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We hung up. I scrolled through my phone and pressed the send button over a contact.
“Hey, it’s Tatum. Can you come over?” I cry into the phone.
* * *
Sterling sits nextto me on the couch with her arm around my shoulder as I cry hysterically on her shoulder. She’s brushing the hair out of my face and almost cradling me like a baby.
“Why didn’t he come home to me?” I cry.
“Today is the 3rd hardest day he’s had to face since the accident. It’s Betsy’s birthday, she loved birthdays, especially her own. It was his mission to always celebrate her birthday in a big way, the way she liked it. Him being sober right now, makes him realize that he’s not able to do that, and last year he was drunk, so he didn’t really have the mental capacity to deal.” She offers the explanation as blunt as she can.
I continue crying, I’m crying because I’m selfish and hormonal.
“Betsy was my best friend, did Max tell you that?” She continues. I shake my head.
“Max had forgotten that as well after the accident. He forgot that I was in pain and hurting over the loss of my best friend, he doesn’t do that intentionally. He is an amazing guy, regardless of his past choices and sometimes asshole tendencies. This relationship you guys have, will see these sort of bumps in the road, because Max wears his heart on his sleeve and of what he’s gone through. He’s not completely transparent, but he sure tries to be. Give him a chance to come home to you and explain things, because he will, just give him a little bit of time.”
I nod my head and pull away from Sterling’s shoulder just as a text comes through my phone.
Max: I’m sorry, I haven’t let you know before now. I’m at Leo’s. Dealing with some stuff. Be home soon, I promise.
I show the message to Sterling and she smiles.
“See!” She says excitedly.
I feel relieved as I sink into the couch. Sterling stuck around for another hour before she left, I made myself a sandwich and only ate half of it, the other half still sitting on the plate in front of me as my shoulder is being shaken lightly. I had fallen asleep on the couch, and Max’s eyes are coming into focus.
“Let’s get you into bed.” He says as he moves his arm under me.
“No, I’m okay, what time is it?” I ask him.
“It’s late. Time got away from me today.”
I nod. “I know what today is, Sterling filled me in, it’s okay.” I say as I reach out to caress his jaw. His features smooth and he smiles.
“I didn’t want to bring any of it home. I’m sorry. I should have told you what today was, and I should have told you right away that I wasn’t coming home after work. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He’s whispering sweet apologies into my hair as he’s pulled me to a hug.
My hand is running along his back as I shush him.
“Never apologize for loving someone, dead or alive.” I simply say.
