The next week seemed to go by in a flash. Greg had me help him out on a few more projects. Lilly, Erica, and I seemed to become closer as we agreed on girl night almost every night. Adam kept me on a short leash, calling and texting every day. I wasn’t complaining, though, because just as I had said before, after every time we had a rough patch we would always come out stronger, and we were getting there.

Adam and I had finally chosen a home for us, but it wouldn’t be ready for move-in until next week. We would be staying at a hotel until we could move. I was excited because he was supposed to be coming in this afternoon, just in time for our office party, or well, Max’s birthday party. I had just found out about it yesterday after work. Lilly had insisted I wear a dress she had already picked out for me.

It was Saturday morning and I knew Adam would be on his plane coming here, so I was surprised when my phone started to vibrate and I saw his name flash onto the screen. A photo popped up of us together a year ago in New York. I smiled at the memory of us running through the snow. I couldn’t get enough of it, or enough of him.

“Adam?”

“Hey, babe.” I could hear noise in the background. I got excited thinking he was already here. “I have some bad news.”

I didn’t say anything to his comment because I knew the look on my face and the ones on Lilly’s and Erica’s were just how I felt. We were sitting outside a Starbucks, trying to get our caffeine fix for the weekend.

“They want me to stay in California for a few more days, until the house is ready to move in to.” I knew what that meant. It meant he wouldn’t be in my arms. I wouldn’t get to hold my husband for another week.

“Okay.” I could hear the disdain in my voice.

“Babe. Don’t be like that. You know I want to be there with you.”

“I know. It’s just hard.” I felt defeated, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to do anything. It was his job. It was demanding and we both knew it. “Just make sure you get here soon. I haven’t even seen the house yet and I don’t want to move everything in by myself.”

“Don’t worry.”

A thought popped into my head, the listing he had sent me of our new house. “Babe.”

“Yeah?” He sounded distracted now.

“I know you sent an email about the house, but I didn’t see a price range for it.”

“Don’t worry about it.” It was like he was waving me off with his words.

“But if I need to work more—”

He cut me off immediately. “I said, don’t worry about it.” This time the words were so easy going. I could tell I was making him agitated, and with what had happened last week, I didn’t want to push my luck.

“Just know that I’ll be there to move everything in. Everything won’t come until after I’m there.”

I took his word for it and we hung up with a quick goodbye. I looked up to the girls who were sitting in front of me.

“He isn’t coming home today.” I didn’t have to tell them. They knew, but it felt good to say it out loud.

“Let’s take these drinks back to the apartment and start getting ready for tonight.” I looked at my watch and then back at Lilly, her words not making sense. “The party isn’t for hours, but I have some of the best products. We can have a full pampering day!”

I knew this to be true because her skin was flawless and she always had her nails done. I wasn’t always big on getting dressed up, but this was the first big party that I was going to since my wedding, so a good pampering sounded like just what I needed.

* * *

It was almost six before we finished our nails and makeup. The girls wouldn’t let me look in any mirrors. They said it was a surprise, and I knew I would be surprised. Erica was doing my makeup and by the way she came into work every day, I was shocked it wasn’t what she did professionally. Her contour was always on point.

I looked around the room. Dresses were laid out everywhere, but Lilly said she had already picked mine out. I was about to ask her which one was mine when Erica put a blindfold over my eyes and both girls started to put me in my dress. I had been traipsing around in only black lingerie for the last hour, so I was excited to feel the smooth silk slide against my skin. The blindfold fell from my eyes and I was looking at both Lilly and Erica who had on their own dresses already.

“What?” I questioned. Both girls couldn’t stop smiling.

“Just turn around.” Lilly’s eyes shone with excitement as she turned me around herself.

I was not expecting what I saw in the mirror. The dress was a beautiful dark green smooth silk and stopped just above my knee. It wasn’t too tight, but it still hugged my curves. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline that looked stunning against my pale skin. I never would have thought I’d look this good in green.

“You look gorgeous.” Erica’s smile didn’t fade as she looked over her and Lilly’s work.

“Gorgeous? Try sexy as hell!” Lilly pushed me away from the mirror, handing me a clutch that matched the dress. “I just wish Adam were here to see you tonight.”

I couldn’t help but blush, because in all honesty, I had never felt this sexy before, not even on my wedding day. I looked back at my reflection a little longer. My legs looked long with my heels on, even though I was only five two, and my hair looked great, elongating my neck, around which a simple chain necklace with three leaves on it was draped.

“Maybe he can be. Here.” I took my phone from the clutch Lilly had given me and handed Erica my phone. “Take a picture and I can send it to him.

She took a few at different angles and I sent him them all in hopes of a quick response, but when it didn’t come, I put my phone away. Adam and I had been keeping up constant communication lately, but tonight I wanted to not think about how he still wasn’t here with me.

We headed out of the apartment and headed out to the sidewalk. Lilly had on a knee-length dress that was purple with tulle underneath and a lavender cardigan over the top. Erica had a navy-blue dress that went to the floor; it was an A-line style dress and fit her so well that it made her look like a movie star.

