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“I should?” he asks.
“Yeah. Why not? If they’re as desperate as he said, that means it will pay well. And you’ve always said how much you loved it.”
“That was before I had my Pinky,” he says with a wink at her.
“Still,” I say through the clench in my gut, “you should consider it. It could be a great opportunity.”
Thad looks forward, shifting slightly. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think too much about it,” Phoebe says, clearly casting her vote as a hell no.
Thad grins. “I won’t.”
“Good.” She releases my hand and stands up. “Now, I’m gonna go to the bathroom. Alone,” she adds with a playful glare at each of us. “Seriously. I just have to pee.”
Thad checks her out as she passes his chair. Hell, so do I. She’s fucking beautiful.
“Hey, you okay?” Thad asks.
I look from her to him, his eyes fixed on me, seeing through me again.
“I’m fine,” I say.
He stares for a moment longer before turning and gazing out his window.
* * *
I pause with Phoebe on my left and Thad on my right, staring at the front door of the house I grew up in.
“Max, you good?” Thad asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “You?”
“I’m good.”
“I’m freaking out a little,” Phoebe says.
I smile and reach for her hand. It’s cold and clammy, not what you’d expect beneath the California sun.
“It’s gonna be fine, Pheebs,” Thad says. “We’ve got a three-way back-gotting going on here.”
She takes a breath, exhales. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I repeat, taking a breath of my own before tapping the doorbell.
The door opens almost instantly, revealing Donna Monahan and all her elegant glory. A sleek, black dress. Shiny red shoes. And a golden halo of hair tumbling down her shoulders.
“Maxxy!” she cries as she throws her arms open.
I step forward, accepting the awkward hug that… still feels warm and welcoming. I guess a hug from Mom may always feel that way, despite everything else. “Hey, Mom,” I say. “I brought someone I want you to meet.” I pull Phoebe forward. “Mom, this is Phoebe Pink.”
My mother looks at Phoebe, her smile still wide and genuine. “Oh, of course it is! Come in, honey. I’m so glad to finally meet you!”
She embraces Phoebe in a fierce bearhug that takes Phoebe by surprise, but she laughs politely.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Monahan. You have a beautiful home.”
My mother releases her and steps back with a wave of her hand, brushing off the comment.
