NATALIE

Mary’s a little buzzed on wine.

Alan’s got a gun on the table.

I’m staring at my phone.

We’ve run out of terrible scenarios to worry over.

My phone rings, Max’s name glowing from the screen. “Finally!” I jump off the couch to answer it. “Max? You okay? What’s going on?”

“Are you at Mary’s? They’re dropping me off. My Jeep is still there.”

“Yes, I’m here,” I exhale, smoothing my bangs with shaking fingers. “I’m so glad you’re okay. Did you find Franklin?”

“Yes, it’s done. See you soon.”

“Can’t wait! Thank you!”

We hang up and I lock eyes with Mary. “He sounds stressed. Whatever happened wasn’t easy.”

“Would Max have told you if anyone got hurt?”

Thinking about it I nod, “Yes, I think that would have been the first thing he’d have said.” Collapsing onto the couch I look at them and say, “I know I thanked you a million times, but—”

“If I was in trouble, what would you do?” Mary raises her eyebrows.

“Right.”

“Stop thanking me.”

Alan picks up his gun. “I guess I can put this away now.” He disappears into his bedroom and Mary hands me her half-full glass of Pinot Noir.

“Now do you want a sip?”

“Max is sober tonight.”

She retracts her hand and drinks it herself. “You watch TV and think how exciting those mafia things are, but when it’s in your face? I’m not entertained.”

“I just want a nice, simple existence for a while.” Grabbing one of her throw pillows I hug it. “Read a few great novels. Eat some chocolate. Get a massage somewhere if I feel like splurging.”

Alan rejoins us, and his shoes are back on. Guess he doesn’t want to greet the famous Cockers in socks. But Mary and I don’t mention the change. Let him do whatever makes him feel good as a man.

Pouring more red into her glass, Mary meets my eyes. “I think I know someone who might want to give you that massage.”

Understanding her meaning I frown, “He really went out of his way here, didn’t he?”

“Sure did,” Alan agrees, picking lint off his slacks. “I’ve never met one of these people personally before but I’m impressed. He was very upset when he realized he’d been shooting tonight when we knew you were in trouble. Genuinely hated that. Good guy, I like him.”

“Me too,” I whisper, chewing on everything.

A knock makes our heads turn. Alan says, “You wanna get that?”

I walk over, so freaked still that I need to make sure it isn’t Paul or some hired stalker who’s found me. “Hello?”

“Natalie, it’s Max.”

Exhaling I swing the door open and scan his body for bruises, cuts, anything. He enters the room, locked on me as he turns the deadbolt. “I’m okay. You okay?”

“Shell shocked, I think.”

He gathers me into his arms and I start crying as he kisses me, saying over and over, “I missed you so much! God I missed you.”

“I couldn’t call! I wanted to be at the shoots. I’ve listened to all of your messages. I was so glad to hear your voice even though I couldn’t talk to you!”

He breaks free to search my eyes. “I never asked, why did you all of a sudden disappear though, if this had been going on for longer?”

“You showed up at Swinging Richards asking about me. Boone and Robert told me how dangerous it was. I had to vanish. For both of us.”

A tortured grimace tangles his handsome face. “This was because of me and Hunter going there? I’m such an idiot. When you started being late, missing rehearsals, I went looking for answers. I never would have guessed that asshole was threatening you, purposefully keeping you from me.”

“How could you guess that? It’s my fault for not seeing his books were padded. For ignoring the sleazy side of him because I wanted the money.”

Max embraces me, kisses my hair and sees my friends watching us. He takes my hand and walks over. “Hey. Wow so…nice to meet you both.”

They laugh and Max gives this beautiful disbelieving grin. It spreads to me, too.

Alan’s standing and motions to a chair. “Would you like to have a seat? Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’m good, thanks. I’ll sit down though. I want to tell you what happened.”

Mary says, “Please! I’m dying to know!”

He sits and as I go to the other chair he tugs me onto his lap. “No, I need you close. You’ve been gone too long.”