Max’s place was only a block down from the office, so we walked. I hadn’t known that he was so close. The other night when I had seen him, he was getting in a truck to leave but offered me a ride home. If he was so close to work, why wouldn’t he just walk? Those thoughts escaped my mind when we walked into his condo building, though. It was magnificent. A door man let us in and directed us to the first gallery door, where the party was being held. The music was already loud, and the smell of fresh seafood filled the room.

We were only a few minutes late, but everyone else had gotten here early. They were all dressed to impress, and everyone had at least one glass of alcohol in their hands. Max definitely knew how to throw a party. Greg came up to us immediately.

“Hello, ladies. I’m happy to see that you made it.” He was carrying a tray of wines and handed us each one.

“Good to see you, too, Greg.” It was Lilly who piped up. I was shocked she had even said anything to him. He didn’t stay long, bowing away from us.

“Don’t scare the poor man!”

I laughed at Erica’s comment because it was true. It seemed that even though they tried to act like nothing was happening, you could totally tell there was tension between Lilly and Greg, but we all just let them keep ignoring it.

We made our way over to where the food was. If there was going to be alcohol, there needed to be carbs in my stomach. We looked before deciding to grab plates to fill all the way up. I turned around at the end of the table but was confused by the look on Lilly’s and Erica’s faces, their wide-eyed gaze reaching over my shoulder. I turned around to see Max standing behind me, and understood immediately why they were staring so intently.

He looked fantastic in his black and white tuxedo, his dark green tie the only hint of color. It matched my dress, but I had to remind myself that it was only a coincidence. All four of us stood there in a silence that I didn’t want to break.

“You look stunning, Alexa.” Max took a step closer, placing a hand on my arm. I didn’t move it right away, though; a warm sensation went up my arm to my neck. It was suddenly a sauna in the gallery room.

“Thank you, Max.” I finally took a step back. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, and thank you, ladies, for coming tonight.” He was bringing Lilly and Erica into the conversation now, but he didn’t look away from me. He had taken a step back from me, putting his hands back into his pockets. It almost made him look smaller, but I knew deep down inside that it was so he wouldn’t touch me again. I didn’t even think he meant to a second ago. The girls moved to stand beside me, both wrapping one arm around my waist on each side. “I have to make my rounds now. I hope to see you all later.”

Max was already walking away before I got the nerve to stop him. I left the girls where they were, both with shocked expressions as I walked after Max. This was definitely a first for us, me the one chasing after him. “Max, wait.” I grabbed for his wrist and he stopped dead in his tracks, staring down at where we connected. I ripped my hand away.

“I have something for you.” His eyebrows scrunched together like they had the first day I met him, not in confusion but in question. His eyes got wide. I could see his face as the thought formed, and a smirk slowly inched along his face. I realized then that the way I was acting was probably sending the wrong signal. I pulled a folded piece of paper out of my clutch. I had sneaked it in here when Lilly and Erica weren’t looking earlier. “Here.”

I handed Max my application for The Ink Well, but this time it was for the publishing and editing department. I had woken up yesterday in the middle of the night and wandered around the apartment I had been sharing with Lilly. I couldn’t help but think that if I was here and Max was offering, why shouldn’t I take the job that I knew I already loved? I hadn’t talked to Adam about it, but after him not coming home today, I needed to take this step. If I did this before he came to Atlanta, then there would be no going back. So I ended up filling out the application on my phone and printed it out before we left for the night. Max looked over it for a few minutes, and the silence between us grew awkward. The smirk had left, but a soft smile remained, and I had one to match it.

“Thank you,” was all he said as he looked down at me, but the smile I had went away slowly.

“What’s wrong?” Max moved closer to me. “There was a smile there, but then it disappeared.”

He moved his hand to reach for me, but I pulled away. He flinched and dropped his balled fist to his side.

I took a deep breath. “Adam was supposed to come home today but didn’t. I didn’t tell him about the application.”

Max held the sheet of paper up between us.

“Do you want this, Alexa?” His question caught me off guard.

“Of course I do.”

“Then we will get it situated. Whatever it is that you want, I’ll make sure that you get it.” He turned his back to me and only moved a few steps before turning back. “And as far as I’m concerned, no man should ever leave his wife alone for this long. Not even for work.”

I didn’t know how to respond, because I saw the pained look on Max’s face, and I didn’t know why it was there. He left me alone in the middle of the dance floor, but it wasn’t long until a purple drink was shoved into my hands. Lilly and Erica danced around me, oblivious as to what happened between Max and me. I pushed both him and Adam to the back of my mind and partied the rest of the night. By the fifth drink, I had no care in the world and the girls made the executive decision to finally head home for the night.

It was pitch black when we walked outside and not much was going on in terms of nightlife. Most people were still inside their clubs or already home. Us girls linked together and safely crossed the street over to Lilly’s apartment. I went to close the door behind me after entering our building, but I paused. I looked back one last time to see Max standing on the curb only a few feet away. It didn’t matter how much I loved my husband or how much I pushed Max away, I knew that there was no getting rid of him. Max would always be there to protect me, and I didn’t care who knew.