Chapter Two
Max and Liam sat in the break room. Liam was flipping through this month’s copy of Inked Up magazine, and Max was drinking an energy drink when Rory walked in to grab a drink out of the refrigerator.
“Hey, Rory,” Liam said, not looking up from his magazine.
“Yeah?”
“Keller’s is having a sale on guitars.”
“Yeah?”
“You buy one, they’ll throw in free lessons.”
Max laughed, and Rory flipped Liam off as he walked back out.
“Why do you constantly antagonize him?” Max asked.
Liam grinned. “Why, you jealous?”
Jameson walked in and collapsed into a chair.
“They’ve got handbooks for everything these days. I know because I just spent the last two hours in the bookstore with Ava. Handbooks for names, handbooks for pregnancy, handbooks for motherhood, handbooks for fatherhood, handbooks for smart babies, handbooks for city babies…”
Liam glanced up from his magazine. “Livin’ the dream, huh?”
“Shoot me now.”
“Where is she?” Max asked.
“Up front, talking to Rory.”
A minute later, Ava walked in with a bookstore bag in one hand and a twin-pack of muffins in the other.
“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Max asked as she sat down.
“I’m doing well. Just starving.”
Jameson looked over as she unwrapped the package. “You gonna share?”
She took a big bite of one. “Nope.”
“There are two huge ones. Are you sure you need to eat all that?”
She glared at him with a look that promised to go nuclear. “Are you calling me fat?”
Even Liam looked up from his magazine at that comment. “Oh, dude, you just hit the button that launched all the missiles.”
She stood up and stomped out of the room.
Jameson called after her. “Baby, I’m sorry. You know I get cranky when I’m hungry.”
“He’s never gonna dig himself out of that hole,” Liam murmured.
“Yeah, there’s no handbook for that,” Max put in with a grin.
“What, you don’t think she’s gonna forgive me?” Jameson asked.
Liam continued flipping pages. “Maybe in a parallel universe. Where you aren’t a dick.”
Max tried to stifle his laughter. “I’ll go talk to her. Smooth things over for you.”
“Thanks, man. I’m exhausted, and you always did have a way with calming her shit down.”
Max winked. “You’re not the only one with special skills, superstar.”
He found Ava sitting on the big couch in the lobby, eating her muffins and quietly fuming. He sat down next to her and patted her knee. “You know he didn’t mean it. You’re the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. He’s just tired and irritable.”
“He’s always tired and irritable. I’m the one carrying this baby.”
“I know, but he’s been working long hours on the house, trying to get it finished in time, plus his work here.”
She dropped the hand holding the muffin to her lap. “I know. You’re right. I’m just so emotional right now.”
Max grinned at her. “Well, don’t let him off the hook. Make sure he makes it up to you tonight. That rates at least a foot massage or a back rub.”
She slouched back against the cushions, closing her eyes. “Oh God, Max. What I wouldn’t give for a foot massage right now.”
“Your wish, my lady.” He pulled her foot up on his leg, turning her sideways on the couch as he slipped her shoe off. “Babe, you think you should still be wearing these high heels?”
“I’ve given up everything for this baby, Max. I’m not giving up my heels, too.”
Max grinned. “Okay, Ava.” He rubbed her foot, pressing his thumbs into the arch until she moaned.
“My God, that feels great. Why aren’t you married, Max? If the ladies knew you had this skill, they’d be lining up out the door.”
He chuckled. “If you say so.”
After a few minutes, she rolled her head on the cushion and looked at him. “Are you happy here, Max?”
He turned his head to look at her. “Sure, I guess.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He shrugged. “I’ll never be as good as Jameson, but I get by.”
“Is there something else you’d like to do? Did Jameson twist your arm into a career you didn’t want?”
“Not at all. I enjoy working here, but…”
“But what?”
“For Jameson this is his passion, but for me… it’s just a job.”
“And what’s your passion, Max?”
“I thought about MMA fighting at one point but that ship has sailed. For the longest time I didn’t think I was good enough, and I let that hold me back. I’m too old now. You gotta be a kid for that. Now? I don’t know.”
“Max.” She leaned forward, touching his arm. “Don’t ever let feelings of inadequacy keep you from going for your dream. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough to have what you want. And don’t let negative thoughts stand in the way of getting it.”
“Guess that worked out for you, huh?”
“It did. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“I’m happy for you, girl, for you and Jameson, both. So, don’t be too hard on him tonight, okay?”
“Well, since you just gave me a fabulous foot massage, how can I tell you no?”
“You can’t. That’s part of my charm.”
She laughed, but then touched his arm again. “Max, seriously, if there’s something more out of life that you find you want, don’t wait for ‘someday’ to make it happen. If you do, ‘someday’ will never come.”