Sliding my arms around his neck I take a deep breath and glance to Mary, who gives me an I-told-you smile. She and Alan sit on the edge of the couch as Max tells us every detail about the deal. As the story unfolds I’m numb with gratitude.

He turns his head, “That Boone guy you mentioned, he doesn’t like me much.”

Frowning I explain, “But he warned me as a friend. Said I’d always been nice to him. I know he didn’t tell Paul or Franklin about you.”

Max nods. “He didn’t give it away that he’d seen me there. But he’s loyal to that guy—probably just for money. Franklin doesn’t treat Boone with respect. Who knows how long he’ll work for him? Might jump ship.” Max kisses my cheek. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. You never have to see Paul again. Never have to go into the clubs.”

“I wonder if someone else is going to take over, or will they close?”

Alan nods, “Good question. What’s going to happen to the three best strip clubs in Atlanta?”

Mary playfully hits his arm. “What do you care?”

“They’re a staple!” he cries out, kidding but not kidding, too.

“I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” I sigh.

“Oh, I meant to ask you, Max,” Alan begins. “You’re still doing the two days here as scheduled?”

Shutting his eyes because he forgot all about filming, Max groans, “Shit.” He looks at Alan and Mary, “Is that okay? My actors and crew think we’re shooting. They’ve cleared their calendars for it.”

“It’s fine by us. We made plans. Just didn’t know if you needed to push it back because of…everything.”

“I can be there now,” I tell Max.

He meets my eyes, “You want to? I won’t be hurt if you need to rest. You seem, well like you said, shell-shocked. You’ve been living in fear for too long, Natalie. Take whatever time you need to heal.”

Smiling, I kiss him. “I think you’re amazing, did I tell you that?”

His smile is instant, “I don’t mind you saying it again.”

“You’re amazing.”

“I was kidding,” he chuckles, telling my friends, “Excuse me but I have to kiss her.” He cups my head and presses all of his loneliness for me into grateful lips. Mary makes an “Awwww,” sound and Max pulls back to kiss my nose and tell her, “You like that? There’s more.”

Alan shakes his head, “That’s okay. Save it for later.”

Standing up I give my friends a hug and thank them again. Max shakes Alan’s hand and hugs Mary, telling them, “Thank you,” as they give him the spare key.

“You can let yourself in tomorrow,” Alan smiles.

We gather our things and they walk us out with Max realizing, “Oh hey, thanks for cleaning up. I just realized I left before—”

Mary waves at him to stop talking. “Please! Gave us all something to do while we bit our nails! And I think you were kinda busy, Superman, so go take my stricken friend to bed now, would ya?”

I laugh, “I’m not stricken.”

“Not anymore you’re not! But you were a mess in the ladies room, let me tell you!”

“Shhhh,” I smile, holding my finger to my lips. “He thinks I’m strong!”

Max laces our fingers together. “I don’t need you to be any way other than you are.” As we head out, he says, “A fragile flower who needs me.”

I laugh, “Okay, let’s not get carried away.”

As they close the door on us, Max feigns ignorance. “What? You seemed pretty fragile to me from the get-go.” As we walk to his Jeep he continues, while I shake my head on a stifled grin, “You walked into my interviews all hemming and hawing. Timid is the word I’d use.”

“Timid!?”

In a high-pitched voice he simpers, “Oh, is this where someone’s making a film? Could I pretty please have a moment of your time? I’m a fragile flower who needs your strength to do anything. I don’t even know how to tie my shoelaces. That’s why I’m wearing these heels. They’re slip-ons. See?”

“You sound like Colleen.”

He opens the passenger door and cracks up. “Ouch, jealous there are ya?”

“Nope, not at all. I wonder what A.J. is doing tonight?”

Max freezes and points at me. “Not funny.” He offers his hand and guides me up. “You’re staying at my place.”

As he strolls around to the driver’s side there’s a bounce in his step. Jumping in he locks eyes with me, “Did I tell you Colleen came onto me during that rehearsal?”

My eyes go wide. He chuckles, proud of himself. “Gotcha back,” and drives off.