

“What?”

Josie took a deep breath and shrugged. “My dad didn’t show. You’re sitting where he should be. I’ve been waiting almost thirty minutes. I just messaged his assistant and …” She paused as her phone beeped. She glanced down at it, and her lips had pressed into a tight line before she glanced up at Max. “He never left Canberra.”

“What an asshole,” Max growled.

“Yeah, well, I’m not very high on his priority list. Guess he did me a favour. I didn’t even want to be here,” she confessed.

Though she attempted to give him a reassuring smile, Max saw right through it. He took in the pain that flashed in her vibrant blue eyes. A glimmer of longing, as if she wanted her father’s attention, existed, but he knew she’d never voice that out loud. From what little he knew of her, she appeared to have a lot of pride when it came to her father.

“Well, he did me a favour. I get to see you and not have to hear about my co-worker’s divorce. Can you believe the guy is a lawyer and about to lose everything to his cheating wife?”

Josie brushed her brown curls back and laughed. “You’re better off hiring me than that guy, then.”

“How is uni going?”

She shrugged. “It’s going. Everyone in my units has their placements for next year, and here I am, not even able to convince my father to dinner. Not gonna make a very great lawyer, am I?”

Max ignored the teasing in her voice. Reaching for her hand, he took it firmly. He felt her wince beneath his palm as his thumb gently brushed along the knuckle of her index finger.

That surge of electricity, similar to what he felt on the bridge, had him glancing down at their connection. The smoothness of her skin differed from other women. He loved that. Then Josie’s thumb caressed his.

If she can convince me this is something different with just her touch alone, she’s gonna make one hell of a lawyer.

“Your father’s an idiot,” Max pointed out.

No teasing.

It was the truth.

Her thumb strokes stopped. “You just won yourself a free meal compliments of the Australian Ambassador to Germany. Order whatever you want. The more expensive, the better.”

“Seriously love the way you think, Josie,” Max said. Then she smiled at him, and he swore his stomach did a flip. It was unusual. He had never reacted this way to a woman before.

“Thank you—” The ringing of her phone interrupted her. Josie pulled away from his hand and then glanced down. Seconds later, her paleness had him standing. She clutched her phone and her handbag as if they were her lifeline, and she bolted out of her chair. Her fast breathing caused her chest to rise and fall, and she looked up at him with a pained expression he’d never seen before. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

She hadn’t given him any chance to say more as she pushed past him. Max quickly grasped her wrist to stop her. “Hey, are you okay?”

Tears filled Josie’s eyes as she nodded and then yanked her arm free. “I’m fine. I’ll see you later, okay? I really have to go.”

“Okay,” he said, not really wanting to let her go, but she seemed desperate, and Max wouldn’t stop her. “I’ll see you later, Jos.”

She gave him a small smile and then turned toward the exit. Max watched as she rushed towards the doors and then stopped. She stood still for a long moment and then spun back around and returned to him. Josie took a deep breath as she reached up and cupped Max’s left cheek. Then she got on her tippy toes and kissed his right cheek.

His heart swelled.

It became too big and consumed the small space in his chest.

The feel of her lips on his skin almost had that beating organ explode within him. The warmth he felt was almost too much.

She was too much.

As quickly as she kissed him, her lips left him. Then she whispered, “Thank you, Max. Rain check on dinner, okay?”

“Okay,” he murmured as his fingers wrapped around her right wrist and then slowly pulled her palm from his face. “Good night, Josephine.”

Her smile deepened. “Good night, Max,” she said in a soft voice then left Pa La Blue, taking a piece of him. One he had no idea if he wanted back.

Josephine Falkner was a complete mystery.

One that Max had every intention of being lost in.

And that in and of itself was something else.

 

 

“There’s a chance the cancer has spread to her lungs. However, until we know the results, we’ll assume the worst-case scenario, so you need to prepare yourself. Unlike last time, Josie, it might be a lot tougher on your mother,” Dr Frederickson said.

Josie peered into the hospital room and pressed her lips together. Once she saw her mother was still asleep, she swung her attention back on the doctor and nodded. “I understand. Thank you for having them call me last night.”

Dr Frederickson gave her a tight smile. “Of course. It was touch and go, but she’s stable. We won’t be able to run the tests until later this afternoon, so it’s best if you go home and get some rest. If anything happens, we will call you. I promise.”

“Thank you. I’ll just tell her goodbye, and I’ll be back.” Josie nodded at the doctor and then entered the intensive care room.

