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I wasn’t even sure what time it was, and I technically didn’t have plans. But I needed to get away from her, or I’d do something I’d regret.
“No worries. Thanks for helping. I really appreciate it.”
I grabbed my uniform shirt, my fingers stumbling over the buttons as I watched her work. “Let me know when you need help again. I’ll be here if I can.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked up from her sweeping. “I’d like that.”
I couldn’t stop the twitch of my lips. I’d like it, too. I wanted to spend more time with her, no matter how precarious of a tightrope I was walking.
I pulled open the door to Max’s Bar & Grill, where only a few people sat at the bar, watching baseball on the flat-screens.
Max saw me approach. “I was just about ready to head out.”
I sighed. “I don’t want to keep you from Zoe.”
I remembered him talking about how he needed to make his relationship a priority over work. I didn’t want to be the reason he got in trouble.
“I always have a few minutes for a friend. What’s up?”
I sat on the barstool, the weight of what transpired between Remi and me hitting me hard. Guilt slid down my spine.
Max’s brow furrowed. “Did something happen?”
Realizing he meant the break-ins, I was quick to reassure him. “Nothing to do with that.”
“Then what is it? You don’t normally stop by for personal calls.”
Thinking back, I realized Max was right. I stopped by on official police business or to keep my promise about keeping an eye on the bar for him. “I haven’t been a great friend, have I?”
Max poured water for me, sliding the glass across the counter. “You won’t hear a complaint from me.”
Gripping the sweating glass, I said, “I need some advice.”
Max tipped his head to the side, his lips curling into a smile. “You having girl trouble?”
I shifted on the barstool, wondering how much I should reveal. I never talked to guys about women. Of course, I didn’t usually find myself in this kind of predicament.
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Is this something to do with Remi?”
My shoulders tensed. “How did you know?”
“That girl gets under your skin. Zoe said you giving her parking tickets is like pulling the pigtails of the girl you have a crush on in kindergarten.” Max shook his head. “Seeing that look on your face, I think she might be right.”
Did I go out of my way to notice her car? I told myself the baby blue bug was hard to miss, but maybe it was more than that. Did I write her tickets so she’d think of me when she saw my signature on the bottom? Even if she was cursing me out, I kind of liked that image. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“You like her.” His tone was sure.
I shook my head. “She’s my ex-girlfriend’s sister.”
His brow furrowed. “So?”
“You know there’s a rule that you don’t date your ex’s little sister.”
Max crossed his arms over his chest, tipping his head back like he was thinking. “You shouldn’t date your friends’ exes, but I don’t know any rule about exes’ siblings.”
“I dated Delilah for two years,” I said to give Max some context. We knew each other in high school, but not well enough for him to know the intimate details of our relationship.
Max uncrossed his arms, grabbing a washcloth to clean the bar top. “How serious was it?”