Her steps were soft and precise to ensure her mother remained undisturbed as she made her way across the room. Upon reaching the bed, Josie gently set her hand on her mother’s shoulder and kissed the top of her head. When she stepped back, she took in her mother’s short brown hair and frowned. The cancer had returned before her mother’s hair could even grow out properly. She glanced over at the peonies she’d brought with her yesterday and made a mental note to bring fresh flowers later this afternoon.

With an exhale, Josie held her handbag closer to her body and said, “I’ll see you soon, Mamma.”

Unlocking her apartment door, Josie entered and dropped her bag onto the floor. As she passed the hallway table, she dropped her keys and kicked off her shoes. She had spent the night at her mother’s bedside. The nurses and doctors at the Royal Melbourne Hospital had been kind enough to let her stay past visiting hours. Many of them knew her from her waitressing job at Melbourne’s most beloved bakery. The Little Bakery on Little Collins Street had been made famous by her former boss, Danny Fletcher, and former baker, Clara Parker. They had both left Melbourne for the States to pursue their futures. Danny had become a head chef at a reputable restaurant in San Francisco, and Clara had married and moved to Boston to be with her husband.

The new head chef, Nadia, was just as kind as Clara was, but she was more demanding when it came to service. The plan to turn the bakery into a dessert restaurant had stalled when the owner, Liam O’Connor, had left for Europe. But that hadn’t deterred Nadia; she had adapted, creating her own line of cupcakes. Though they were a hit, they hadn’t come close to Clara’s recipes—those still sold out in the first few hours of opening. Though Josie loved working at the bakery, it wasn’t the same since Clara left. Her presence and the way she baked was missing from the workplace.

Rubbing the kink in her shoulder, Josie headed towards her bedroom of the two-bedroom apartment she shared with Stella Weller, who Josie had met during O-week at Deakin University. They had sparked a friendship immediately, and when second year came around, they had decided to move in together. When she made it to her bedroom door, she gazed at a yellow sticky note with Stella’s scribble on it.

 

Left my phone at West’s. Missed you last night. Talk all about your dinner when I come home.

Love,

Stella.

 

With a small smile, Josie peeled the sticky note off the door. It was a system they had. Sure, texting and calling were easier, but it was sentimental and something they’d shared since the very first day they moved in together. Unlike Josie’s four-year degree, Stella had graduated the year before and was currently a casual relief teacher. Being on-call for when schools needed a substitute teacher meant their schedules rarely coincided.

Josie entered her bedroom, stuck the sticky note by the light switch, and began to unzip the red dress she had chosen for her dinner with her father. The same dinner he hadn’t shown up for. The same dinner where she saw Maxwell Sheridan again. It was strange how connected she felt to him. They had agreed they would be friends, but the hand-holding on the bridge eight months ago and the kiss on his cheek last night pushed the boundaries of friendship.

She had tried not to dwell on it too much, but just the feeling of Max’s hand on hers was enough to render her breathless. And her heart had tightened to the point where it was almost uncomfortable. If circumstances were different, if it hadn’t been the hospital calling, she’d have stayed and had dinner with him. Max was different from most guys she knew. The guilt she’d seen in his eyes was one she knew, and for Josie, she wanted to free him from it. Those brown eyes were beautiful. And that soft smile of his was incredible and completely unforgettable.

He’s your friend, Josie.

She was so lost in thought over him that she had even stopped unzipping her dress as she stood in the middle of her bedroom. Blinking rapidly, she shook her head.

“What are you doing?” she asked herself as she pushed the straps off her shoulders, deciding that her connection with Max was only due to her loneliness.

Her need for companionship on a platonic level.

That was what she needed, and she was sure he did, too.

Nodding to herself, Josie continued to undress and decided that right now, being by her mother’s side was more important.

After a shower and dressing in a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a white T-shirt, Josie closed her door and headed towards Stella’s room. When she reached it, she clicked the pen and held up the sticky note pad in her hand to write her roommate a reply.

 

He never showed up. Hospital called, and I had to leave. Mum’s okay. Will talk to you later.

Love you, too.

Josie.

P.S. West still owes me $20 on that bet we made. Remind him that I’ll be collecting VERY soon. Or we could double or nothing next time?

 

Happy that her note had the right level of teasing and reassurance, Josie stuck it on Stella’s door and began to make her way to the front door. On her way out, she left the pad and pen on the hallway table and picked up her bag. Once she closed the front door behind her, Josie headed towards to the elevator, ready to see her mother.

It had taken almost ten minutes to turn onto Lonsdale Street on her way to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Josie would soon have to take another turn onto Elizabeth Street, and she’d arrive at the hospital. Travelling through the busy afternoon traffic, a tall building caught her eye. Slowing down to avoid hitting pedestrians, she smiled at the large golden letters that spelt “Gordon Sheridan” above the glass revolving door.

For a moment, her heart had skipped a beat as she realised Max worked here. She had left him when she had gotten the call from the hospital. She felt guilty, but he appeared to understand, and that made her heart go wild. It felt as if her body had acted before her brain had processed what was going on as Josie indicated left and parked just outside Gordon Sheridan Lawyers. When she pulled the key out of the ignition, she decided she would go inside and thank him for being nice to her last night.

She hadn’t realised how much she had needed a friend until he offered. Sure, she had many girlfriends, but Josie needed someone new and unattached. Stella had always pried, and Clara was too busy with her married life in Boston. Although she loved Stevie, she was not only consumed with university, but was also with her fiancé in France for the Rowing World Championship. It had been months since she last saw them. When they returned, she promised herself she’d see them more.

Stepping out of her Mini Countryman—a guilty purchase from her absent father—Josie locked it and approached the parking metre. Digging into her front jeans pocket, Josie took out what she could find and inserted the few gold coins into the machine. She wouldn’t be long and didn’t need to stay longer than the hour the ticket had given her. Once she had returned to her car, Josie unlocked it and displayed the ticket on the dash before she closed the door and approached the entrance. Josie passed through the revolving doors, entering in the impressive lobby of Gordon Sheridan Lawyers.

If she were ever lucky to work for such a prestigious law firm, she knew her life would be set. But Josie would be lucky to find a single law firm willing to take her on as a trainee lawyer. If she didn’t, she’d never complete her compulsory year of traineeship. By the time she graduated, she’d have a HECS debt of over $120,000. Thankfully, she wouldn’t find a job anytime soon that would get her over the threshold to start paying it back. Working for Gordon Sheridan Lawyers would make her debt troubles fade away. It was the dream job for any lawyer and law student.

She envied Max. He had a father who helped him achieve his dream career. For Josie, her father hadn’t so much as wished her the best for university. Pushing thoughts of him away, Josie made her way to the reception desk. The woman behind it lifted her chin and graced Josie with the fakest smile she had ever seen. Bright white teeth and deep red lacquered lips. Blonde hair and blue eyes. The woman was attractive and scary all at the same time.

“Good afternoon. Welcome to Gordon Sheridan. How may I assist you today?”

Josie glanced down to find the receptionist tapping her finger on the desk as if Josie were forcing the life out of her. The moment to be nice was lost. Josie would be blunt and to the point.

“I’m here to see Max Sheridan.”

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist countered, going for the direct approach.

“No,” Josie answered.

Should have known that I’d need an appointment to see him.

The woman behind the desk did not attempt to hide her eye roll, and that annoyed Josie more than anything. But it was obvious this woman had dealt with no-appointmenters on multiple occasions. Josie was not the first, and she sure as hell would not be the last.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you see Mr Sheridan without an appointment.”

“I’m a friend of his,” Josie informed.

The woman’s brow raised and then her eyes fluttered down to Josie’s casual attire. “A friend … of Mr Sheridan’s?”

Josie’s nostrils flared in annoyance. “Yes,” she bit out. “Could you just call him? He’ll tell you that I don’t need one.”

Not true, but she was bullshitting. In fact, she wasn’t sure if Max would be pleased with her spontaneous visit. But she needed to see him and thank him.

“Fine.” The woman sighed and picked up her phone. She then pushed a button and glared at Josie. After a few ‘Uh-huhs’ and ‘Okays’, the receptionist set the phone back on its hook. “Sorry, you just missed him. Mr Sheridan had an emergency he had to attend to. I can take a message.”

Her heart sank.

She had just missed him.

With an exhausted exhale, Josie nodded. “That would be great. Thank you.” Leaving him a message was all she could do because she had no other means of contacting him.

“What would you like me to say?”

Josie reached into her back pocket and retrieved one of the bakery business cards she carried around. It had her name and the store number on it. When Danny had been the owner of the bakery, they used to do private orders, and each order went through Josie. Flipping the card over to the blank side, she grabbed the pen next to the blonde receptionist, scrawled her message, and handed it to the less than impressed woman.

“Thanks,” Josie said with a little appreciation and then spun around, ready to head to the hospital.